This past weekend was spent in the company of Antoinette van de Water, her visiting parents and many of her supporters at Bike for Elephants 2012. Are you familiar with Bring The Elephant Home? My role this year was to ride along and take photographs. For me it was inspiring. Somewhere along the road one of the students from the KIS International School commented “You like taking pictures of kids, don’t you”. The answer, young man, is: Absolutely, especially when you are involved in life! The future of the world is in the hands of these young men and women. If the ones I met this weekend are any example, we'll be just fine!
This year day one was more challenging than anyone had anticipated. There was heavy rain in the area the night before, quite unexpected for mid January in Northern Thailand. We started out with a light rain, lots of mud and great attitudes. Starting out at the Mae Rim Lagoon Bed and Bakery, the bike riders made their way along the chosen route. Soon it was realized that the mud was too much for the bikes. The mud is actually more like a clay and would stick to the gears, brakes and all other parts. Everyone took it all in stride. The route was changed to mostly paved roads.
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| A rainy start |
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| Mud |
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| Moving along the road |
We stopped for lunch at the Bamboo Lodge and then continued on the the Elephant Nature Park. I’m not sure how it happened but this year the ENP staff put the riders up in dorm rooms. The participants enjoyed a bit of time feeding the elephants, were greeted by Sangduen “Lek” Chailert, the founder of ENP, a great dinner and an educational video. The anticipated bonfire had been cancelled due to the rains.
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| Fixing a Flat During Luch |
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| Wow! An Elephant |
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| The Group Photo (One of many actually)! |
In the morning we gathered for a group photograph and headed out for the day’s ride. Sunday was clear and the ride went well. We went through an area east of ENP and finally stopped at Wat Baan Den. Then, on to the finish on the shores of the lake at the Mae Ngat reservoir. At the end several of the participants enjoyed a swim in the refreshing lake waters.
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| Student Nurse "Teaw" |
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| A beautiful back road |
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| Water Fun |
Somehow a couple direction signs were removed at the end of the course, causing a hearty souls to bike to the top of Mae Ngat reservoir. This is the bike for elephants event that will go down in history as having two winners at two different finish lines. Everyone took it all in stride and had a great time and everyone who participated is a winner!
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| We finished First, jut at different places |
Bicycles for this event were provided by SpiceRoads. Other sponsors included Fah Lanna Spa, Park Plaze Hotel and DE Lanna Hotel. I mention these fine people because I’ve learned that life is composed of givers and takers. These people are all givers and I would rather do business with the givers than the takers. I’m sure you feel the same.
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| The Happy Accident |
Abundant Blessings,
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