DAY 5 - KAGI TO MENARI

Monday 27 April

The trekkers enjoyed emerging themselves into a little cultural village life last night as they listened to beautiful voices of the local children singing. However, it was another 5am wakeup call as they made the short trek past the church out of the village to the airfield for the steepest descent of the trek down to the creek crossing. Here they filled up with some water and then it was a 10-minute calf burner to the top followed by a relatively easy hike for 30 minutes. The sun was out at it was a hot day as they trekked into Efogi on the hill for a break. The trekkers rested and had morning tea, enjoying the views down to Efogi Village in the valley. Then they trekked 30 minutes down to the village and inspected the museum and local market. They then hiked out of the village enjoying the beautiful views and began the slogging ascent of Brigade Hill via Mission Ridge. They stopped briefly at Mission Ridge to chat some more about the campaign and then headed onto Brigade Hill for an emotional ceremony on the summit in honour of the soldiers and in remembrance of their bravery. The crew had lunch at Brigade Hill and then followed the track, with a long descent for 2.5 hours into Menari creek. (This is the site where the brave 39th Battalion were withdrawn from the campaign before the battle at Brigade Hill. Exhausted and on the brink of total collapse the remaining ‘Ragged Bloody Heroes’ struggled back to Port Moresby. They would return to fight at Buna and Gona. ) As they reached the river they were rewarded with a refreshing swim here and then trekked 40 minutes up into camp and are now having a well learnt rest and waiting for dinner. There are a few sore legs and feet so, the crew are looking forward to a half day tomorrow.

TREKKER MESSAGES :

  • Hi Kylie, I’m alive & a bit crook on day 3 but all better & enjoying it. - Love Morgan

  • Hi dad, we’re alive & well - Love Ellie & Bonnie

  • Hi Will, I’m alive & are you an uncle yet? - Love Ellie

  • Hi mum, we’re slaying, mostly. - Love Alice & Keely ( Dad too )

Michael O'Malley