Remember when we put the call out for spare bikes for the Venturers? You responded — and how! Here’s where those bikes went.
Stephen Lasham, Venturer Leader for the Sea Scouts, writes:
Last night a group of Aotea Venturers set off on their bicycles from Onehunga Harbour Road and across the old Mangere Bridge. Having traversed the bridge, they continued along the foreshore cycle way that meanders pleasantly alongside Kiwi Esplanade taking in views of the Manukau Harbour. From here they went through Ambury Park Farm amongst sheep and chickens, and out onto the Watercare Coastal Walkway; gravel tracks shared by hikers, bikers, and many, many pukeko.
The tide was out over the coastal flats, with birdlife aplenty wading in the mud looking for food; it was highly picturesque with a moody backdrop of sky that threatened rain, with the last of the day’s sun breaking through in heaven’s rays. Sadly the sun started setting too early, so the Venturers returned to base having clocked up 16kms each toward the National Venturer Cycle Challenge.
The National Venturer Cycle Challenge has been set up to encourage Venturers to try something new, get physical, and consider cycle touring as an option for their expedition requirements toward the Queen’s Scout, Young New Zealander, Duke of Edinburgh awards. The challenge involves Venturers individually and in their Venturer Units cycling as many kilometres as they can before the end of March, and we hope will become an annual event.
One young lady from the Phoenix Venturer Unit in Christchurch has already clocked up an impressive 546 kilometres. Auckland Venturers are on their way, with a young man from Te Atatu’s Endeavour Venturer Unit leading the pack with 177 kilometres under his tires. Leading Auckland’s young women is Emma Hookings, one of the Venturers out last night, who has so far reached 127 kilometres. Emma comes from a cycling family and has been great at encouraging the other Venturers in the challenge.
The Venturers really enjoyed their initial cycle ride toward the National Venturer Cycle Challenge and wish to pass on their thanks to CAA and its members who kindly donated bicycles. Without this generosity the Venturers may never have started; Venturers go out as a unit, and would have hated to leave members without bikes behind.
Aotea Venturers are now planning their next cycling trip in a bid to clock up even more kilometres to the challenge. Venturers is part of Scouting NZ for youth aged 14 to 18.
Thank you, CAA!
