Israel National Trail - Week 3

03/25/15.  Be'erot Khan to Mitzpe Ramon.  Left camp earliest yet (6:30), still cool, another tough climb, from crater floor to rim.  Staying with angel in big warehouse.  Hot water!  Big fat sharma meal!  Real bed!  A washing machine tomorrow would be heaven.

03/26/15.  Mitzpe Ramon.  Washing machine!  Yes!  Hung out all day letting Giora's feet rest. 

03/27/15.  Mitzpe Ramon.  Another zero day.  But Giora's feet hurt at night.  Blisters better though.

03/28/15.  Mitzpe Ramon to Hava Night Camp.  Big hike into Mitzpe Ramon crater, camped in the middle. Nice ibex sitings, plus a 6 inch black locust that produces poisonous bubbles when disturbed.  Rained all night, Giora covered himself in a plastic sheet, I had my trusty Lunar Solo tent.  Scenery continues to amaze, every day awesome, no two days alike.

03/29/15.  Hava NC to foot of Midrashet Ben-Gurion.  Hard day (for Giora).  He turned back after an hour up a steep incline because the wind was making him nervous.  Slept at a camp at the foot of Midrashet Ben-Gurion.

03/30/15.  Midrashet Ben-Gurion.  Giora announces he's had enough.  Saw him off at the bus.  Next stretch is six days with no food reprovisioning (but Haim will still provide water drops), and includes the toughest days on the trail.  I am nervous and excited in equal measure.  Having a huge burger at the local pub (Israeli hamburgers are much better than American ones), shopped for supplies (granola, chocolate powder, powdered milk, nuts, dried apricots, sausage, bread, snickers bars, canned tuna fish).  All this and 6 liters of water.  Yikes.  Staying at college guest house (70 shekels, talked down from 260).

03/31/15.  Midrashet Ben-Gurion to Mador NC.  Great breakfast at college cafeteria (20 sh), pocketed two hard boiled eggs.  Easy day mostly along a road.  Camped with the big group for the third time.  The three  old guys' (Joshua, Joseph, Nathan) last day.  Rained like hell all night - thank goodness for my Six Moon's Lunar Solo.