Expedition Log

Day 4 Saturday, 14th January 2006

Andy Eavis and James Alker, who had stayed overnight in a bungalow overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Kokopo, said their farewells to the round-faced Joe Meava and the fuzzy-haired Florence Paisparea, and took the early morning flight to Hoskins. Andy managed to persuade the operator not to charge for excess baggage. They were the only passengers in an eight seater which diverted its flight to drop them in Palmalmal. They were rewarded with magnificent views over New Britain with its rivers, reefs, moss forest and mountain waterfalls. They saw no obvious karst until the end of the flight. After crossing the final mountain range they could see the plain below dotted with many small villages.

Palmalmal was a grass airstrip with a small shed serving as a terminal. They walked the 2 kilometres to the coast where a small town was situated. They found a small trade store where they purchased a few extra supplies and then took a ten minute boat ride to Pomio. Here they were met by the councillor for the local provincial department. They had hoped to meet a German priest who they had read about who had lived here for about thirty years but he was not there. They noted that malaria seemed common.

Ora Camp