Its been a bit over a month since I came back from my Trek along the Kokoda track, and I’m finally ready to share my experience.

I thought I would share on here my diary which I wrote along the way… I’m going to type it as I wrote it, so hopefully it makes some kinda sense and my hope is that it also inspires others to tackle the trail. It going to be on here in three parts… I think that’s the only way people are going to be able to cope with my ramblings! The first part you can find here:

Diary of a Kokoda Trekker Part 1

Please note: sometimes I note how long I was on the track, sometimes how far, sometimes both! There were days that nobody could actually tell me how far (in distance) that we had walked… but to be honest it didn’t really matter .. reality is that I just had to keep going till I reached camp each day without much thought on how “long ” it was!

13th of September 2019

-Templetons crossing – Naduri Village: 9hours on the Track, approx 20km

Today was tough. To begin we walked straight up through some mud – not too runny but mud. Then the hardest part was coming up to this vista, I struggled so hard to get up there. It seemed to never end. Stepping upwards into tree roots would seem pretty good, until its mixed with mud and going straight upwards. When I got to the top I was elated, exhausted but elated. As a bonus that there was an awesome view. Further along at a junction we decided to head down to Myola, it was an extra bit on our trek, but worth it. It was crazy to see this huge expansive cleared area. No jungle just grass and some small swamp areas. This part of the track was easy, it actually reminded me of tropical Queensland in Australia. Soon enough we got to lunch at Diggers camp, 2 min noddles again but I’m telling you they go down a treat. After a big rest, some of us even got in a power nap, we headed off. It soon got nasty again, a little bit up but then straight down in mud. There are stepping holes as such but my porter had to stop me from sliding down a few times. Thank goodness for him! I hung at the back of the pack, I definitely didn’t want to be rushed and to slide a long way down and get injured. We appeared after a long bit to look out over the mountains to our next destination Naduri Village. the end was in site thank goodness!!. A bit of a “stroll” and we were there.. all day I had been wondering how I was going to help put up the tent like I had in previous days, but thankfully today it was already done! Yeha! I feel to the ground, next to my tent grateful to have a rest day tomorrow!

Highlight: When I stopped and flopped down into child pose (Yoga position) and stood up to find a leech on my leg. I quickly pulled it of and flung it away.. straight into the path of a fellow trekker! Lucky it didn’t land on him!

Spent: 5 kina 2x twisites.

Dinner: Pasta, Bolognese, mushroom soup, choc chip cake.

14th September 2019

-Naduri Village rest day-

What an amazing day! Being in such a welcoming village was amazing! Firstly to start we headed to church – Seventh Day Adventist. There is something so amazing hearing the Papua New Gunieas sing, and when they sang to us in church the Welcome song and brought us some flower garlands, I shed a tear. (or maybe a few!) After Church we were treated to a lunch provided by the the village people – so much yummy goodness! The villagers waited for us to finish before coming in to share the rest among each other. After a bit of a chill time we checked out the amazing work the people do in the medical clinic … they need so much but do so well with what they have. Next the school visit was pretty awesome, it was great to see the elementary school – but unfortunately the teacher ins’t working because the government has stopped paying the teachers. There was some cheeky kids who jumped out of the bushes on us and of course I took a shinning to a little one called “Ruthie”. I had seen her in church and I knew was a child with attitude…. and I loved it! The coolest thing was when we talked to the village elder about his father who was a fuzzy wuzzy angel during the war, such a proud man. The market ladies came out and many of the Trekkers bought some of the local bags. I didn’t buy anything, there wasn’t anything I liked in the price I was happy with. To finish the evening we were treated to the local village kids sing to us. It was gorgeous.. then it was off to bed to get ready to hike the track again tomorrow.

Highlight: Having a cuddle of our cooks twin baby after church – so sweet!

Spent: 5 kina church collection

Dinner: mushroom soup, fried rice, chicken curry, vegetable curry.

15th September 2019

-Naduri Village – Menari Village; 10hrs on track approx 13km

Today was a hard start. I don’t know if it was because of the rest day or it was just bloody hard. Down we went, mud / clay stuck to our boots and made it tricky to negotiate the track. Thank goodness again for Pindana! It was nice to see everyone in the village come out to see us off. At one stage this morning we came to a spot that just dropped off at the side, so steep. It was so lush and green as well, but we all had to have our mind on the track as not to slip down. We travelled through quiet a few villages today, at one I bought a bag at a good price. They also had freshly boiled eggs – such a great treat for on the track. Again the villages were so nice, waving and wishing us luck. At one point we were crossing a river after a steep descent and another trekking team were crossing back the other way. They looked like they were struggling at bit, their porters were carrying their day packs for them. Of course what goes down must go up and so after the crossing we headed straight back up. It took m breathe away as it was a little humid. Finally we reached Brigade hill. We had a really great ceremony remembering our soldiers and the locals that had died. Brad told us of some stuff of the Salvos work during the Kokoda campaign, and everyone got to say a part in the service. We sang our national anthem, and the porters sang theirs. So moving. From here we walked downhill, dropping 700m towards sea level. My legs turned to jelly it was crazy. It was a bit slippery as well, but to be honest its the tree roots that get me every time.  Finally at the bottom we stopped to have a paddle in the river, it was great to cool down in the feet. My legs have a rash, right where my socks sit, a bit irritating but not too sore. My feet seems ok, I’m using hikers wool on some parts. Finally after a paddle we walked up again.. this time to Menari Village to be welcomes by the villages and our camping spot.

Highlight: Passing the Halfway mark!! – only 40 odd km to go!

Spent: 2 kina egg, 7 kina Spirte, 50 kina bag, 5 kina 2x Twisites, 1 kina donut.

Dinner: Vegetable curry, Pasta, Pasta sauce, assorted biscuits.

and on a last note for this blog post, I will leave you with the Menari School Motto:

Forward ever

Backward Never

Stay tuned for part 3 of my Kokoda track journey!

Thanks for reading, leave a comment if you fell like it!

Safe Travels

Kerrie.

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