Day 2 HUGE.

We cycled up,up,up 2 horton’s plain for 20km,starting at dawn.Following was a 10km walk to incredible views down mtns,bright paddy fields below.Traditional spicy lunch under shady trees.Then half the group opted 2take the bus 2camp.Me,Dan,colin, ange, clint rode on…The track was amazing.Known as Satan’s Steps, it wound down the side of the mountain steeply, so rough and full of stones,rocks and boulders it was like riding a bronco horse.Whenever the path went up,it was so steep and rocky,most had 2walk.After 60km we reached camp.It was after dark.Felt great sense of achievement.Bbq by river X

Day one of cycling was enormous!

The mountains are huge, beautiful, with spectacular views and friendly people along the way. We clocked 60 kms up steep mountain tracks from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya.

The group is great. Angela, Clint and Dan are superheros… They kept going when everybody else (even the guide) had called it a day… We have a great photographer documenting the trip, who has taken to riding in the bus much of the time as she hadn’t enough time to train for the hills – and that is our camera pro competition winner Ebony.

Negin is going well, and determination comes with every pedal. Leree and Colin are really getting into meeting the local people and have made many friends already… Colin has also made a special relationship with the monkeys in the forest, and they love to follow him wherever he goes…

As for me, I have a bit of sunstroke, so sorry that this email is not that fab… The day was a hot one. Now we are up in the hills it’s a bit cooler thank goodness.

We start riding at 5.30 tomorrow morning, so I should go and get some sleep. We will be reaching the horton plains national park.

Still not able to end pix but will hopefully be able to in the next few days.

Lots of love to you all

From Krista xxx

More information on Sri Lankan Rainforest Protection projects

More Information on Ride for the Rainforest

We are happy to announce that seven Australians have chosen to support the conservation of Sri Lanka’s last remaining rainforests by joining the Ride for the Rainforest.

Tomorrow they head 7 degrees north of the Equator to begin this intrepid adventure, led by our own Krista Bernard.

Ride for the Rainforest is a bike ride across Sri Lanka to raise money for our projects in Sri Lanka which helps provide sustainable livelihoods for communities and alternatives to forest destruction.

Map of adventure route:
View Ride for the Rainforest Sri Lanka Cycle Challenge 2011 in a larger map
The cyclists are very excited about the trip and will be sending back emails, texts and images over the next few weeks which we plan to share with you. They are looking forward to meeting our project partners and community volunteers on day 8 of the trip when they visit the local project.

So far, the cyclists and other adventure supporters have collectively raised $21,460 for our Sri Lanka Plant A Rainforest Project through personal fundraising and by creating a profile on Every Day Hero http://www.everydayhero.com.au/ride4rainforest.

The funds raised will help us to protect Sri Lanka’s last remaining rainforest by reducing the pressures on rainforest resources through community education programs, property purchase and rainforest regeneration, thereby establishing sustainable livelihood for local residents. http://www.rainforestrescue.org.au/ourprojects/plant-a-rainforest-sri-lanka.html

Our own Krista Bernard loves riding and saving rainforest. She recently spoke with Jo Joyce from ABC North Coast about some of her world riding experiences and what she thinks people will have in store for them if they join our Ride for the Rainforest Fundraising Adventure in Sri Lanka 2011. The cycle challenge will take place in February and Krista is inviting people to join her and a small group to visit our rainforest project in Sri Lanka, plant trees on site, and help to raise funds to contribute toward the protection of this vital ecosystem. Particpants will also have the chance to visit temples, an elephant orphanage and relax in the historical beachside town of Galle.

‘…Krista says the trip is not just about raising money. It’s also about what the participants will get out of the experience.

“I would hope that a trip like this would change someone’s life,” says Krista.

“I think that being out on a bike in the middle of nature with incredible sights and smells and sounds and senses all around would just invigorate people; break them out of their daily thoughts, their daily gripes… and just get them to wake up to the beauty of life.”…’

To read more of the article, click here.

Click here if you are interested in the Ride for the Rainforest adventure in Sri Lanka

Click here to visit Krista’s website

Here is a great resource for anyone interested in the Endangered Animals of the Sri Lankan Rainforests Sri Lanka’s endangered animals Blog

If you are thinking of coming on the Ride for Rainforest “Sri Lanka Cycle Challenge” this is a great place to get a taste for the kinds of endangered wildlife you will be able to meet there

If the Ceylon Rose butterfly could speak, it would be telling us to tread carefully through the jungle. It’s an important message, because this butterfly only makes its home in Sri Lanka’s undisturbed rainforests. If we can find it, we know the forest around is unspoiled and rich with natural treasures. But the Ceylon Rose is very sensitive. If the forest is disturbed it cannot live there – so it is really important we protect the last few patches of primary rainforest. An animal like this is called an ‘indicator species’ – its presence indicates the forest is in pristine condition, and its absence is a warning that bad environmental changes are afoot. Read the rest of this entry »