The Israeli Explorers

Hello friends!
I've been reading ADV for quite some time, enjoying from almost every post I encounter. The wonderful stories and pictures that riders post always toke my imagination and dreams far from here.
I always wanted a bulky Varadero, but finally realized that what I really want is an Africa Twin, so two years ago I bought 2000 AT, and start riding both road and gravel.

Apparently, many people are riding the world but unfortunately they don't get to ride in Israel.
It is probably because many people hear mostly bad news coming from this region concerning politics and military. I assume that there are those that cannot point on Israel over the world map.
Therefore, I thought it might interest ADV members to read stories and have pictures from this tiny country.

Few words about myself: my name is Eldad Greenfield, 27 year old architecture student, live today in Tel Aviv with my GF, paying ALOT for my 2 bedroom rented apartment (prices in Tel Aviv just rise high no matter recession).

Since my friends and I ride almost every week, I will update this thread regularly, bring you the stories, reports and pictures from our riding in Israel. Maps and references will follow the text for your convenience.

This is a general view of Israel and its sorroundings:

Count me in! Looking forward to the report, pics, and maps!

I'm ready too!

Excellent, Eldad! I bought my first bike in Israel many years ago, and found it was a wonderful country for motorcycling. It will be fun to see it again, this time through your eyes and camera. Can't wait for your posts!

count me in!!

I'm looking forward to this! Great idea.

Thank you! Looking forward to seeing and reading of your travels.

I always wanted to ride from central Europe to Israel, but I guess there might be a few problems with getting back . Anyway: waiting for an update!

Oh, this sounds fantastic!!!! bring on the pics!!!!

Come on ...

We are all waiting for your pictures and stories ....

That's should be cool

Nu? We're anxiously awaiting your next post, Eldad.

One of the problems of riding to Israel, would be the stamp in the passport and what this means in all of the surrounding countries. Also what a stamp from one of the surrounding countries means in terms of ability in getting to Israel easily.
Other than that I guess it would be like riding in Iraq. Patrols, checkpoints all over the place, tanks, you never know whether a stray bullet/rocket will hit you or the bike, or a hummer/tank will ride all over you, if the hotel will still be in place the next day either due to a Palestinian suicide bomber or an Israeli bulldozer or whether war will be declared or not the next day with any of the surrounding countries. Sounds like a lot of fun.
But I would like to see your reports and proven wrong.

Let's leave politics and fear out of this. That's JoMomma material.

I'm more interested in pictures and narratives of the riding experience in Israel, not the political situation.

Speaking of which ...

Thank you all for your kind replays. I assume this is the correct moment to apologize for any spelling mistakes and wrong use of language terms. In Israel English is being taught at school in all grades, and it's a primer language, second only to Hebrew and Arabic.

So, as an appetizer I will bring you the story of a ride we did 5 weeks ago. This riding report is sentimental to me, due to the sad fact that Lavi - a friend I met through one of the motorcycle forums - was badly injured during his first ride on his new BMW GS.
He is still in hospital as I type these words, so this post is dedicated to him. I wish him fast recovery.

These maps brought up so you may be able to follow the route traveled:


This is an enlargement of Dimona city and Wadi Zin area.




We are a group of friends that met each other by mistake. Since we all riding dual purpose bikes and share the goals and dreams, we find it pleasant and enjoyable to ride together.

We all met at one of the exits in Tel Aviv:



In the front of the picture is my bike. Lavi's Tenere - one of his 9 bikes (!) - stands after. His bikes fairing is under construction. Nataly's bike is at the back.

We rode on highways to Yeruham, a remote settlement somewhere nowhere. we toke road 227 towards the Small Crater (can be seen clearly in the google maps). Interesting fact is that in Israel located 5 out of 7 natural craters worldwide, plus the biggest of all is Ramon crater near Mitzpe-Ramon, another small city in southern Israel. from road 227 you can have a cler view of Dimona Necular center - the one and only Israeli necular reactor. It is used for scientific research and....shhh...military use.
227 is a very narrow and curvy road. This is Avi and Katya on their AT:



Nataly on the road:



The hour is about 10AM, and temp's are about 25C. We decided that a breakfast over the Small crater should be satisfying. so we hit the gravel.
This is Shira riding her Transalp. The girl's face tell it all - she enjoying herself!







Lavi is going up:



sitting for breakfast:



Avi's panniers are known to be extremely deep. You will probably find there almost everything you might think of. In this case it included all necessary equipment for a tasty breakfast:




clockwise: Shira, Reut (my GF, had a haircut and now shes no Rastawomen!), me, Nataly, Katya and Lavi.

Temp's drop down as noon comes. These are the last weeks of winter.
We continue riding down the Scorpion's Ascent (called Ma'ale-Akrabim in Hebrew or Akrabim ascent ) and stop for a look at the view:





Akrabim ascent is a must for riders and a point that we always pass through when riding south. I'll post more pics from this road on my next RRs.




In the bottom of 227 road, lays Zin river, streaming through Wadi Zin.
Our goal today is to ride to Zin cistern. The river is dry in this time of
year, but may be flooded when rain.

the path is sandy and rocky.





Sometimes, a special rescue team is called out!









Lavi takes Nataly's bike through this section:



This means there were water here not long before:



and we arrive to cisterns. to find some greenery and water in
the middle of the desert is exciting view!





All bikes except Avi's and Nataly's are wearing Anakee tires,
which are great tires for both road and gravel,
but under these conditions, these tires just don't have a bit
of grip. it was exhausting digging out these heavy bikes out of the sand again and again.
Up to here, we rode 300KM road + 50KM gravel. We were all
tired, and the hit was intense.



We stayed in the shed for an hour or so, drinking coffee and tea, trying not to think we have to ride all this way back home.
It supposed to be rainy, so we brought some rain gear with us.
of course - we didn't see a drop of rain.



On our way back, Nataly decided this is the time to speed up:



everything went well:



until....



and then...



at least she's smiling! well, it wasn't the first time. probably not the last.
The way back is not only for mistakes cause by tiredness, but also for some mechanical failures.





At the Wadi exit:



This is Nataly with Ha'Etekim precipice at background:



exiting the wadi and riding to road 90, refueling and riding beck home. it's 570KM in total.



This is the end of my first report.
Please send any comments or suggestions regarding this format.
Please do not hesitate to send me any questions!

Shalom!
Eldad

Great Pics Keep it up