So as you know we survived the Kokoda Track but little did we realise surviving a night in Kokoda Village would be a challenge in itself!!
As there is power in Kokoda in some places, the campsite was pretty well lit which made it hard for people like myself to go to the toilet 4 times during the night, just outside the tent. Lou was creative and didn't venture very far at all from her tent and nor did Troy. There are certain things you can do as long as your tent is sloping in the right direction!
It was the hottest night that we had had since the beginning of the Trek so there was plenty of tossing and turning. You can hear the plastic of the blow up mattresses as people move during the night. Aaron and Wacko have blown out sections of their mattresses....maybe too many snacks along the track (ha ha).
We all did a clean out of our bags and gear and decided what we would like to donate to our personal Porters or the Porters of the group. Troy Boy literally gave away the shirt off his back as well as ..... boots, pole, jumper, backpack, headlamp, socks, camelbak....you name it Snow got it. Snow looked like a professional trekker with all of Troy's gear on! The Porters were so excited by the many things they were given that we probably would have just thrown away. It goes to show that PNG is not the throw away society that Australia has become.
Once we had got our gear together we had one final exercise session with Greg....he never misses an opportunity to get us all to do burpees, push ups, etc.!
Off to the airport we went at 6.15 am as in Kokoda you just turn up and wait with all of the locals who are there to get their produce on the 4 flights a day to get it back to Port Moresby to be sold. No one knows what time the flights will come in so patience is very important. It is amazing to watch how patient everyone is, no pushing and shoving. The scales are put out and all bags, produce and people weighed and then they work out who and what can go on each plane. All done manually - a bit unnerving really.
We could hear a plane coming in the distance and 10 minutes later the little 12 seater, single prop plane lands on the grass air strip. Off jumps some Kokoda Trekkers ready to take on the challenge. Our group starts to come up with what we will say to them as they pass.....hilarious what we would love to say but decide we should keep it nice! One guy takes our attention in particular as he hobbles off the plane limping with knee guard on. Gee it's going to be a long 8 days for him!
Our turn arrives 3.5 hours later and we say our final farewell to the Porters. An emotional time as we have developed really strong bonds with them.
Ben and Jo are particularly nervous about the plane ride. When the 'Air Steward' gives the 30 second safety briefing they both take full attention to his every word. The 'Air Steward' doesn't stay in the back, he is actually the pilot! And off we go!
It's a 40 minute trip into Port Moresby. Ben and Jo both don't take in the scenery as they are too busy gripping the seat in front of them!
It's a 40 minute trip into Port Moresby. Ben and Jo both don't take in the scenery as they are too busy gripping the seat in front of them!
Once we get into Moresby we are greeted by the wife of Donna's Porter, John. Christina has travelled over an hour on the bus with two of their 4 children to give Donna a gift of a bag that she had made. Poor John is still feeling terrible for Donna's fall and is trying to make it up. Such beautiful people.
By now we are all super excited by the fact that we are only 30 minutes away from our shower at The Stanley.Off we go in the bus. All we talk about on the way to the hotel is what we are going to have for lunch and dinner. It is decided Hogs Breath for lunch and buffet in the hotel for dinner.
After check in we all rush to the rooms and the duos work out who is first in the shower. And it is heaven!!!!!!!!! It takes 4 goes of the shampoo to actually get rid of the grease and dirt. The poor white towels of The Stanley are no longer white!
Hogs Breath, beers and wine are delicious, just what we were all imagining. Following our final meeting with Greg at 4 pm we then settle in and enjoy some hard earned champagne, all the way from Tamburlaine in the Hunter Valley from our resident Winemaker, Aaron.
At 6.30 pm we are ready to eat again, this time steaks and the buffet. A few more drinks to cap off an unbelievable trip.
After staying at The Stanley before the Trek we knew how comfy the beds were and after sleeping in tents, often wet, for the past 8 nights we were all looking forward to going and getting a great nights' sleep.
It's amazing how you can go from primitive living to a luxury hotel all in the course of one day.
One more night and we will all be home with our friends and families. We are all looking forward to seeing you.
Ali x
