And it FELT like a Monday morning.
Woody led us in our pre-stretches, and we downed more fried spam on bread...that I have recently started referring to as Pate because it makes the whole thing a bit more palatable...
Then we are outside in the dawn to cross that bridge.
You know, the one that made me even consider this trek.
What the HELL was I thinking.
Bamboo and ropes, thick vines and logs...over a rushing river you can see through the cracks and a whole sway and hope it stays up.
(...it is a good thing this is virtual...)
One by one, single file like terrified ants we all make it across.
The bridge creaks and groans.
"Today's trail will test your mind, body and spirit." Brett (another of the porters) proclaims.
"Bring it on." I whisper silently.
For several hours we are either climbing up tangles of roots in the oppressive heat and humidity or are creeping slowly down hill.
Often we see artifacts from the hellacious battles that were fought in these jungles...and our guides stop to give us some of the history behind them. It is somewhat depressing.
Then, Woody sounded the 2 minute warning...and we were off hiking again.
Our pace...about 1 breath-taking mile per hour.
We were about to climb what has been called one of the trails most epic sections.
The Japanese Ladder.
Which as far as I could tell was neither.
Shallow trenches were dug on both sides, used as foxholes for Japanese Troops in WWII. The word steep doesn't even begin to do it justice. Vertical comes closer for accuracy.
Up...then up...and up some more.
Until at last 4,281 feet up...we reached Maguli's Peak.
View from the Peak
"We will have 9 more false peaks after we reach the village." Yeoy explained.
All and all, it reminded me of the pointless ups and downs encountered earlier this year on the Appalachian Trail...except much buggier...and way hotter.
This tropical heat stretches deodorant endurance to its very limit.
Your best friend doesn't NEED to tell you.
You KNOW.
Unlike the villages we have stayed in the past nights, New Nauro is not
a particularly welcoming village. Not unfriendly, just disinterested. Our presence is merely tolerated, but only because the track runs through it.
Where many of the villages embrace and enjoy the tourist monies that can be made along the track...this is not one of them.
We tented together on a hillock nearby and feasted on Kraft Macaroni Dinner and yet more Spam.
Tomorrow we will "Climb The Wall", Woody announced.
The Wall...having the reputation of being the absolute toughest section of the Kokoda Track.
And with muscles I didn't even know I had, aching, drifted off to sleep...
Until tomorrow...
