[Israel ride] Day 5: Kibbutz Ketura to Eilat

[magid]

So overdue.... For reference, the previous day's ride

This was the last day of the ride, which was relatively short (35-45 miles). Since I'd chosen to go with Tzofim, there was a bit of extra time in the morning, which meant that Said showed me the chapel and the classroom he'd studied in. Then all of us non-Chalutzim got on a bus to take us up to Shizafon Junction (which felt fine by me: I'd ridden down from there already, and since we weren't going to take the more direct and flat route, I didn't feel the need to attempt >1500 feet of altitude gain in <5 miles (defensive, much?)).

The whole day's ride was desert, and it was already difficult (until lunch it was all uphill (sometimes, upmountain)), compounded by a cue sheet that was much more inaccurate than others had been.

1. from Shizafon, straight south on Rte. 12 the whole way.
   
2. rest stop at Sayarim army base.
   ... except that this didn't happen. Having no odometer, I kept thinking that it was uphill, but surely I'd gone 5 miles already? This messed me up, rather.
   
3. cross Seguv Wadi.
   
4. rest stop across from a small "28" sign on your left.
   Really, who notices tiny number signs? There was no way to miss the rest stop, set up in the middle of nowhere, with shade and liquid and calories. It felt good to get out of the sun, however momentarily.
   
5. bus stop - in case you have had enough already :-)
   (Yes, that was on the cue sheet.) I don't remember whether it was at this bus stop that the waiting soldier put out his hand to get a tremp (hitchhike), but somewhere around here, anyway. He and I both laughed as he did.
   
6. lunch at Har Hizkiyahu - altitude 838 m.
   It had been a hard uphill morning going south, and there was a turnoff to get up to Har Hizkiyahu for lunch. David R. was there to make sure people didn't miss the turn, and suggested gearing down, since it was a steep climb to the top. Nice advice, but when already in lowest gear, it doesn't help much. This last bit had a bend in it, and I convinced myself I could make it to the turn. I did, but got off for the last 100 feet or so. One of the cheering crew ran down, and said she'd run back with me if I rode. I knew I was done (it would've been hard starting on that hill even when not tired), and said no. She offered again, and I had to say again, I wasn't able to. I felt like I was one of the last people to get to lunch, though I know there were others after me.
   There was a huge shade structure, which was lovely. And the view was amazing, four countries visible at once. There were Egyptian guard towers pretty much right there (some people who knew Arabic chatted with the guards, who were amazed to see so many crazy bicyclists in the desert), then Israel (with our first view of Eilat and the sea!), Jordan (red cliffs again), and the hazy hills beyond the water were Saudi Arabia. Very cool.
   There were a bunch of group photos after lunch, then it was the last part of the ride.
   
7. steep curvy descent towards Eilat.
   They weren't kidding: it was switchbacks and steepness all the way. And there were crosswinds; there were some moments I was sure the wind was going to take my helmet off. One guy clocked something like 45 miles/hour on the descent.
   It felt great to have earned the descent, and it was nice to be met with popsicles at the bottom.
   
8. right at the first traffic circle in Eilat.
   
9. left at the second traffic circle.
   
10. at the third traffic circle, left onto Sheshet Hayamim.
    
11. straight through the next traffic circle.
    (Did I mention there are traffic circles everywhere?)
    
12. at the next traffic circle, right onto Derech Hagay.
    
13. left at the T-junction.
    
14. right at the traffic circle onto Argamam St.
    
15. at the next traffic circle, turn right. Go 2 km towards the Taba border crossing and pass the seaport.
    I hadn't realized how much at one end of town our hotel was; there wasn't the chance to see much of the city proper as we rode. On the other hand, it was easier to have so many riders together, and we sang as we went.
    
16. left into the parking lot of Aqua Sport.
    Done and done!

We stacked our bikes by the side of a building, separating the rentals from the rest, and went on to the beach, where the crew was handing out towels and wristbands that entitled us to drinks. The day bags started appearing, and a lot of people got into bathing suits to go into the water. I was too frizzled to do more than sit in the shade for a long while, enjoying the celebration around me as people got drinks, enjoyed the water, and danced to the drumming that never took long to start up. Eventually I put on a sun hat, draped the towel over my shoulders, and braved my way out onto the beach and into the water. I'd expected a sandy beach, but it was rather pebbly/rocky, and the parts underwater were slippery! I was still in bike clothes, so I didn't even wade in waist deep, and still there were gorgeous fishes, large, colored ones (aqarium ones!), swimming around my legs. Just amazing. And the water felt wonderfully cool (others complained it was too cold, which it totally wasn't!).

Eventually there was a closing circle, with kudos to everyone (pretty much), and we started making our way across the street to the hotel.

I couldn't face the sun any more, so hung around inside, watching people break their bikes down for packing, arranging flights north to Sdeh Dov, getting caught up online, and so on. The room had great views, but the downside was one king bed for the two of us (and my roommate that night was nice, but not someone I clicked with).

Dinner was celebratory, a huge buffet (noticeably so, after a week of impressive buffets, even) out on the lawn. Afterwards there was a talent show, and a slide show of ride photos through the previous evening, which was excellent. All the riders were given a certificate of completion (whatever), a framed photo of the group at the edge of Mizpeh Ramon two days earlier, and a CD with photos. Loot!

Once the official entertainment ended, the inevitable hand drumming started, and concommitant dancing. And for once, I wasn't getting up early the next morning (some were, those who'd opted for a tour of Petra), so I could dance to my heart's content, barefoot on the grass. Someone put a chair in the middle, and people took turns dancing on it, cheered on by everyone else. And Ilana surprised me by giving me a huge hug and telling me how wonderful I was. Which is why, when the hotel said it was time to stop the noise, I felt comfortable joining the crew and couple of riders who were going across the street to the beach to continue the party.

By the time I'd dashed up to the room, then over to the water, I'd tired just enough that dancing wasn't as appealing. I ended up listening to the drumming, watching the lights on the water, and giving Ilana (and later Hadas) a head skritch (she continued singing and drumming). The full moon rose over the cliffs of Jordan, and I saw a shooting star. It was a lovely end to the adventure.

(I did see a number of people in the morning, those not headed to Petra, and even flew north with a couple. But that night was definitely the full stop, with the morning being extra bonuses.)

Comments

[magid.livejournal.com]

It was lovely. I just wish there'd been a little more time before people went their separate ways (like, say another Shabbat midweek :-).