Israel on a bike in February - Part 2 - Days 5-8

Bike trip to Israel 7-25 February 2015. Part 2. Days 5-8.

Here's Part One.

Day 5. February 11. Masada and The Dead Sea

So today we decided to separate and continue south. The rest of the group wanted to go north, and we were very unprepared for this (why leave Saint-Petersburg, where it was +5 C at the time, to go to the north of Israel, where there was anomalously cold, +3-+4 C). So we headed to the sea.

After sharing provision and going to get more stuff in the store, we went to the bus station to get some water (by the way, we drank tap water everywhere with no problems).

Proper bicycle parking (convinient to lock with the frame, not the front wheel only) near Arad's bus station

More prices: crackers - 9.90, pasta - 5.90, buckwheat - 13.90 (imported from Russia)

Next - to Masada.

It's an ancient fortification on top of a rock plateau which was surrounded by Roman troops for 3 years but when it became clear that they would be taken, residents decided to die as free people: they set everything on fire and men killed their families and then each other. To get there you should take a steep staircase.

At first administrators told someone from the group they would give us a discount for the cablecar ride from the top, as going around the rock was dangerous then (it was also particularly windy that day). Then I decided to confirm it mysef (what if they let a couple of us go around), and for some reason they decided to let us go up and visit and then take the cablecar for free, as lond as we don't take too long going up the stairs (they planned to close earlier because of the wind). Who doesn't enjoy freebies?

Going up wasn't as hard as it seemed. I decided to play smart and took turns carrying my bike on my shoulder and the bag separately. In the end I reached the top as fast as everyone else but was much less exhausted (everyone else decided to do it all at once, dragging their bikes alongside with all the gear on them). So if you ever try to go up these stairs with your bikes take my advice: do it in two runs.

It was a lot easier than my mimic says on this picture!

On top: ruins and some mosaic

By the end of the day we reached Ein Bokek, a small resort town filled with hotels. We put up our tent right on the beach behind some restroom (which was closed for construction, as was most of Ein Bokek, so not too smelly). First warm night. Happiness.

Day 6. February 12. Relaxation, lifeguard photographer, and a watefall

In the morning we met Alexey, a local photographer. He has his own studio in Arad, but on that day he was free and covering for a lifeguard on that beach. He does these amazing underwater photos (you can see more here):

After having breakfast (oatmeal and some crackers) we relaxed on the beach for a bit and wend to see a local attraction - waterfall (it took us a long hike up some rocks, and at some point we were desperate thinking we didn't understand Alexey ("maybe, it was there BEFORE, and people say "waterfall", but what they really mean is MORE ROCKS?"); but at last we found it! We experienced some flashbacks reminding us of desert desperation, but it was a lot more pleasant hiking up these tocks without having to drag 30 kilos of gear along.

Some other attractions of Eit Bokek include: ... jewelry store and hotels. It's a typical resort town and it must be really dull spending a standard 2 weeks vacation there.

Next night we spent on a town beach taking Alexey's advice: he said that there no one will care for sure if we put up our tent (the one we stayed the night before was a private hotel beach).

Here's what we discovered in the morning (look at the sign on the wall):

But then no one cared.

Day 7. February 13. Sand, Sea, Salt and Neot HaKikar

We got to take a dip in the Dead Sea, well, it was more of just laying around: the salty water really pushes you out.
The day was spend doing nothing, and in the evening we biked to Neot HaKikar, a small cute town 40 kilometers south. On our way we saw a massive plant which seemed to be making various Dead Sea products.

We set up camp under this luxurious tree:

Day 8. February 14. Shkedi's Camplodge and Peppers.

In the morning my travell buddy found this cute nearby hostel Shkedi's Camplodge, and its owner was kind to offer us to use their kitchen and treated us with some cake. I highly recommend this place.

Some relevant stuff found in the restrooms:



After lunch I went for a ride around town and found some local agriculture. Peppers and watermelons and something else (I didn't take a look in every greenhouse).

Now when I see some Israeli peppers in store I think "Are you guys from Neot HaKikar? I might have seen just the place where you grew". It all looked very nice so you I feel comportable buying them.

Of course there were some mines nearby (like everywhere in Israel).



But overall it was a very nice town.



On the road again, we reached Hatseva by night, where, as hostel's owner told us, his brother could give us a place to put our tent on his campsite.

Read on... Part 3