Back in Perth
Well we have now been back just over a week. It seems longer since the trip. I am very happy to have taken part in this MIC walk for such an admirable cause. I also want to say that enjoyed meeting and making friends with everyone on the trip. I know I did not get…
Read MoreDay 8, 12th September Uberi to Owers’ Corner
Saturday. As usual up at 5am b/fast and on the track. Again we let team 1 get a half hour start. My quote for the day. To quote that eminent professor Bill Murray from Ghost Busters 1. “We Came, We Saw, We Kicked Ass”. Today will be a short walk approximately 3 hours. We waded…
Read MoreDay 7, 11th September Ofi Creek to Uberi Creek
Friday. this is the last main day on the track. Our first kick was up Ioribaiwa Ridge, then up and down a series of slopes until we headed down a steep decline to Ua-Ule Creek and some 22 times of criss-crossing this winding water way. Then up to the top of Imita Ridge and back…
Read MoreDay 6, 10th September from Brown River to Ofi Creek
Thursday up at 5am set off at 6am arrived at Ofi Creek just after 2pm. My quote for the day. “It’s not about the times you stumble along the way. What counts is that you make it at the end of the day”. We started the day with both teams holding a dawn ceremony to…
Read MoreDay 5, 9th September
Wednesday quote “Life is what happen while your busy making other plans” John Lennon 1980. At Mission Ridge Chad pointed out how the Australians deployed themselves holding back the continuing push by the superior Japanese numbers. The Australian 2/27th. And the remaining 2/14 and 2/16th. dug in along the ridge. As we arrived at Bragade…
Read MoreDay 4, 8th September Tempelton’s Crossing to Efogi Village.
Tuesday. Started out at 6 am arrived in our camp at 5pm. Today we walked to the Kokoda Gap then we climbed to the highest point on the track, Mt Bellamy at 2250 meters. Then down to 1900 Creek for morning tea and on to the Moss Forest past Kagi junction. Stopped for lunch at…
Read MoreDay 3. 7th September
Monday. 1 of the guys had a really bad night and after due consideration of his condition and the fact that he could be heli-vacted out today but could not after that for about 2 days. The medical team and Chad made the decision to evacuate him. He was very upset about that but he…
Read MoreDay 2 on the trip. First day on the trail. Sunday 6th.
Sunday. Our normal routine would be that we would get up everyday at 5am, pack up, have breakfast and head off by 6am. Today we got up at 5am had breakfast then Chad and Matt gave a brief history about the first attack on Kokoda by the Japanese forces on the 28-29th July 1942. We…
Read MoreDay 1 Port Moresby to Popendetta and then on to Kokoda Station. 5th September
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…
Read MoreFrom Brisbane to Port Moresby 4th September 2015.
Brisbane airport at 7.30am getting ready to book in. Most of the group have been training together for weeks. For the rest of us this is the first time we met. After arriving in Port Moresby we booked in at the Crown Plaza for the night. We then had a trip briefing and repacked our…
Read MoreLeaving Perth for Brisbane
Just started the first leg of my trip Perth to Brisbane. Tomorrow morning I meet the rest of the group at 7.30am at the airport then it’s on to Port Moresby to have a briefing and final pack for an early flight Saturday and start on the Kokoda Trail. Had to leave Rebus behind.…
Read MoreFinal Day of Training
Sunday 30th August. Another early start for a 5 hour walk in the hills around Serpentine Falls, Kitty’s Gorges and Stacey’s loop. It had been raining overnight and in the early morning so the ground was slippery underfoot. Also the waters were cascading down the rocks. Now I have to re-think my packing and…
Read MoreA few more days training before I head off
i want to thank everyone who has sent me best wishes and those who have donated to my Kokoda fundraising so far. Every contribution help this great cause. Check out the link below. http://mateskokoda2015.gofundraise.com.au/page/LesMcLaughlan Tonight I will walk the equivalent of 140 floors. Saturday is a rest day and on Sunday it’s a 5 to…
Read MoreThe countdown is on
back at Serpentine National Park, Serpentine Falls. A bit off of Kitty’s Gorge track. It was steeper than it looks. This was slippery under foot. You have probably noticed that Rebus has not been seen recently, that’s because I can’t take him into a National Park. I know he wants to come and…
Read MoreAt Serpentine Falls
Only just over 2 weeks to go, 18 days before we fly to Port Moresby. Work has been very busy so have missed a few days training, but I get out most nights. This training period has been my first real bush walk. From Serpentine Falls to Jaradale and back was only 15k. The walk…
Read MoreA month to go before the Track.
Just to show how close Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea is to Australia and how strategically important it would have been for the Japanese to have taken Port Moresby Airport. Below is a map showing the walks at Bold Park Perth. This was my first time there. I managed the main, Yellow Track…
Read MoreBack training
There is a walk up from Mounts Bay road to the top of the park called after the Kokoda track. The above is a plaque of the actual Kokoda Track at Kings Park in WA. I thought I would tell a bit more about Kokoda, a bit at a time, and then what I…
Read MorePeople have asked who is Rebus?
Rebus is my training companion. A Border Collie, with a fantastic nature. He is named after Ian Rankin’s fictional Edinburgh detective. He has enjoyed going out for our hikes and our runs, when I was trading to walk the Kokoda Trail. He really looked forward to our walks until last week’s 5…
Read MoreFirst 5 hour walk
Again an early start. Just left home when the rain started. This walk was harder. Upping the time from 3 to 4 hours seemed to flow quite easily but 4 to 5 started to take its toll. So we and by that I mean me and Rebus walked 34,003 steps, 191 floors (according to…
Read MoreSome more info on why I am waking the Kokoda
Some info on the work that MATES In Construction do: Each year more than 2500 die from suicide in Australia – 1885 are male and 637 are female. Each year over 190 Construction workers die by suicide – this is five to six times more than workplace fatalities. Young workers, labourers and operators are of…
Read MoreMy first 4 hour walk
Started my first 4 hour walk at 6.40am. It was very cold. Okay by WA Standards. My walking companion Rebus used to follow me down the stairs, now he waits either at the top or half way down the stairs. Today’s walk was 4 and 1/2 hours. 19.3 kms.
Read MoreTypical Kokoda Training Week
I thought I would outline a typical week’s training so far. Starting tomorrow I will have to increase my output. Monday night walk with pack, at present 8kg going up to 10kg next week. Walk for 1 hr going to lift this to 90 minutes per night . 40 min. Light weights. Tuesday 1 hour…
Read MoreWhy I am doing the Kokoda
So why am I doing the Kokoda Track? I will give more detail as time goes on, but first I will give a very brief overview of what I am doing and why? There is an organisation in Australia called Mates in Construction (MIC). As I have said I will give more info later but…
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Start of my Kokoda Trainings
We went out for a 3 hour walk on Sundany. Got soaked 4 times but enjoyed the walk all the same. First time out with rucksack. Help reach my fundraising target. So why am I doing the Kokoda Track? I will give more detail as time goes on, but first I will give a very…
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Les McLaughlan 