Well, I’m currently on flight EZY2038 from Luton to Tel Aviv for the next stage of our hike. Curiously, at the airport I bumped into Laurence Gold (he was off to Innsbruck to ski in St Anton) – you’ll remember it was Laurence who set me off on this adventure in the first place and suggested this blog. Currently he, Josyanne, Michael and Lucy are 38 days or so along the INT, and on the their last three days walked from Sde Bokker through the wilderness of Zin and across the Ramon Crater. He described the trip as the most spectacular three days so far – so something to look forward to. Interestingly, they have given up on using Kiki and her company – they thought she was lovely but preferred guest houses and a full diet to camping and Vegan food…
This trip comes after a hectic time – last week Ruth and I visited her Aunt Sybil and stayed overnight at Lime Wood in the New Forest, the previous week I was skiing in Cortina, the week before I went skiing for the weekend with Jonathan – the combination has caused my ankle and achilles to feel inflamed and sore. I hope it will last over the next three days.
I have decided we need a symbol for the trip and have had T-shirts printed with a photo of the INT tricolour route marker on one side and ‘Hiking the Shvil’ on the other. Unfortunately ordering online I managed to get Rafi’s shirt printed back to front…. but it will be fine.
Plans for tomorrow follow what is now the normal pattern. I’ll pack tonight and tomorrow we meet at Ronnie’s at 05:45 to drive up to Kibbutz Hakuk, where we are staying for the two nights of the trip (Ruth Rimon in Safed cancelled our booking because of overruns in renovating their kitchens). We will leave a car there, and then go to Meron to start the walk along Nahal Amud to our overnight stop. The spring weather is forecast to be pleasant, and I’m looking forward to seeing the spring flowers, but with the risk of showers and possibly hail. I’ve brought a hat, but perhaps my ski helmet might be better…
Hiking the Israel National Trail 