יום שלישי, 7 באוקטובר 2008
יום שני, 6 באוקטובר 2008
Day 24: Ein Handaq to Horvat Hanot
Coming out of Ein Handaq in the morning was fun - climbing straight up at times. Just before the road to Even Sapir theres a very impressive statue/totem thingie. Apparently someone lives nearby in a small hut (He was actually sleeping in a teepee tent when we passed there), and we got a good fill of water there.
Further up we finally got to the Spring Trail, starting with Ein Aminadav.
Further up we finally got to the Spring Trail, starting with Ein Aminadav.
יום ראשון, 5 באוקטובר 2008
Day 23: Bnei Brit Cave to Ein Handaq
We were trying to sleep in the morning (After failing to get up at 5:30, again), but kept hearing those damn annoying cyclists riding past us. When we got up and ready to move they kept on coming and going up Nahal Ksalon. As I started walking up the trail, I think dozens of riders past me, mostly from behind, with the occasional lucky bastard riding down hill towards me.
Most of them seem like the high-tech executive types, taking the weekend off and away from their wives to ride in nature. I guess it's also good.
The actual hike up Ksalon was easy, with no major climb anywhere on the way to Ein Limon. Once I got there I parked myself on a nice shaded ledge, and waited for the rest to join in on the relaxing spring. It was just above the road, with no actual visibility on who is coming along, so I had to watch out for them not to miss the place, but I managed to catch everyone as they came along.
The place was very nice, with quite a big swimming hole where the spring water were collected, and after we had out nice breakfest over there, we took a dip. Ram had to do it solo, because he prefers to do these things a-natural. We joined in afterwards, and the cold water were very refreshing in the hot day.
From there we had a nice climb up to Tsuba, where Ram and I met and talked to two other IT hikers and compared hiking equipment. That's always fun.
Getting to the Sataf, we met loads of people walking around. From the parking lot at the top, and all the way down the long winding way down. We stopped at one spot there, and Uri played some on a guitar he got from someone there.
Later, we got to Ein Handaq. It was way too cold for me to enter it, being evening already. I had my share at Ein Limon earlier.
We had a little dinner going on, and later just waited around for Tal's friend to come pick her up. Yaara went with her for a night out in Jerusalem town. Tali, Ram's girlfriend, came later to pick him up, and we climbed up towards Even Sapir, where she waited with the car.
She got us some good shnitzels and mashed potatos, and I walked back down taking the long way around, which wasn't such a good idea. It was long, and it was around. I got back to the camp eventually, and munched on the shnitzels with Uri.
Most of them seem like the high-tech executive types, taking the weekend off and away from their wives to ride in nature. I guess it's also good.
The actual hike up Ksalon was easy, with no major climb anywhere on the way to Ein Limon. Once I got there I parked myself on a nice shaded ledge, and waited for the rest to join in on the relaxing spring. It was just above the road, with no actual visibility on who is coming along, so I had to watch out for them not to miss the place, but I managed to catch everyone as they came along.
The place was very nice, with quite a big swimming hole where the spring water were collected, and after we had out nice breakfest over there, we took a dip. Ram had to do it solo, because he prefers to do these things a-natural. We joined in afterwards, and the cold water were very refreshing in the hot day.
From there we had a nice climb up to Tsuba, where Ram and I met and talked to two other IT hikers and compared hiking equipment. That's always fun.
Getting to the Sataf, we met loads of people walking around. From the parking lot at the top, and all the way down the long winding way down. We stopped at one spot there, and Uri played some on a guitar he got from someone there.
Later, we got to Ein Handaq. It was way too cold for me to enter it, being evening already. I had my share at Ein Limon earlier.
We had a little dinner going on, and later just waited around for Tal's friend to come pick her up. Yaara went with her for a night out in Jerusalem town. Tali, Ram's girlfriend, came later to pick him up, and we climbed up towards Even Sapir, where she waited with the car.
She got us some good shnitzels and mashed potatos, and I walked back down taking the long way around, which wasn't such a good idea. It was long, and it was around. I got back to the camp eventually, and munched on the shnitzels with Uri.
יום שבת, 4 באוקטובר 2008
Day 22: Nave Shalom to Bnei Brit Cave
The day started nice enough going along the Burma Road. We hiked in nicely forested areas, all the way down towards road 36. We stopped there at the gas station (Had another Magnum), and also enjoyed the over sized but extremely tasty pomegranates Yaara got from her parents.
After the road we started climbing back up towards Jerusalem. I met a group of jeep travelers on top of the mountain, and finished my hike near Beit Me'ir's entrance waiting for the rest.
After a while Yaara, and then Ram, came along. We called Uri and Tal, and apparently they got lost in the way and got "here" much earlier, and were waiting at the gate of Beit Me'ir. We waited for them to join on on the trail, and had our lunch there, with some nap-time.
Amos and Taly passed along, going to the waterhole in Beit Me'ir. They had Taly's friend with them, and apparently Ram knows her as well. Another coincedence. We decided to skip the waterhole, and went on down towards the Ksalon Stream.
The climb down was pretty steep, but not too long, and we got to the picnic area and Bnei Brit memorial before dark. I called Orna to come and meet us tonight, and just as we got there she called and was quite close by. It was still a pain for her to find the right route to go up to, in order to meet us. She got me a new pair of shoes (NB 608), and anyway, it was great seeing her.
Uri had two friends coming over as well, so we all had plenty of food for dinner.
After the road we started climbing back up towards Jerusalem. I met a group of jeep travelers on top of the mountain, and finished my hike near Beit Me'ir's entrance waiting for the rest.
After a while Yaara, and then Ram, came along. We called Uri and Tal, and apparently they got lost in the way and got "here" much earlier, and were waiting at the gate of Beit Me'ir. We waited for them to join on on the trail, and had our lunch there, with some nap-time.
Amos and Taly passed along, going to the waterhole in Beit Me'ir. They had Taly's friend with them, and apparently Ram knows her as well. Another coincedence. We decided to skip the waterhole, and went on down towards the Ksalon Stream.
The climb down was pretty steep, but not too long, and we got to the picnic area and Bnei Brit memorial before dark. I called Orna to come and meet us tonight, and just as we got there she called and was quite close by. It was still a pain for her to find the right route to go up to, in order to meet us. She got me a new pair of shoes (NB 608), and anyway, it was great seeing her.
Uri had two friends coming over as well, so we all had plenty of food for dinner.
יום שישי, 3 באוקטובר 2008
Day 21: Modi'in Lookout to Nave Shalom
At midnight we got woken up by two cops. I was sleeping on the table, so they were talking to me, and telling me they are quite shocked to find hikers sleeping at what they said was the main route between Lod and eastern Jerusalem. A lot of drug addicts and other shady types go around these areas at night. They concluded by telling us we should keep a guard awake until morning. We agreed, and went back to sleep.
At morning we all woke up with no stab wounds, and with all our belongings with us. That's a relief. We walked outside of the Ben Shemen forest, and got lost for a short while near the Paatei Modi'in industrial zone. The blazes were not so clear over there.
I bumped into Rino over there - before starting the trail I talked to him about starting it together. It didn't work out (Not sure why), but here he was now. I guess it worked out well for him.
We got back on trail after everyone caught up to me, and we tried calling the Trail Angel in Neve Shalom on the phone. Apparently there is something wrong with the number, or the angel. Ram called Tal Shachar, who updates the Trail Angels list here. Apparently he knows her from before... Last I checked, the same trail angel with the same phone number is listed at Nave Shalom - so if you plan on staying there, don't count on her.
We kept on walking towards Latrun, where I waited for everyone to catch on for a nice lunch. I had some good Humus at the Asa Steak House, after the mandatory Magnum ice cream at the Yellow. After wards we also had a nice rest on the lawn there, before climbing towards Nave Shalom.
When we got to the village, Ram and I tried asking around for Reut, the so called Trail Angel according to the list. We couldn't find her, so we settled on sleeping just outside the village, in a nice picnic area. We met with Rino once again, and later Yaara's parents came over with some home made pizza and brownies, and we got plenty to eat for dinner.
At morning we all woke up with no stab wounds, and with all our belongings with us. That's a relief. We walked outside of the Ben Shemen forest, and got lost for a short while near the Paatei Modi'in industrial zone. The blazes were not so clear over there.
I bumped into Rino over there - before starting the trail I talked to him about starting it together. It didn't work out (Not sure why), but here he was now. I guess it worked out well for him.
We got back on trail after everyone caught up to me, and we tried calling the Trail Angel in Neve Shalom on the phone. Apparently there is something wrong with the number, or the angel. Ram called Tal Shachar, who updates the Trail Angels list here. Apparently he knows her from before... Last I checked, the same trail angel with the same phone number is listed at Nave Shalom - so if you plan on staying there, don't count on her.
We kept on walking towards Latrun, where I waited for everyone to catch on for a nice lunch. I had some good Humus at the Asa Steak House, after the mandatory Magnum ice cream at the Yellow. After wards we also had a nice rest on the lawn there, before climbing towards Nave Shalom.
When we got to the village, Ram and I tried asking around for Reut, the so called Trail Angel according to the list. We couldn't find her, so we settled on sleeping just outside the village, in a nice picnic area. We met with Rino once again, and later Yaara's parents came over with some home made pizza and brownies, and we got plenty to eat for dinner.
יום חמישי, 2 באוקטובר 2008
יום 20: מכפר הבפטיסטים למצפה מודיעין
Back on the trail today, and this time with some new partners. Orna came with me for the day, though she didn't want to stay for the night, and also Ram joined us for several days.
We all met at 5am or so, when Ram told us to wait on the road for him to pick us up with his girlfriend. By the time they got there we were already coming up with slow and painful ways to make them sorry for being late, this early in the morning. As always - the second the ride arrived, we were willing to forgive them, and headed out to the Baptist Village.
The trail was rather easy. After crossing Roud #5 we sat for a short breakfast, and met up with Amos and Tali. Apparently they popped in for the little party Uri was having on Tel-Baruch beach two nights ago, and had also taken a day off at home. We kept on walking and had some water shortage after Elad. We already started asking for spare water bottles from cars passing by, and then we found a water tap at the Alexandroni Monument. That was rather lucky.
The day grew quite hot, and there wasn't much in the way of actual views. We did see a huge Bamba Baby, which was nice. Walking with Orna and Ram was quite fun. We talked a lot (Something I don't usually do while hiking, since I walk alone most of the time), and Ram tought us the "Kee" game (It sounds better in Hebrew).
We managed to get lost for a short while after crossing some road again. That's always fun. We then met with Amos and Tali again - they managed to yogi plenty of food for themselves from picnicers. We always suck at this.
By the end of the day we were just anxious to get to Modi'in Park. Orna called her sister and had her take her back home. Sadly, she wasn't into hiking for several days. We just made our dinner, and got some left overs from more meat Amos yoggied. It was quite noisy and full of day hikers and cyclists when we got there, but at night it grew much more quiet.
We all met at 5am or so, when Ram told us to wait on the road for him to pick us up with his girlfriend. By the time they got there we were already coming up with slow and painful ways to make them sorry for being late, this early in the morning. As always - the second the ride arrived, we were willing to forgive them, and headed out to the Baptist Village.
The trail was rather easy. After crossing Roud #5 we sat for a short breakfast, and met up with Amos and Tali. Apparently they popped in for the little party Uri was having on Tel-Baruch beach two nights ago, and had also taken a day off at home. We kept on walking and had some water shortage after Elad. We already started asking for spare water bottles from cars passing by, and then we found a water tap at the Alexandroni Monument. That was rather lucky.
The day grew quite hot, and there wasn't much in the way of actual views. We did see a huge Bamba Baby, which was nice. Walking with Orna and Ram was quite fun. We talked a lot (Something I don't usually do while hiking, since I walk alone most of the time), and Ram tought us the "Kee" game (It sounds better in Hebrew).
We managed to get lost for a short while after crossing some road again. That's always fun. We then met with Amos and Tali again - they managed to yogi plenty of food for themselves from picnicers. We always suck at this.
By the end of the day we were just anxious to get to Modi'in Park. Orna called her sister and had her take her back home. Sadly, she wasn't into hiking for several days. We just made our dinner, and got some left overs from more meat Amos yoggied. It was quite noisy and full of day hikers and cyclists when we got there, but at night it grew much more quiet.
יום רביעי, 1 באוקטובר 2008
יום 19: מנוחה בבית
Ater finishing the holiday's dinner last night, I got on a ride to Tel-Aviv to finally see Orna, who just came back from Slovakia at the time. During my ride, Uri called and asked if I'd mind taking a day off tomorrow (=today). I think I have finally made up my mind about not rushing it to finish the trail by Nov 2nd. So I said I'd love a day off, and here I am - after 0Km I've done on the trail today.
More trails tomorrow.
More trails tomorrow.
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