Flying out of Rome to Israel today for my seventh IsraelRide.
If you would like to donate in support of The Arava Institute please follow either link at the top of this blog.
The Israel Ride is a seven day experience. We begin with a day for
registration, orientation, and building and testing your bike. The
adventure continues with 5 days of riding with a day of rest (Shabbat)
in the middle. Our 2012 Israel Ride will feature some of the best
cycling in Israel. This includes two days of cycling through the
northern forests followed by three days in the south, riding on the open
roads in the Negev desert.
Orientation in Shavei Tzion | Tuesday, Oct. 30
Our orientation will be at a Kibbutz near the city of Acco in
northern Israel, on the Mediterranean Coast. Participants gather at the
hotel for registration, orientation, bicycle assembly, and a practice
ride. It is important to leave yourself plenty of time to assemble your
bike or find the proper rental bike, and to take a test ride.
The Northern Border | Wednesday, Oct. 31
Riders will take a short bus ride to the heart of the Upper Galilee
to begin our ride. In the morning, we will ride through the forests of
the Galil, passing by small rural communities on the Lebanese border. We
will then descend from the mountains to the Hula Valley, and visit the
new bird sanctuary. November is prime bird migration season, when over
10,000 birds may be present. We will end the day in the far north of
Israel, near the headwaters of the Jordan River.
The Hula and the Kinneret | Thursday, Nov. 1
We will explore the various sources of Israel’s primary water system –
the Jordan River and Sea of Galilee. We will traverse the length of the
Hula Valley, full of farms, kibbutzim, and the headwaters of the Jordan
River. We will climb the lower slopes of of the Golan Heights, visiting
the ancient city of Qatzrin, current home of the Golan Heights Winery.
We ride around the majestic Kinneret and learn about the water situation
in Israel. We will end the day with a ride into Beit Shean, one of the
oldest cities in the world.
Northern Negev to Mitzpe Ramon | Friday, Nov. 2
We will start the morning early with a bus ride to transfer to the
south. We will begin riding in Yerucham in the central Negev, on the
desert plateau above the Dead Sea. Our first day of desert riding will
take us through small towns that serve as modern oases in the arid
climate. We will visit Sde Boker, the historic site of David Ben
Gurion’s kibbutz home and grave with views of the dramatic ravine at
Wadi Zin. We end the day ascending to Mitzpe Ramon, overlooking the
unique Makhtesh Ramon, a geological phenomenon not to be missed.
Shabbat in Mitzpe Ramon | Saturday, Nov. 3
Celebrate
Shabbat as a community in spellbinding Mitzpe Ramon. Enjoy the day off
as an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate yourself in this beautiful
desert environment.
We ask that all riders join us for Shabbat dinner on Friday night as a
community, and then again on Saturday evening as we say farewell to
Shabbat with a Havdalah ceremony overlooking the Makhtesh Ramon.
During the day, all programming is optional, but we offer communal
prayer options, discussions, hikes, and yoga. After lunch, there are
opportunities to learn more about the work of Hazon and the Arava
Institute during optional sessions on Shabbat.
Mitzpe Ramon to Kibbutz Ketura | Sunday, Nov. 4
After
a spectacular descent into Makhtesh Ramon, travel across the heart of
the ever-changing Negev landscape, stopping at a desert Ashram and an
organic cafe. End the day with another dramatic descent to the Arava
Valley. At Kibbutz Ketura you can take a tour of the Arava Institute,
the kibbutz, and meet the current students.
Kibbutz Ketura to Eilat | Monday, Nov. 5
On
the final day of riding, we will ride to the southern tip of Israel –
Eilat. Chalutzim start with a climb out of the Arava valley (that
everyone rode down the day before), one of the steepest climbs on the
route. Tzofim will be bused up, and will join Chalutzim for a ride along
the Egyptian border. Shomrim will rejoin us from their morning touring
for lunch, and we will all end with a stunning descent into the city of
Eilat, where we ride through the city to the beach. After a swim in the
Red Sea we head to bike packing and a final dinner.
