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!