Tuesday, May 27, 2008
I'm Here -- Miles Herman
I am sitting here in the Eilat airport in the morning. Up since 6 am, I had a chance to walk along the beach early this morning with the golden rim of the sun peeking over the Jordanian mountains and spotlighting the deep blue water. With my feet sinking in the wet sand, I had some quiet time to ponder what I have just completed.Today is the day after...We had a wonderful closing ceremony evening bringing us all together for one last time. It was a dinner of jokes...songs...skits, announcements, laughter and yes some tears...Dinner was a feast. We sat at a table with old and new friends. We were busy reliving the highlights and low points of the trek. What ever the challenges were that we had faced, they were now memories, stored away in our minds and our hearts.For me, the highlight of the evening was watching the slide show that our amazing photography team had assembled. Part cheerleaders and part photographers, these kids were never far away from a camera. What they captured was an amazing chronology of the event-from warm-up, the grueling rides, breaks, down periods to bonding time. At the end oif the night, people lingered. Not wanting the night to end, some of us continued to hang out at the hotel while "the crew and some riders" continued to dance, first at the hotel and later moving to the beach.Sleep came later after drinks.I cannot say enough about the people of the AI team. Some were newer faces to me while others were "old friends". I leave here having created some amazing bonds and friendships within the AI family as well as with others in the Arvana and Hazon family.In closing, I make this entry a few pounds lighter, knowing a lot more about myself.
Finally Here: Stuart Kurtz
We are finally here. The last 45 miles proved to be very taxing at first because of tired legs and later because of a sore left shoulder. But as we made our descent down to the red sea with the site of eliat in the distance, all of the pain dissipated. Congratulations to all of the members of team adath israel for completing this spectacular ride and special thanks to my wonderful family for all of their support. I can't wait to see you.
Monday, May 26, 2008
PIctures from Ketura
Here are some pictures from Ketura. They are of the experimental orchards. 500 different species of trees many of them with incredible possibility for medicinal use. The botanist is also the only person to have germanated a 2000 year old seed into a tree that has been extinct for centuries. No pictures of that...it's not allowed.
Day 6: Ketura to Eilat -- 45 Miles -- 286 Total
I can't believe that I am here. You should see the view from my hotel room. The Red Sea is so blue. The Jordan mountains, Edom, are red and magnificent. I made it. I did it! I'm overwhelmed with the sense of physical and emotional challenge that was the Hazon Arava Israel Bike Ride. 300 miles from Jerusalem to Eilat.
Today was the most difficult day for me. I woke this morning with a splitting headache, unable to breathe due to the dust and pain in every joint. The early part of the ride was, therefore, grueling. At many times I wanted to stop, get off my bike and bus it to the top of Har Hezkiyahu, the summit before the descent into Eilat. Miles and Alma, though, kept me pedalling. "Slow and steady," alma said over and over again...and though I was tired and not feeling well, slow and steady I rode.
When finally reaching the top of the mountain I grabbed a quick bite to eat and laid down for a nap. I slept for only 20-25 minutes (or so they tell me. We'll also have to see another time how many pictures of me out cold were taken.) but it was a heavenly nap. When I awoke I went for a look around and I could see the Red Sea in the distance. I felt better and stronger. And that was good because we had two more hills to climb, one of them very steep, before our descent into Eilat.
The descent was beautiful. I particularly noticed the change of the geography. There was one point on the way down where you could literally see the border between the hills of the Negev and the hills of Eilat. I stopped for a picture. It was fascinating. The downhill was fun and exhilirating.
When we reached the bottom. We had popscicles, high fives and hugs all around. I was stunned. I couldn't believe I had actually done this. I had worked so hard. And it was very hard, but with the help of old friends and new friends I did it.
We then mounted our bikes again and rode to the hotel and a dip in the Sea. It was cold and refreshing. Then we boxed up our bikes and in an hour we'll head off to our closing dinner.
Though I have written a lot for this blog. In truth I find myself speechless. I have so many emotions and thoughts circling in my head. It will take me some time to sort them out. Suffice to say, this whole experience, from training and losing weight, to strengthening the bonds of friendship with those with whom I've travelled to Israel, to meeting new friends, to learning about Hazon and the Arava Institute, to riding my bike from Jerusalem to Eilat, has been an extraordinarily transforming experience for me.
I can't wait to see what comes next!
Today was the most difficult day for me. I woke this morning with a splitting headache, unable to breathe due to the dust and pain in every joint. The early part of the ride was, therefore, grueling. At many times I wanted to stop, get off my bike and bus it to the top of Har Hezkiyahu, the summit before the descent into Eilat. Miles and Alma, though, kept me pedalling. "Slow and steady," alma said over and over again...and though I was tired and not feeling well, slow and steady I rode.
When finally reaching the top of the mountain I grabbed a quick bite to eat and laid down for a nap. I slept for only 20-25 minutes (or so they tell me. We'll also have to see another time how many pictures of me out cold were taken.) but it was a heavenly nap. When I awoke I went for a look around and I could see the Red Sea in the distance. I felt better and stronger. And that was good because we had two more hills to climb, one of them very steep, before our descent into Eilat.
The descent was beautiful. I particularly noticed the change of the geography. There was one point on the way down where you could literally see the border between the hills of the Negev and the hills of Eilat. I stopped for a picture. It was fascinating. The downhill was fun and exhilirating.
When we reached the bottom. We had popscicles, high fives and hugs all around. I was stunned. I couldn't believe I had actually done this. I had worked so hard. And it was very hard, but with the help of old friends and new friends I did it.
We then mounted our bikes again and rode to the hotel and a dip in the Sea. It was cold and refreshing. Then we boxed up our bikes and in an hour we'll head off to our closing dinner.
Though I have written a lot for this blog. In truth I find myself speechless. I have so many emotions and thoughts circling in my head. It will take me some time to sort them out. Suffice to say, this whole experience, from training and losing weight, to strengthening the bonds of friendship with those with whom I've travelled to Israel, to meeting new friends, to learning about Hazon and the Arava Institute, to riding my bike from Jerusalem to Eilat, has been an extraordinarily transforming experience for me.
I can't wait to see what comes next!
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