CARES 4 KIDS KERALA BIKE RIDE'08

The journey continues....

If you put 400 km,5 days,50 cycles and a bunch of highly determined people together what you get is a challenge.So it was, traveling from kochi at sea level to the hills of Munnar averaging 5000feet and back to sea level to the beaches of Marari. A journey through rainforests,interior villages,rubber and tea plantations and the spice hills of kerala.It was a journey undertaken by 50 people from different paths and different parts of the world with a mission to raise funds. Cares4kids is a UK based organisation who raise funds for children around the world who are disadvantaged - socially, mentally or physically. This is how the journey unfolded....

BIKE FITTING DAY

The day before the challenge was allotted for the participants to familiarize themselves to their bikes and to set the bikes to their specifications.

Waiting for their partners



warming up

DAY 1

This day we covered a distance of 70 km riding from Kochi to the beautiful Hornbill camp situated at the banks of the river Periar,riding through villages and the Thattekad bird sanctuary.

Calling upon higher powers

With a little help from his friends

hmmmm..

A modest lunch

Rest at the end of the day at Hornbill camp

DAY 2

This day we cycle for 75 km, from the rainforests of Thattekad to the hills of Munnar,gaining 5000 feet in altitude.

an early start

First glimpse of the hills


Gaining stardom

DAY 3

This day we ride down through beautiful tea estates and spice plantations to end the day at the Spice Village resort at Periar covering a distance of 75 km.Enroute we visit an orphanage and interact with the children.

Starting the third day from the Lockheart gap

Anerangal lake

DAY 4

This day we cycle for 59 km to Vagamon.Though it is shorter in comparison to the other days it still is a hard day of cycling. We end the day at Summer Sands resort and a fancy dress party follows.

Big Mo escorting the ladies

Spice Girls and the Bling thing
a pint of O+ please.

DAY 5

Today we cover a distance of 117 km ,losing 4000 feet in altitude ending the challenge in the Marari Beach resort,in the shores of the Arabian sea.

the pilot vehicle

Sea of green Country roads Congratulations The venturers and the organisers

At the end of 5 days of hard cycling we end our journey to the beats of a temple band and to everybodys surprise ,an elephant waiting at the gates of The Marari Beach resort.For team kalypso it was yet another opportunity to learn and to share.We thank the participants of the Cares 4 Kids kerala bike ride' 08. Looking forward to the next challenge we end this chapter. To be continued........