It's Ali here as we had a little incident today which you will learn more about later.
Well Day 3 started well with most trekkers enjoying a good night sleep......that is likely to happen when we go to bed at 6 pm!
Another 5 am rise but most had had enough sleep by 4 am so the day started bright and early. Porridge was on the breakfast menu.....Donna screwed her mouth up with every mouth full!
Sheriff Kylie made a policy that we had to do two acts of kindness for someone in the group other then your buddy. Kylie could have made the number 20 acts of kindness each because honestly this amazing group of human beings do acts of kindness so naturally in just being themselves.
One of the highlights of the day was coming across a trekking group at the top of Maguli Range which was made up of Victoria Police Force and troubled Victorian youths. They were a diverse group including Sudanese youths all carrying their full packs. Their reaction to the experience was mixed but no doubt it will change them all in some way. As we looked at their boots we were wondering why they had so much mud on them and as we made our way along the part of the track they had just covered we realised why.....welcome to the Kokoda Slippery Slide!
Here we were slipping out left right and centre. It was a tough decision where to plant the next foot and embrace yourself for whether the foot would stay where you hoped. The biggest kid of the afternoon 'enjoying' the slippery dip was Aaron! He had Jo in stitches laughing as he slid out and nearly collected the people in front of him....not just once but 11 times!
As the laughter was heard up and down the group as the next person fell, our laughter very quickly turned to concern as Donna slipped and the position of her walking pole caused her right wrist to bend into a terrible position. To watch one of the strongest, most courageous person we know in so much pain as her face turned white like a ghost and she felt like she wanted to vomit was heart wrenching.
The immediate support she received to decide on what could be done was beautiful to see. After strapping it and giving her some pain relief we continued on towards camp for the night which was still about 2 hours away. Troy took on Donna's pack (awesome young man), Donna's Porter John carefully took her left hand and led her all the way down the very slippery track taking the utmost care. Donna inspired us all as she continued on and you could still hear her laughing and telling stories as she breathed through the pain. It wasn't until we got back into camp that we realised the severity of Donna's wrist as it was clearly not positioned where it should be. The Porters made a splint out of a cardboard weetbix box and strapped it in the hope she will be able to get through the next 5 days of trekking.
The immediate support she received to decide on what could be done was beautiful to see. After strapping it and giving her some pain relief we continued on towards camp for the night which was still about 2 hours away. Troy took on Donna's pack (awesome young man), Donna's Porter John carefully took her left hand and led her all the way down the very slippery track taking the utmost care. Donna inspired us all as she continued on and you could still hear her laughing and telling stories as she breathed through the pain. It wasn't until we got back into camp that we realised the severity of Donna's wrist as it was clearly not positioned where it should be. The Porters made a splint out of a cardboard weetbix box and strapped it in the hope she will be able to get through the next 5 days of trekking.
Camp tonight is at Nauro. We have the resident dogs surrounding us desperate for food!
The youngest of our crew, Adam shared his life story. He has been awesome to have on the trek and is a fine young man of only 17 years of age. Jo also shared hers and she should be so proud of what she has achieved for herself and her daughters.
As we nestled into bed around 7 pm, the rain is coming down again!
The Porters are in their sleeping hut right near us putting us into a peaceful sleep as they sing and play guitar.
I will keep you posted on Donna's recovery.
Ali x
