Every time I get an email from Sam and the Ride for the Trees crew, I get pretty stoked. I stop having a boring life.

Dude’s living the dream, and quite cool about it.  Check the vid of the Africanized bee attack Sam got caught up in… and video’d. Be safe Sam!

Hola amigos de los arboles or Hello friends of the trees,
This is David Gordon, manager of Ride For The Trees. I’m writing to you because I wanted to directly thank all of you for your support and interest in the cause. As you know, Samuel is working hard on his journey to raise money to save the San Rafael Reserve in Paraguay. Here is a quick update on some of the challenges and rewards Samuel has experienced during the first leg of his lengthy ride.

Currently Samuel is in Corrientes, Argentina which is around 1,004 kilometers from where he started. Here, Samuel hit a snag which cost him about a week delay. While taking a break on the outskirts of Corrientes, Samuel was attacked by a swarm of Africanized Killer Bees. In his haste to escape them, he wasn’t able to secure his bag to his trailer and it fell off behind him along the side of the road. Understandably, he was too occupied to notice until he was 2 kilometers away and free from the bees. By the time he went back for his bag, it was gone, along with the gear he needs to complete his trek (including his tent, stove, clothes, and other supplies).

Fortunately, after 100s of stings, he’s in good health. He tried to get his bag back through the Argentinian authorities and some news organizations, but to no avail.

Now, on to the good news. After regrouping for a few days, with the help of a nice Argentinian family, Samuel is ready to head off again. He bought cheap replacement gear which should last him until he reaches his next leg of the trip. There he’s planning on buying more reliable gear before he heads through the rest of Argentina.

Even after his setback, Samuel is determined to complete what he set out to accomplish. In fact, the only thing that will make Samuel throw in the towel is a lack of funds. Of course, with these extra purchases that he’s had to make, this may become a problem down the road.

But this isn’t an email about fund raising, it’s just a quick update about Samuel’s continuing ride.

Thank you for reading and thanks again for your support!

More videos of Samuel’s ride can be found: www.youtube.com/user/RideForTheTrees

David Gordon
Manager for Ride For The Trees
www.RideForTheTrees.com

If you’d like to donate to the Ride For The Trees, it can be done here rideforthetrees.giving.officelive.com/howtohelp

If you have any ideas on helping Samuel replace his lost/stolen gear, please email davegordon3@yahoo.com

4 Responses to “Ride for the Trees”

1. Nick Says:
   February 3rd, 2009 at 7:41 pm

   I had a bee fly into my open jersey last summer. The fucker stung me instantly, I had to sprint home for meds as I recently found I am allergic.

   No fun.

2. butthead Says:
   February 4th, 2009 at 9:59 am

   that sounded fucking scarry

   I’ve rode into a small swarm and had one or 2 stick in my helmet and sting but that shit is gnarly

   is he ok

3. Gnome Says:
   February 4th, 2009 at 10:25 am

   ya, he’s good.

4. jordan hoggie Says:
   February 10th, 2009 at 5:52 am

   hah… this video is still only slightly better than cloverfield… well done