Kokoda - Day 7

Ofi creek to Imita base camp

Distance: 20.7 km

Walking time: 10 hours 57 mins

Elevation:

A sombre start to the day. Not everyone who starts the Kokoda trail finishes it. Aged 35 too. That's young

Day seven started with a degree of exuberance as the group enjoyed the concept of this being the last full day of trekking.

Shortly after commencing the seventh day of trekking, we arrived at a clearing atop a small hill. Here, an industrious and entrepreneurial local was making the most of his good fortune. While digging to plant a new banana tree a few years earlier, he had struck something metallic. Further digging revealed a massive cache of weapons and ammunition. These days, he charges visitors AUD $4 to view the collection of weaponry

Another lovely message form Lisa and Grant's children. Practical advice if ever practical advice was needed

As the group stopped to detour off the track to take a peek at the weapons cache the porters took time to rest beneath the canopy of a massive tree and its associated foliage. Throughout the trek I was constantly reminded of the fertility of the soil. You got the overriding impression that such was the richness of the soil that if you were to drop an avocado seed you'd probably have an avocado farm within a week

On the walk to the 'museum' we got our first sight of Port Moresby way yonder. The end of the trek was indeed feeling very close and very real

84 years later and the remnants of some Japanese trenches still visible in the terrain

Said 'museum' .

No lack of firepower in this cage

Dammo getting the story of the cache from the farmer who found it. Probably still doesn't realise how fortunate he was when digging that his shovel didn't strike a cap or live piece of ammunition. Story would be slightly different that is for sure. Given how much ammunition was stored below ground the resulting explosion would have undoubtedly reshaped the ridge line

The terrain as always didn't disappoint in its steepness

Ioribaiwa Ridge was the site of an important moment in the Kokoda Campaign. It was the furthest south the Japanese advanced along the track, and from there they could see the lights of Port Moresby. They dug in on the ridge line and awaited orders for the final push towards Port Moresby.

Exhausted, with their supply line almost non-existent and their ranks ravaged by tropical disease, their numbers were severely depleted and morale had sunk to its lowest point. The Australians, meanwhile, had retreated to the next ridge line at Imita, with direct orders from headquarters that under no circumstances were they to allow the Japanese to advance any further. Imita Ridge had to be held at all costs. For the Australians, it was to be the line in the sand.

And so an uneasy standoff ensued. When the orders from Japanese High Command finally came through, they were not what anyone expected. The troops were to retreat quietly and make their way back towards the north coast, where they would be evacuated and redeployed to other battles in the South Pacific.

Leaving the ridge line we made our way down a steep wet trail before we found ourselves being spat out into the wide expanse of a large village. Here we awaited the arrival of the entire group. The sun was out, the views were special, there was a local selling soft drinks , snacks and bananas . What was not to like

A two-way radio station in the epicentre of the village .Probably the only source of communication between this village and others including the outside world

Day 7 local flora. The traditional hibiscus. National flower of PNG. And if it isn't then it should be

I have talked a few times about the state of the dogs we encountered en-route. This poor fella was an example of the very worst

At one point on the descent before we climbed up to Imita ridge a porter from the group hurried off into the bush and returned with a Bren gun he had discovered on a past trek. What struck us all was just how heavy it was. Even without its ammunition magazine attached. Whilst most of us were carrying between 5 and 15 kg the Australian solider was typically labouring under weights in excess of 30kg when you included his sleeping kit, food, clothing, water, ammunition and guns. All this whilst stomping through ridiculously inhospitable terrain in searing heat, high humidity and being shot at

Husband and wife team recon team. Jenna looking scarily comfortable with the gun

Glen looking decidedly comfortable too

Chris taking the play acting too seriously perhaps ?

Chris crossing creek number seven thousand two hundred and forty six. His porter doing a good impression of caring and all the while carrying close to 20kg and doing it in barefoot

On this day as we made our way across the valley floor between Iriobawa and Imita ridge we crossed a creek or creeks no less than 21 times. Rather than go through the laborious task of taking off boots at each crossing we simply took them off at the first crossing and continued to trek for the next hour or so in our sandals

Given there was no discernible track to follow we were glad to have the guidance of Stansol who was probably the only one in the group who knew where to go

Lunchtime swim always a good thing

The fertility of the soil was off the planet

Having laboured through 1.5 days of pain and with only an afternoon and morning session left, someone was feeling the effects of the drugs in more than one way

Marty once again enjoy his favourite position

An army marches on its stomach. These guys ( the cooks) we the unsung heroes of the trek. With limited supplies in such a remote area they managed to keep us fuelled. Kudos to them

The fare, whilst basic, did the job. Admirable given what the cooks had to work with

(Courtesy of Peta.B)

I was about to type ....probably the three fittest lads of the group. Instead I will remove any sembalnce of doubt and amend to ....The three fittest lads of the group who were possibly the only ones lamenting the end of the trek tomorrow.

L-R : Dammo , Grant , Marty.

Marty didn't have a monopoly on prostrate positions. . Lisa - aka the pocket rocket - taking stock of her health and life after the monster climb to Imita Ridge.

(Photo courtesy of Grant)

Man these Italian 400mg ibuprofen are doing the trick. Gareth with a look of ''Where am I ?'' on his face

Really doing the trick.....atop the last serious climb of the entire trek. At Imita Ridge. The climb up to this for me was the second hardest of the entire trail. With Gareth in tow we took it 100 steps at a time, stop for 1 minute to normalise our breathing, Go again for another 100 steps. And repeat. And repeat. An hour later emerge at a grassy saddle between two peaks and wonder how the body does it

Gazz's thigh was blooming a deep purple

Imita ridge plaque

Being the last evening the porters wanted to send of us with a traditional PNG ''Mumu''. A hole is dug, rocks that have been heated within a fire are laid at the base, some banana leaves placed over them, then the meat (normally pig but being influenced by the SDA's who have banished the eating of pork, chicken was used) is placed on to the bed of leaves, more leaves placed over them and then hot rocks atop that and in some cases some earth. And right there you have an oven like device with which to cook in the wild. Wait about 1.5 hours and you've got some pretty good cooked meat

A beetle nut fuelled Jenna doing her part of contributing to the Mumu