PAPUA NEW GUINEA
EXPEDITION
AN UNMOTORISED CROSSING
3rd March 2014
6 days to go...
Another hurdle, as with any expedition, is ensuring that we have suitable and appropriate visas. We spent over 16 months talking to various authorities in PNG and in the UK, trying to work out a system that would allow us to stay in the country legally throughout our expedition, and had made little progress. Thankfully Brunel stepped in to sort out the red tape for the project, as well as offer some advice about the country. This was a massive obstacle and we are both very grateful to them, and particularly David Macindoe, for providing us with much needed support.
Finally for a piece of news we were both not expecting. Last week we met with a panel at the Royal Geographic Society, to discuss possible research projects. We met with Neville Shulman CBE, a Fellow of the RGS and also the Explorers Club who supports various Awards for the RGS and other organizations. We were both absolutely gob smacked to learn later that Neville had been so impressed with our expedition submissions he decided to offer us the special Neville Shulman Exploration Award. For such an esteemed explorer like Neville to be interested in, and offer support to our expedition is a huge privilege and very humbling. Equally importantly, his support has ensured that we have contingency funds, making the likelihood of completing the expedition and producing a documentary all the more positive.
As we near the big day of 09th March both of us have been updating and ticking off what seems a never ending ‘To do list’ making sure we have all the right kit and the small jobs are taken care of before the off. It’s great to see donations for Childfund still pouring in – when we are out there it will give us a real lift knowing we are always getting a little closer to our target. We will have one more update before we leave, if anyone has any advice or wise words of wisdom speak now!
Cheers for following,
Richard Johnson
We are now counting down to our departure with only 6 days to go. As you can imagine all the final elements of preparation have been taking place at break neck speed...
In an earlier blog we mentioned the power needs for the expedition will be handled using the equipment from Powertraveller. Last week we both travelled down to their office in Hampshire to go through all the different pieces of equipment we will be using. George MacColl and his team were so helpful and we have full faith in the bombproof kit they have provided in charging up all the electronic equipment.
This also brings us onto the communication equipment. When talking about bandwidth and Mhz, both of us become somewhat perplexed to say the least. However, Bob Barden (Patrick’s Grandad) has been invaluable in the sourcing and selection of comms kit, as well as reviewing the team’s circuitry needs.
Another key aspect of the trip is our health. After a sponsor pulled out we were left to source our med kit independently. Sourcing and selecting medical supplies for a 4-6 month, multi-terrain expedition, with potentially no resupplies is quite a headache... especially when neither of us are doctors! Throughout this whole process we have been in contact gaining advice from a few really knowledgeable and helpful guys. Anthony Huszar and Simon Harger have guided us over the past 9 months on our med kit requirements; Simon has also listed hospitals along our route and the services they offer. We have since been introduced to Temi Lampejo who will be assisting us via satellite phone along our trip; Temi is a specialist doctor in tropical medicine. Old colleagues of Richard’s have also assisted a ridiculous amount in sourcing equipment and connecting us to the necessary individuals, without their help we would not be in the position we are now in. We are both very grateful for all the help from the guys above.