DAY 8: UA ULE CREEK TO OWERS CORNER THE FINISH LINE

Thursday 24 April

The last battle cry of the trek and then it was straight back in and out of the creek for an hour on the way to the base of Imita Ridge. The trekkers got to finally experience a blue sky for their last day. The trekkers regrouped and then tackled their second last climb of the trek on their way to the Goldie River where the trekkers spent an hour washing off all the mud. Then they crossed and had a brief chat and reflected about the previous 8 days of trekking. Then it was an easy 30-minute hike with a steep 20-minute trek exposed to the sun until emotionally but triumphantly they arrived at Owers Corner. They are now enjoying a BBQ with cold Moet champagne and beer before boarding a Guard Dog security bus on the way to Port Moresby. They will stop at Bomana War Cemetery, to pay their respects to the Australian soldiers who died in the Kokoda campaign and in other campaigns in the Pacific who have been laid to their final rest. Tonight, they will get together to celebrate their achievement with all the guides and support staff from the trek. Tomorrow they will be up early for the Anzac Day dawn service at back at Bomana War Cemetery, before heading back to the international airport for their flight home.