Hi to all who have hiked the Track.
Tonight I want to share with you a little part of my 1960 trek by way of an extract of the detailed diary I kept as we hiked. Remember we hiked from Kokoda towards Ower's Corner.
Day 2—Alola to bush camp above Eora Creek.—Tuesday 5 January 1960.
5.30 Awake–fog had moved down to Yodda Valley. Cooked breakfast, soup, tomatoes and hard tack biscuit and a cup of coffee.
6.35 Finished breakfast, packed and took several photos.
7.08 Completed packing and ready for another hard day of hiking.
7.15 Moved off.
7.28 Stopped at small creek after a very steep descent from Alola.
7.48 Moved off again.
8.05 Crossed over Alola Creek by a log bridge–fairly easy going so far.
8.12 Stopped for 5 minutes after a hard climb.
9.25 Crossed Eora Creek for the first time. I took several photos here.
9.40 Up packs and off again.
10.15 Rested for 5 mins. after a hard steep climb out of Eora Creek. We passed many fox holes which was evidence of the rear gaurd action which was fought by the retreating Australians.
10.55 Rested for 5 mins. We were nearly at the top of a ridge.
11.17 Stopped at a small stream for water. We seemed to have left all the marsh flies behind us now.
11.42 Stopped again for water. Easier going now.
12.18 Arrived at Templeton's Crossing after hiking for 5 hours. We cooked and ate our lunch under a small lean-to on the banks of Eora Creek. Tin of fish, hard tack biscuit, a few raisens and cup of tea. The sky was fast becoming overcast.
1.20 Started to rain but stopped soon after.
1.30 Moved off for our camp site.
2.50 Reached Eora Creek once again after a hard slippery climb up hill and an equally steep descent. The bridge across the creek had been washed away but Corporal Jack and the Papuan Scouts constructed a new one using several logs and army telephone wire as a handrail.
3.15 Moved off again up a very steep hill made slippery by the rain.
3.20 Reached a small thatched roof hut, which we used for the night. We had been on the Track for 8 hours and 5 mins. of which we had rested for 2 hours and 15 mins. We cleaned the dirt floor and put fresh leaves down and changed into dry clothes and then prepared dinner—Bully beef, cheese and hard tack biscuits made into a stew and stewed prunes with a cup of tea.
5.10 All done and cleaned up. We sat and talked to Jack ( our group leader) about the hike so far.
7.00 Listened to the ABC news on our radio.
7.20 Lights out. Rain had stopped.
8.15 Dozed off.

If you enjoyed this extract let me know and I will continue with another day.

Bruce