The Arava Institute Hazon Israel Ride: October 30 – November 6, 2012

Flying out of Rome to Israel today for my seventh IsraelRide.

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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.