DAY 2 - KOKODA TO ISURAVA BATTLE SITE

Friday 24 April

A 4am wake call for the crew today as they embarked on their Kokoda Journey. After having to spend their night in Kokoda the crew had a big day ahead of them as they had to travel all the way to Isurava to make up for missing yesterday. 5am the trekkers gathered under the famous Kokoda arches for a group photo. Then they headed off into the PNG jungle for the next 7 days having to hike their first hour on the trek in the dark. They trekked for an hour passing the village of Kovelo and then another 30 minutes for a short break before another 60 minutes of relatively flat before arriving at Hoi for another break and some amazing fruit. They trekked out of Hoi as the rain threatened to pour down and then tackled the Deniki hill and once again, this left a few wondering what they had got themselves in for. The group arrived in Deniki at 6pm as the rain poured down and the trekkers are now resting and those that could muster the energy had a shower. They are now enjoying some popcorn before dinner and briefing on what tomorrow has install for them. . Then it was packs on as the first full day of trekking began by trekking out of the village of Deniki, through the choko vines for 45 minutes before a short break. Then they trekked another 30 minutes with a few small uphill’s before they reached another rest stop and then another muddy hour on the way up to Isurava village. Here the trekkers discussed some of the history of the campaign and then trekked on for 60 minutes to Isurava Battle site where they made amazing timing of 3:45 pm and they held a moving service at the monument. They paid their respects to our returned and fallen soldiers and listened to some podcasts before having lunch. Isurava Battle site is camp for night 2 on the track in preparation for the Anzac Day dawn service tomorrow morning. As the group will need to make up 2 hours tomorrow, some of the group decided to trek on a tough 30 minutes to the "Surgeons Stone” and listened to some more podcasts from soldiers Stan Bisset, talking of his brother Thomas "Butch Bisset" and then returned to the Battle field for dinner. All trekkers are in great spirits.