Forty young people from the local villages of Areal, Estreito, Guapiaçu and Matumbo joined in the third annual cycle ride organised by REGUA last month. Andre, the Environmental Education Officer, organised the finer details of the cycle ride. The ride was advertised in the Boletim Verde and was open to all ages and to all local people (not just Young Rangers). Many of the Young Rangers took part, most of them on bikes borrowed from family members (very few of the children had their own bikes), some placing conservation messages attached to their bikes/the REGUA bus.

The cycle ride started at 8am to beat the heat of the day (some of the children told me they had been so excited they had been up since 5am – even before their parents they couldn’t wait to add!). Raquel, Josue and I followed (not lazy!) in the bus acting as the support vehicle with all the water the cyclists needed – it also served as transport for the tired ones! It was a hot morning, especially by the time the ride was over, so many pitstops were made along the way in the shade of trees.

The route was 8km long and began in the centre of Guapiaçu. The children cycled along the dirt tracks as the route wound its way through the local villages of Areal and Matumbo, the foothills of the mountains and across the Guapiaçu river. The ride ended back in the centre of Guapiaçu where all the participants gathered for a raffle – the prize being a brand new bike donated by REGUA!

After a dramatic prize draw the winner was revealed to be Marcelo, a Young Ranger (who didn’t have his own bike). He was delighted as you can see by the photo! After this the children gathered at a well-deserved barbecue. They were certainly hungry by this time!

Everyone is looking forward to the next cycle ride. In fact, some adults have indicated they are quite keen to do one now! BUT MUCH SHORTER!!