The Hills Are Your Friends

A few days in Tel Aviv before traveling home

I've had a 2 1/2 relaxing days in Tel Aviv. Time to recover with more bicycling along the beach and to Yafo. These are the green Telobikes. A great way to get around the city.  Below are some views from the past 2 days.

I fly back to Altanta late tonight.

View from my hotel room. 

Unexpectedly meeting Jeff and Natelie. 

Yafo

End of the Ride- friends departing

It is now Tuesday evening and I have arrived in Tel Aviv, after taking a flight from Eilat. No, we didn't have to bike back here. 

I'm settled in my hotel, putting together some final thoughts and editing my videos. 

Below are some scenes from today.

At the Eilat airport waiting for our flight to Tel Aviv. 

Retracing our route from the air. 

View from my hotel

Bike Ride Day 5- Kibbutz Ketura to Eilat

After 50+ miles of riding I have safety arrived in Eilat. We traveled through rolling hills in the Negev along the Egyptian border, and then down a very steep 5-mile hill into Eilat. Below are some views from the day.  

Our decent into Eilat- Click on the link  below to see the video.

http://youtu.be/cLfkyX5bcjk

Day 4- From Mitzpe Ramon to Kibbutz Ketura

We left Mitzpe Ramon at 6:30 am and road down into the Machktesh- one of 3 great downhills. The weather was perfect with low heat and calm winds. After 62 miles we have arrived safely at Ketura. 

Before dinner we had a chance to meet with some of the current students at the Arava Institute. I was impressed how young adult Israelis, Jordanians, Palestinians, and Americans can create a dialog. These are the next generation of leaders.

We are now sitting down to a wonderful barbique dinner. 

Here are some photos from today. 

Shabbat at Mitzpe Ramon

I spent today recovering from 3 days of long bike riding.  This included walks to the Machktesh - an emense erosion crater. We will be riding down into the through the Machktesh on Sunday morning on our way to Kibbutz Ketura. 

Bike Ride- Day 3 - Yerucham to Mitzpe Ramon

Our bike ride continued this morning at 7:30.  We traveled from Yerucham, a development town in the Northern Negev, heading through Sde Boker (Ben Gurion's grave site)  and then south towards Mitzpe Ramon. The day included lots of head winds and uphill.  One particular climb was very steep and leveled out at Nafha prison.  All together we traveled 52 miles, climed over 4500 feet and decended 3394 feet.

We had a morning break at Golda Park- a wonderful nature preseve in the desert.  Lunch was at Sde Boker.

Below are some photos from today's experiences.

Golda Park

Some of the hills from today's ride.

David and Paula Ben Gurion's graves

The ibex roam freely at Sde Boker

A view from Sde Boker