Cuero Anchor Club sponsors wildflower bike ride

The wildflowers are blooming, filling the DeWitt County countryside with bright colors and eye-popping views.

To help the cycling community enjoy the scenery, the Anchor Club of Cuero is hosting its 10th annual Wildflower Bike Ride on Saturday, April 5.

The ride will begin at the pavilion in the Cuero Municipal Park, off U.S. Highway 87.

Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. and the ride begins at 8 a.m.Riders will have a choice of five routes with approximate distances of 10, 23, 32, 48 and 58 miles through gentle rolling hills of historic and flowerstrewn countryside.

Routes are marked on the roads. Color coded maps and written directions are also provided.

In an effort to make the ride more affordable for families with children, a new registration category has been added this year.

The family of three or more category will allow the adults of a family of three or more to register for the same cost as children -$30 per rider.

Other registration categories are individual riders, $35; and tandem, $60. All riders 14 years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

All early registrants will be guaranteed a custom-designed T-shirt celebrating this year's ride. All riders receive a packet with numerous items. Additional shirts will be available upon request for $15 each. Late registrants will be given shirts while supplies last.

To register online click on http://www.active.com/event detail.cfm?eventid=1479671.

Fruit, beverages and snacks will be provided at designated stops along the routes.

The bikers will again be supported by motorcyclists who will weave through the routes, checking on the cyclists in the event of mechanical or other difficulties.

In 1999, the Anchor Club of Cuero High School began hosting the Wildflower Bike Ride in conjunction with the DeWitt County Wildflower Association's month-long wildflower observance.

Proceeds from the bike ride help fund many of the Anchor Club's projects, including day camp for special needs students; Brain Minder Buddies programs at the schools; care kits for women's crisis centers; camping scholarships to Camp Higher Ground, a camp for adults with brain-related injuries and diseases; participation at the Texas District Anchor convention, and college scholarships for Anchor Club seniors.

In addition, Anchor Club members volunteer in the community at the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet, the chamber auction, Cuero's Halloween Carnival, hospital health fair and bingo at area nursing homes.

This is the major fundraiser for the Anchor club, making all these special activities possible.

To learn more about the ride and Anchor Club click on http://www.cueroisd.org/ anchorclub/bikeride.htm.

To learn more about the DeWitt County Wildflower Association click on http:// dewittwildflowers.org/calevent. shtml.