Day 1 is in the Books!

 October 24, 2018

I am writing this entry during the evening of October 24, after our first day of riding - though I don’t think I will be able to post it til later - the internet connection here in Ashkelon is not very good.

Ashkelo!n you say??  Where is that?? Well, We started this morning in Jerusalem.  We are bussed to a lovely park outside the city.  Riding from through the city is just too dangerous.  We gather for an opening ceremony and read the travellers’ prayer.  I had the honor of blowing the shofar to send us off, and then we are on our bikes!

We have travelled from Jerusalem, through the hills of Judea, west (mostly) to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea some 67 miles and about 3,000 feet of climbing and into the city of Ashkelon.  The ride had some fast descents, and some really hard climbs (they don’t call them the Hills of Judea for nothing!). It was not the best day of riding that we will have - lots of first day logistics to work out, some jittery nerves, and a fair amount of traffic.  Most of that should ease tomorrow as we leave the more populated areas and get deeper into the desert.  More on that tomorrow.

I am not able to post as many photos of the scenery as I would like - the ride has not been conducive to taking many pictures.  But there is a lot of photography happening in and around the ride, and I will try to post photos as they become available. But here are a few from today:

We are on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.  So a quick change into bathing suit and a dip in the calm warm waters.  

A lovely way to end a day of riding.

And here is a new feature.  I have a new app that creates a video of my rides over a Google Earth map.  Here is Day 1: https://www.relive.cc/view/g26098144878. (If this is not a clickable link, then copy and paste it into your browser). I will try to do this each day.

Tomorrow is the longest day of the ride.  We travel 91 miles into the Negev, high on the Egyptian border.  I have only done this route once in the times I have been here - and my  recollection is that it is stunning.  On the other hand, there is a forecast for rain tomorrow, and they will pull us off the road if there is more than a drizzle.  For good reasons, mostly - when it rains hard here there is a real risk of flash floods... and because it rains so little, when the roads get wet the first couple of times during the rainy season, they can get slippery from all the oil that has seeped in during the summer. But also, people get a bit freaked out with the rain, because there is so little of it.

So in anticipation of a long ride tomorrow, I am signing off for an early bedtime.

L’hitra-ot.

Tomorrow We Ride

October 23, 2018

Today was a day for mechanics, test rides and other logistical preparations.  We also had an opportunity to visit the Old City of Jerusalem. I went with guide who took us off the beaten path and into the neighborhoods, away from the main attractions - the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Dome of the Rock - into the residential quarters that make up the heart of the city.  We sometimes forget that the city is not just these holy sites, but a place where thousands of people live.

And tonight we have had our final ride briefings, safety lectures and logistics meetings.  There is nothing left but to begin the journey that I have been anticipating and training for.

Tomorrow we ride!

L’hitra-to 

Higanu

October 21, 2018

Higanu - we have arrived.

It was a long flight, but thanks to a bit a pharmacology, I managed a few hours of sleep.  Upon arrival, my cousin Hagai was waiting for me an off we zipped to Jerusalem.   A little rest at their beautiful home Motza Ilit, outside the city limits, and we ventured into the city to stroll a bit and get a bite to eat.  A feast to behold.  Jerusalem mix, it is called (plus enough other food to feed six people - Hagai always orders too much!)

Hagai took Jake and Geeta here when they visited last month - Jake says it was the best meal he had in Israel!  And it was pretty good (though I could do without the liver they snuck into the mix.)

So an interesting thing about Jerusalem.  As many people know, it is a city divided - between old and new, religious and secular, Arab and Jew.  Some observations about the division between the religious and secular.  Historically there were neighborhoods, very insulated.  And to a great extent there still are.  The commercial areas were also pretty distinct, with a bustling secular, tourist, coffee shop and bar scene in one area, and and an outdoor market area (Mahane Jehuda, or the Jewish Market), which was an open food an vegetable market - kind of run down, lots of religious shops and small stalls mixed in.  Secular Israelis might shop there for food - but nobody really hung out there.  

I was very surprised to see an explosion of coffee  shops, small restaurants, bars and more upscale shops all in and around the Mahane Jehuda area.  Many more young people, both religious and secular strolling about taking in the sights and sounds.  My cousin, a Jerusalemite born and bred confirmed my impression that this was a change in the atmosphere.  And it is a good thing - a spark of new life in this ancient holy city, where the divisions I spoke of above are deeply routed and divisive.

This morning brought a brisk stroll with Hagai.

Breakfast.

And, oh yes...  it’s a bike again!

Off to our gathering place for the ride, where I am looking forward to renewing acquaintances and preparing to roll!

L’hitra-ot.

It’s a Wrap!

October 20, 2018

Bike is packed and checked in - they say all the way through to Tel Aviv.

 

I’m pretty sure there is a bike in there!  And it fit!

It is a bit surreal sitting here in the airport.  A gate full of people off on various adventures - or non-adventures.  My riding friend Max and I are probably the only ones on the first leg of a cycling odyssey that will shortly see us crossing the desert.  At least no one looks obviously like a cyclist!  (Not that I look obviously like a cyclist!).  No helmets hanging out of bags, anyway.

There are two major challenges of this ride.  The first is consecutive days of longs rides.  I think I am ready for that, although getting on the bike on the third morning is always a bit daunting.  The other is the hills.  There are some really tough climbs on this ride.  Sure, I train in preparation.  I ride lots of miles and make sure to tackle some hills.  But 10 days or so ago, on a rainy day, I thought I would do some hard quad work - deep squats with weights, that kind of stuff. One thing is certain.  Ten days before a ride is too late to start that kind of training.  I will just have to rely on what I have built up over the season.  No speed records this year.... just get to the top.

We are heading off to a Middle East in turmoil.  From Saudi Arabia, to Syria, to the Gaza Strip, this part of the world continues to suffer from political and religious divisions that have brought so much misery.  It is no small thing that we cycle into the heart of this troubled region on a mission of peace and cooperation.  The very existence of the Arava Institute is a symbol of hope - and a vote of confidence that reasonable minds can prevail, bringing us closer to the day when our common interests unite us in triumph over that which divides us.  This is the vision that drives us - and we hope that our small contribution brings us just a little bit closer.

L’hit-ra-ot.

For This We Ride!

September 26, 2018

As September turns to October, it is time to turn my thinking in earnest to the upcoming Israel Ride.  It will be my 5th!  In writing these words, I am mindful that I am not a reliable blogger.  I have not written here since the close of the last ride.  It was a turbulent time, with the election of a president who has proven to be an embarrassment and a disgrace to the institution he represents and the Constitution he is sworn to uphold (ok, so I betray my politics).  Oftentimes I wonder how we go about day-to-day lives when so many fundamental principles on which our democracy rests are shaken.  I suppose one reason is that we cannot live in a constant state of crisis - but do we thereby become numb to reality?  Do the scandals and outrage become the new normal??  Or do we focus on the things we can impact and improve? (phew... I think I just figured out how to get out of the dark direction this was going in...)

In these uncivil times, where tweets and bullying have taken the place of leadership, it is the vision and actions of organizations like the Arava Institute and Hazon that remind me of the hope and resiliency of the human condition.  If ancient plants can be brought back to life, and the desert can continue to bloom, then the seeds of trust, cooperation and leadership planted at Arava too will thrive.  

For this we ride!  I am thrilled to enter this last phase of training and preparation, and I am eager to meet old friends and new, as we begin our journey from the hills of Jerusalem to the shores of the Red Sea.  I have said this before, but there is no better way to experience the spirituality and the drama of Israel than from the seat of a bike, where the sights, sounds, smell, touch, and even the taste of the Land are close, alive, visceral.  And there is no better cause than supporting the vision of peace, cooperation and sustainable environmental practices that is at the core of the Arava Institute (and its partner in the ride, Hazon).

So I will try to be a more reliable scribe as the ride draws closer and during the trip itself.

Until then, l’hitra-ot.

It's Not Just About the Miles

When I joined Facebook a few years ago, it was with the intent to stay in touch with my cycling friends and to participate in the online community forming around the Israel Ride which had become my passion.  Little did I know how much time I would spend "liking" cute photos of other peoples' grandchildren, dramatic sunsets from parts of the world I will never see and sharing birthday greetings with friends far and wide.  I have shared my cycling adventures and some lovely family moments.  While I have read many of the political postings from friends and friends of friends, I have tried to keep my own FB presence low.  I have avoided posting or sharing political links and have pretty much kept my opinions to myself.  

Of course, I am not without political opinions.  In the aftermath of this past election, I have had many conversations about how to respond to the outrageous positions Trump had staked out during the campaign. We have spoken of having to draw lines the crossing of which would require action, but I confess I was in the camp of naive hopefuls who prayed that once in office, he - or at least his advisors - would recognize that governing requires moderation of extreme views, tempering of impulse and building of coalitions.

Sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, in the first week of this Administration so many lines have been crossed that is it difficult to know which ones to pick,  Healthcare?  Freedom of the press? Conflicts of interest? They all demand to be called out, but some will stroke more quickly, cut more deeply,  And it is now clear without doubt that there cannot be a wait-and-see period.  There can be no honeymoon.  We must declare ourselves now, show where we stand and be counted.

For me, the first (of which I fear will be many) is the Executive Order on Immigration.  Leaving aside the lack of historical relation to actual threats to our homeland, the apparent conflicts of interest in avoiding countries with which Trump does business, and, oh yes, the violations of law and our Constitution, as a Jew, it sickens me that our country has shut its doors to entire populations based countries of origin - but really based on religion.  It is beyond irony that this abominable action was taken on Holocaust Remembrance Day.  How many lives were lost because the United States closed its doors to Jews desparate to escape the Nazi terror?  How many future generations snuffed out?  Have we learned nothing from history?  How can we claim any high ground in a world that is rapidly losing its moral compass?

So what does this have to do with Facebook?  As more and more of our lives are intertwined with social media, we can no longer ignore that our presence on this platform has become almost as prevelent as our conversations in person.  While speaking on social media is no substitute for action, and posting is no substitute for showing up, it does provide a platform on which we can stand and be counted.  

And so, while most of my flesh and blood friends know where I stand, not all of my virtual friends do. At this dark moment in our history, I will - and do - declare myself.  Where there is room for debate, I hope there will be civil discourse.  Where there is a chance for progress, I hope it will be made.  But we cannot be passive.  We cannot assume that others will carry the burden of reason and reality (after all, he was elected...).  If our history tells us anything it tells us that we are each accountable, we are each responsible.

May our voices be heard, may our presence be felt, and by our actions may we preserve that of which as a nation we can be proud.

L'hitra-ot,

Lester

The Last Ride

Monday is the last day of riding.  Recall I mentioned the last descent into Ketura in my last post?  It is about 4 miles of steep declines and switchbacks, followed by another mile of smooth slope down to the kibbutz entrance.  Well, what goes down must go up (unless you decide to ride the bus).  There is much debate about which climb of the ride is the hardest.  This one comes close.  It just goes on and on and on and on.  It's amazing how much effort can go into moving so slowly But I made it!

After a rest stop, we move out towards and along the Egyptian border.  Again, another long a beautiful stretch through the desert.   The border has become more dramatic since the incursions of several years ago.  What was once a simple barbed wire fence haas become a sophistocated high wire and electronic fence that now stretches from Gaza through the Sinai border.  It is a stark reminder of the hostilities that still prevail in this region.  And sadly it poses an environmental disaster, since it blogs the migration route of the many species for whom the border is a meaningless line.

We gather within sight of the fence for lunch - all 180 of us.  Much of the time is taken with photos of the various groups - regional, teams, alumni, riders over 65, riders over 70 (yes there were 3 of them.), and more.  Takes too long, but finally we are ready for the last stretch.  

We move out as a large group, for several miles of rolling hills (and a couple of long climbs).  I have just about run out of gas after 5 days of hard riding.  Then we stop at the apex of the the descent into Eilat.  A final safety briefing about speed and control (the one serious accident on this ride happened in 2010 when a rider lost control on this last descent and wound up terrible injured for life), and we are released one at a time for a thrilling 6 mile descent to the glittering sea.  The first half is through the same mountainous landscape we have seen for days.  But then the road turns and suddenly Eilat and the Red Sea loom ahead.  Across the bay is Aqaba, Jordon.  In the distance are the mountains of Saudi Arabia, and behind us is Egypt.  We can see 4 countries at the same time.

Everyone made the descent safely.  We stop in a park for popsicles (an odd tradition), and then we make our way to the edge of the sea.  What an accomplishment!!

Our ride has come to an end.  We have a closing ceremony that includes a slide show of the photos and videos taken throughout the ride (did I mention that they used a drone this year?? - when the show is posted on line I will post the link).  We thank the marvelous staff and crew of 80 of the most wonderful people you will ever meet.  And then party into the night.  (Though I don't last as long as the crew, who I think we on the beach until the very wee hours).

A couple days of relaxing in Eilat and we will be back in the States to face the new reality that awaits us.

I am sure I will have some reflections to add to this blog in the next few days... but for now I close this series of posts, full of gratitude for the opportunity to once again have (and share with you) this wonderfully moving and fulfilling experience.  

I end with prayers for peace and healing of the deep divides in our country.  I fear for the course we appear to be taking, but I hope that people of good will can find common ground, even in conflict, in the spirit of the Arava Institute, and that our future will not be dark.

Until next time,

L'hitra-ot,

Lester