Hi Gail, re your message today with regards for further bookings for 2006, whats happening? Was hoping to book for Apr 2006 soon.

Editors Note:Hi, tks for your message. No worries, there is plenty of time to book for 2006, its just we want to make sure we can operate without interference from landowners before we accept new bookings for 2006. Otherwise Russell will become a PMV (truck driver) and I will go finish.

If you could see the faces of all the boys we hired today that walked off with our trekkers you would know how I feel right now giving these young guys jobs. In just two days we would have given work to over 79 young men from all areas of the trail and Kokoda areas.

However, the landowners have to realise that it is us the 'tour operators' that employ these guys; hire their guesthouses; purchase food off villagers etc. As such we need them to respect us and our trekkers. If they have a problem, they have to deal directly with KTA (Kokoda Track Authority), not waste our time and energy.