27 September 2012

Since we went to bed somewhat early last night, I was able to get up very early this morning.

I had decided to drive over to Nakhal Shlomo just above the Camel Ranch and hike up a trail I had never been on before, following a tributary nakhal that comes in on the south side. However, when I got there, there was a large military tent and two soldiers standing guard, so it was obvious that I would NOT be able to go that way at all! I sure it because of border fence construction somewhere further down that way.

So I decided to drive on up Nakhal Shlomo, turning left at Nakhal Y'hoshafat, which I had never been in before. The road was pretty rough but passable, even in my car. I eventually came to the place where the road from Nakhal Rakhavam comes over a pass. I had hiked there (up Nakhal Rakhavam) several days ago. Today, I continued driving up Nakhal Y'hoshafat.

Somewhat further up, I saw a military humvee approaching, so I stopped at a wide spot so that they'd be able to pass me without any problems. When they got up beside me (there were at least 4 or 5 soldiers in the vehicle), they stopped and asked me (in Hebrew) what I was doing there. I told them אני מטייל ani m'tayel, which could be translated "I'm hiking" or "I'm going on an excursion". They asked me if I was familiar with the area, and I told them, yes, but that this was my first time in that nakhal. They told me to turn right ahead (which I was already planning to do, since I knew that there was a newly constructed road that went over a little pass into Nakhal Shlomo from somewhere not far ahead). It was hard to hear what they said because their vehicle was so noisy, but we managed to communicate successfully, all in Hebrew.

Sure enough, when I went around the next corner, I saw the road that goes over the pass. Of course, it also goes left, but a sign was posted there clearly but apologetically indicating (in Hebrew only!) that the "trail" was closed. I hadn't planned to go that way anyway, because I know that that goes towards the area (still some distance over) where they are still constructing the border fence. After I went over the pass and had almost gotten to highway 12 in Nakhal Shlomo, I saw an identical sign (facing the opposite direction) indicating that the road I had just come on was also a closed trail! Anyway, it was interesting to go up Nakhal Y'hoshafat, which I had never done before.

Since it was still only about 6:00 a.m., I decided to go the short distance up highway 12, park the car, and hike up to Nakhal Yoash, where my favorite beautiful little valley is. Indeed, it was as lovely as ever, and I enjoyed going up on a little pile of sandstone in the middle of the valley and sitting and just taking it in for several minutes before I hiked back down to my car and drove home.

Today, in the middle of the day, we did a little shopping at Office Depot and both malls (Mul HaYam and the Ice Park & Mall). We ate lunch at the Café Café in the Ice Park Mall.

This afternoon, I bought another audio book for David (from Audible.com) to try to help him stave off boredom. He seems to be enjoying it so far.