Shortly after we got back on the trail, it took us through a big field up the side of another large hill…the trail markers are often painted on rocks beside the path, and the spring plants growing up to be about four feet tall gave the hike a scavenger hunt feel as we both took different routes, trying to decide how long to search before giving up and turning back. We finally made it to the top of one hill, and after searching again for the next marker up the next hill, taking stock of our feet, the position of the sun, and our surroundings, we decided to cut the day short and head for the town we could see off to the right, along the dirt road we’d come upon. Not too long later, two tractors came off the field they were working on and we caught a ride! with the second one to the closest town on the main highway. After a fruitless wait for a bus, we were able to tremp back to the Kinneret, and catch a sherut back to Tiberias. We’d done almost half of Day 9, and made it back in time for dinner. :)
I returned for work the next day, and then the following week I began at the start of Day 10 (we’d stopped in a location that would be difficult to return to, so forewent those few miles), up the face of Mt. Tabor. It was an incredible morning, climbing basically straight up the side of the hill, with very little switch-backing or anything. It was quite tiring, but so great every time I turned to look down over the progress I’d made!
About an hour later, I stopped to check out the church at the top, which commemorates the time that Jesus was transfigured and met by Elijah and Moses in front of Peter, James, and John. It was a very nice, peaceful place, and fun to visit since during my childhood my family went to a church called “Church of the Transfiguration”. Before heading up the hill, I was surprised that it was considered the highest in the area, but once atop, it was quite convincing.
And during the rest of the day, as the trail kind of circled around it, it certainly drew my attention. I was excited to head down the other side, hoping to bring up my average pace. Ironically, I felt like it was taking more time making my way down than it did going up, trying not to slip, trip, or in some other way make my way down on my face, belly or bum.
When I finally got down to the foot of the hill, some of the trail was along a road, so I took the opportunity to jog. I was flying down one hill when a pack of dogs came out barking ferociously. A few minutes of negotiating and doggy introductions, and before I head on, I’d made a few new friends. :) (The two ladies nearby also greeted me and we chatted a little about the dogs in my limited Hebrew, before I head on.)
Often we joke around here about people in the states that think Israel is all camels and tents, but I must say, I do see more camels here than at home. (Not that often, but certainly more than in the states. Cracks me up to see one house with dogs in the yard, another with chickens and horses, and the next with camels and donkeys!)
I also enjoyed the wildlife I saw, deer, a coyote, cows (ok, not so wild, but out in the forest, anyway), and a few teeny tiny little birds! One of them was hiding on the road. I tried to shoo it off the way because I didn’t want him to get run over, but then he seemed frozen with fright, and I hadn’t seen any cars on that road the whole time I’d been approaching it, so after snapping a shot or two, I left him to breathe and lower his pulse to a more healthy rate.
Day 11 shared a lot of the path with the Jesus Trail that I hiked with a friend a few months back, and it was fun to retrace those steps, but backwards, and remember the conversations we’d had when we hiked the same trail eastward. Finally, I made it down the hill to the highway where Day 11 ends. It was only 5pm, with still a few hours of daylight left, but my feet were pretty tired, so I caught a bus back to Haifa, and rested up for the Cinco De Mayo party I’d be going to the next day. :)
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