Saturday. Got up at 2.50am had a quick shower then down to the foyer. We stowed our cases and put our Passports in a security box. Had a coffee and left at 3.30am on the bus to the airport. Our flight was due to leave at 6.30am, it left at 7.50am. The problem was that about a dozen could not get on the flight. Initially they were told it would be tomorrow before they could get a flight. Luckily and due to a lot of pushing the issue they did manage to get them on a flight at 12 noon approximately. 

We arrived at Popendetta at 8.20am and loaded ourselves and gear on to 2 trucks. Off to Kokoda. The trucks were open sided and hard wooden benches, it did not look like this was going to be very comfortable. 5 hours later on what could loosely be called a road and with a very sore behind, we arrived at Kokoda Station. Here we met up with the porters unloaded the trucks and sorted out our food rations for the next 24 hours. 

A typical daily ration pack:

1 pkt porridge, small tub of two fruits, and black tea (my B/fast) 

At the mid morning break I would have a coffee with evaporated milk and biscuits. 

At lunch I would have noddles and black tea. 

Afternoon, sometimes a can of coke or A sachet of Rehydration drink. 

At night a pasta or rice dish with a packet of tuna mixed in. 

Various snacks ie 2 snack bars, 3 small biscuits, 1 small pkt cheese & biscuit dip, small box of nuts & rasins, small packet of sweets/lollies, 1pkt soup, 1 small tin of beans or spaghetti, 1 pkt of spicy noodles, 1pkt of tuna or small tin of chicken and either 1 evening meal pkt of Pasta or Rice or a dehydrated meal. 2pkts coffee, 3 tea bags, sugar, Salt and every three days a tube of evaporated milk. I used to give away about 1/2 my rations to the porters or we would leave food in the villages we stopped at for lunch. 

We were meant to start the walk at 2-2.30pm, but we had a problem, most of the tents were with the other groups gear. The decision was made that we would stay the night and combine day 1 and day 2’s walk tomorrow. Day 1 was meant to be a short 3 hour walk and day 2 about an 8 hour walk. 

The remainder of the group joined us at about 6.15pm. 

After dinner it was in the tent by about 8pm. 

We all wanted to get started early tomorrow.