Ashkelon to Mahsabe Sade -- 72 Miles

Today was a very long day...72 Miles! I'm feeling exhilirated and exhausted and though my body wants to sleep I'm going to share a few words.

The day began with a visit to Sderot, a city on the northern Gaza border that has been the victim of numerous rocket attacks. This was not my first visit to Sderot, but like all previous visits it was filled with a little bit of anxiety, but for me, the visit was an obligation. How could I ride so close to this town and not visit them letting them know that we support them at their time of trouble -- Kol Yisrael Aravim Zeh b'Zeh -- All Israel is responsible one for another. Our visit was clearly very important to them. As we entered the city there were school children who ran to greet us with smiles and cheers and thanking us for coming. We met the Assitant Mayor who also shared with us how important our visit was to him and the citizens of Sderot; how it strengthens them letting them know that they are not alone. While there we presented the city with many bicylces. Our group got together and donated 6. It was a very moving ceremony. I was sincerely touched by our group's generosity and commitment to help these children who are suffering so much daily.

From Sderot we set out further south into the Negev...it was amazing to notice how the topography changed from farmland to desert. Igt was hot...over 100% at times, beautiful. There was one spot where we passed an ostrich farm. Sue Carson and Jeff Seligsohn stopped to take pictures. Sue was telling us that she started to play with the ostriches and they mimicked her. When she stood tall; they stood tall. When she crouched low; they did too. When she moved to the right; so did they. And to the left too. She danced with them and got it all on video. We'll try to post it to the blog. It sounded so cool!

On this ride I rode with a lot of differnt people and felt like I made a bunch of great new friends. This has been an incredible experience so far. Very challenging -- physically and mentally. But it is so fun. More even...this exeperience has been transformative.

More to come tomorrow. Thank goodness for Shabbat!