Monday, September 12, 2005

Day 2 Pitoki / Hoi / Deniki / Isurava / Isurava Memorial

Early start and breakfast to begin Day 2 at Pitoki Guesthouse Walking along the lower track to Hoi Village Encountering the first of 96 creek crossings at Hoi Village The energy sapping climb up the lower slope to the abandoned wartime Deniki Village Dean, Jeffrey and Stephen taste local bananas at the abandoned Deniki Village Walking through a cleared area of jungle planted with overgrown Choko vines Memorial plaque in the centre of Isurava Village Talking with Isurava Village Elder, Ivan Nitua while Dean contemplates his folly Jeffrey holding remnants of WW2 303 rifle with bayonet and minus stock Eery first sight of the Isurava Memorial in the early afternoon fog Kinsbury's Rock, scene of the hosthumous awarding of the only Kokoda VC Looking NW along what was the Western perimeter at the Canefields at Isurava Looking SE back towards the B Company, 2/14 Battalion positions at the Canefields at Isurava - Alex "Mac" Macpherson and Hector "Tiger" Grass were stationed here as part of 11 Platoon