On Day 5 we headed out from the Arava Valley and made our way to the finish line in Eilat!
Chaverim spent the morning with the Shomrim exploring Timna, one of the oldest copper mines in the world surrounded by impressive geological formations. They headed up into the mountains for lunch with the riders, a short hike in the Red Canyon, and a panoramic view of the Red Sea where Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia are all visible at once. Ending the day in Eilat, they greeted the riders ending their journey with a celebratory finish on the shores of the Red Sea.
Shomrim started the day with the Chaverim at Timna, a geological park with ancient temples and copper mines. After either a bus tour or hike, they took a bus to join everyone for lunch on a mountaintop above Eilat. Shomrim ended the day riding to Eilat.
Tzofim took a bus to the Ne’ot Smadar cafe, and then took a back road to Eilat along the Egyptian border. After lunch they had a long descent into Eilat and a short ride to the beach party.
Chalutzim started the day with a 4-mile climb out of the Arava Valley. Once back in the Negev hills, they followed the same route as the Tzofim for the rest of the day.
After a wonderful celebration at the finish line, everyone is preparing to head home, or to participate in one of our post-ride tours.
The Immersive Experience at the Arava Institute, led by Rabbi Michael Cohen, is an exclusive opportunity to be immersed in the culture, academics, and peace-building curriculum of the Arava Institute. Participants spend time with the Institute’s academic director, Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed and other Arava Institute faculty, participate first hand in a peacebuilding and environmental leadership exercise, meet with heads of the Institute’s research centers, meet students, attend classes, and learn about the practical projects students have created to address the region’s environmental challenges.
The tours to Petra and Wadi Rum, contracted with Desert Eco Tours, give participants the opportunity to explore Jordan. Those on the two-day trip see the famous Nabatean tomb carvings, extensive Roman excavations, and the “Monastery” carving overlooking the Arava valley. They’ll spend the night at the newly renovated Hyatt Zaman Resort, which used to be an ancient village called Taybeh, near Petra. On Wednesday, they’ll explore the majestic Wadi Rum, a vast desert full of rock forms, open spaces, and Bedouin encampments, and return to Israel in time for evening flights from Eilat to Tel Aviv.
That’s all for now. You can still support the 2018 Israel Ride by donating to one of our Riders here – they have until December 31 to fundraise.
In case you haven’t heard, registration for the 2019 Israel Ride (Nov 5 – 12, 2019) is now OPEN! New this year:
- Register before January 1, 2019 and receive a limited edition Israel Ride jacket.
- Earn a long sleeved 2019 jersey when you hit your fundraising minimum in early Spring!
Register here. We can’t wait to see you in 2019!
Until then,
The Israel Ride team