Cycling across the Negev for fun

Maybe you’ve been to Israel before, and maybe not. Maybe you’ve been on a bike tour or charity ride before, and maybe not. One thing is certain: if you ride a bike, there is an adventure unlike any other that is beckoning you to Israel, and your participation helps a great cause to boot. Five Team Vancouver riders of varying experience recently returned from an incredible experience with Israel Ride, and we’re sharing it while it’s still fresh.

The basics: it’s a five-day, fully supported ride on paved roads from Jerusalem to Eilat as a fundraiser for the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies and Hazon. The Arava

Institute is the premier environmental teaching and research program in the Middle East, preparing Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian students, scientists, academics and leaders to cooperatively solve the region’s environmental challenges. Arava is known as a model of cooperation in a land where conflict is all too common. Hazon is a U.S.-based nonprofit that promotes healthier and more sustainable communities in the Jewish world. It is best known for organizing food conferences and projects of Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA).

Here are some firsthand reflections of our experiences.

Tracy Penner:

For me, the best vacation is one where I not only get to explore some interesting new places and cultures and meet new people, but where I also get to test my personal limits. The Israel Ride offered all of this, and brilliantly. The ruggedly beautiful landscape of the Negev, while surprisingly varied with its farms, vineyards and wadis, is also hot, dry and dusty. I kept thinking, “Lawrence of Arabia did this ride, only with camels and horses, not a bicycle!”

I come from the rain forest. Riding a bike through that terrain was both a physical and spiritual challenge for me. Yes, there were a few times each day when I asked myself what I was thinking when I signed up for this. But I managed to finish the ride with only a couple of unscheduled breaks, which are not discouraged and are easily facilitated by the excellent support staff and vehicles.

With the help of a very well-run and supportive organization, I really can say I enjoyed the whole physical test, and was pleased to find myself getting stronger each day.

The guides were excellent in their knowledge and had charming, positive attitudes. A highlight for me was taking part in the couple of impromptu Zumba classes at the morning “rest stop”’ along the way, which one of the guides set up with an iPod and speakers. It was really a fun way to loosen up muscles before getting back on the road. As alumni of the Arava Institute programs, the guides were honest and open about their experiences in getting to know and work with people who they had grown up thinking of as adversaries, and whose feelings of mistrust were mutual. And yet, they do all continue to learn to work together and respect each other. They even learn to joke and have fun together, and this camaraderie is evident watching them interact on the road. I think this is the greatest gift I got from the Israel Ride: hope. Watching the Arava staff, guides and students work together gave me a glimmer of hope for what might be possible in the future.

The Arava Valley is shared between Israelis, Jordanians, Palestinians and Bedouins. “Nature knows no boundaries” is the motto of the Arava Institute. Their vision and courage have inspired me. I have no doubt that I will return for more.

Sam Shamash:

This was first Arava trip for me. When you cycle, you feel and experience firsthand the nature and the culture. Even after being to Israel maybe 12 times, I experienced many new things. My highlights were: Emek HaEla, the site of the battle between David and Goliath; Beit Guvrin, an underground ancient city and olive press factory; Ashkelon, the oldest seaport in Israel, now with an African-Jewish flavor; Nir Am reservoir, a Jewish National Fund agricultural reservoir with a view extending to the Gaza Strip; S’de Boker, the site of David Ben-Gurion’s grave; Mitzpe Ramon, a town situated on the ridge of Machtesh Ramon, a giant erosion crater; Ne’ot Smadar, Israel’s largest organic kibbutz. And, of course, “colorful” doesn’t do justice to the Eilat Mountains. I also had the chance to speak to Jordanian students at the Arava Institute – two of them have earned PhDs: one in wastewater and the other in algae agriculture.

The cycling part was very well organized with lead riders, support vans and an ambulance, fans on the road and lots of great food. Three mechanics were with us all the time. This trip deepened my connections to Israel and I met many new friends.

Daniella Givon:

One of the most enthralling aspects of this ride, which I also cycled three years ago, was meeting alumni and current students of the Arava Institute. We met and talked to Jordanians, Palestinians, Americans and a Finnish young man, no less, along with Israelis, and saw firsthand how peace and cooperation can thrive given the opportunity.

Another highlight was meeting fellow riders, and learning about their passions and interests as we cycled side by side for kilometres, enjoying the beauty and serenity of the desert. These kindred spirits all share caring about Israel, about the environment and about peace (and a love of cycling, of course).

Cycling through the hills of Jerusalem towards the Mediterranean, and then south along the western part of the Negev, one cannot avoid sensing the historical events which were all around us, biblical as well as recent, from the battle of David and Goliath to the establishment of modern time Israel. This aspect of the physical place where we cycled added a layer to the ride, which made it even more special.

Bernard Pinsky:

When I completed the ride the first time in 2010, I said I would do it again and, after the second time, I’m saying the same thing. It is a wonderful experience to ride through the Negev Desert with interesting, like-minded people who all love being outdoors in Israel, getting exercise for a great cause. The support for the ride is fantastic; we were pampered with food, drink and attention. And we spent Shabbat in the very spiritual town of Mitzpe Ramon. This bike trip has everything going for it, including me – again – in the next few years.

Shawn Hawkins:

There is not much I can add to the reflections of my teammates. They have described the strong sense of accomplishment and connection we all felt. Perhaps I will end with some overall group accomplishments. In total, 132 riders from Israel, Canada, the United States and Australia were collectively able to raise more than $480,000 for a

really great cause. And you think the Israel Ride is for Gen Xers, the oldest rider was 77, and the median age for all riders was 57. There were parents riding with adult children, as well as twins, sisters and brothers, and even a newly married couple celebrating their honeymoon. We celebrated with all of them. If you are at all interested, and thinking “Maybe next year I could do it,” don’t hesitate to connect with any one of us. We’d love to share more about the ride with you. I can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, visit arava.org/join-us/israel-ride.

– Courtesy of Team Vancouver member Shawn Hawkins

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