Friday- about 14km today, but it was really beautiful- so green and beautiful woods and hills, so back to some climbing! I walked alone and was soon ahead of everyone, I saw a beautiful deer! I arrived about 11 to where the camp would be so continued for a couple of extra km to a shop where I treated myself for my birthday weekend- ice cream, strawberries, hummus, avocado, chocolate, etc. I walked back and still beat everyone and had to wait for the truck. A good spirit in the team today, everyone mucked in and we had a feast for dinner- the best food yet! I was on a mission for fire wood, it was fun hunting for it and seeing how much I could carry! And a really beautiful sunset!! New people are always coming and going, the grumpy Dutch guy leaves tomorrow after he kept shouting at the organiser and so eventually he offered him a full refund if he b*****ed off!!
Saturday: a chilled day! They made a nice breakfast- a traditional egg and tomato dish! I dozed, read and ate! Went collecting firewood with a new guy and walked a bit with Daniela. One of the worst things about the greenery, is the bugs! Good job I'm no longer afraid to sleep if there's a spider in the vicinity- you've never seen so many beetles, spiders and ants, but I guess that's the outdoor life for you! Played a few games round the fire in the evening.
Sunday: so I woke up to two decorated boxes outside my tent saying "heppy birthday" and the Hebrew version, which was very sweet of Daniela. Then the old lady Linda gave me a nice pink scarf wrapped in paper and flowers. And Miriam gave me a headband to wear as my crown for the day and a lovely necklace she had made! So my 30th birthday started well! 24km today, I walked with Daniela. We got lost a couple of times, as did everyone I think! We arrived at a kibbutz and I treated myself to ice cream! A very hot day, but the walk was beautiful- forested hills. We arrived and was looking forward to a shower in the truck, but was told we weren't allowed to use it and had to go to a spring! So we walked another km or so and arrived at this small natural pool- it didn't look particularly clean and was freezing but I was desperate, so had a dip and used bottles of it to wash my hair! We walked back to camp and bumped into a group of the others who happily informed us they were going to their friends for a hot shower! So back at camp I was left to unpack the truck, put away the shopping, then collect firewood, then do dinner, while the group of young people returned from their shower and set up their own little camp where they sat sharing their nice food. Then the gas failed when I was trying to do dinner, so it was taking hours and as I sat round the campfire with everyone speaking Hebrew and ignoring me I just couldn't stand it and went to my tent at 7.30- officially the s***test birthday ever!! But these things make you stronger and its a tale to tell- I won't forget my 30th! As I lay in my tent I decided that I would leave the group and walk alone! It's much easier to get water and food now we are out of the desert and if I get rid of bits I don't need then my bag is not so heavy! I messaged Sarah (the Irish girl) to see where she is and she told me she was in Tel Aviv and was welcome to join and walk with her!
Monday- another bloody day of rest for the end of Passover! I phoned the guy in charge- Rhea- to see how much he'd refund me! He said he'd give me 50% but I figured that I could probably do the rest of the walk on that 50% and so wouldn't be much worse off in the end and I'd get it done quicker! So I packed up my bag, but then Rhea messaged me and said he was coming to talk to me and we should go for a drive. He turned up and invited Miriam along- I thought we'd just go to a nearby viewpoint. I said bye to everyone and took my stuff. No one was too bothered! And it was a girls 23rd birthday today and all her family were arriving with balloons, food and presents and everyone in camp had been fussing over her all morning!
But then Rhea drove us miles to Moses tomb near Jericho and a beautiful view of the desert. We stopped and got fruit and randomly sat with the Palestinian stall owners drinking coffee and stuff. Then we picked up a couple of German hitch hikers and went to the Dead Sea and Rhea took us to a natural spring there which only the locals know! It was beautiful and so nice to swim on such a hot day! We then sat at a viewpoint for an hour or so and Rhea wanted our perspective and feedback on the walk and ideas on how to improve it and what the problems are! We drove again and he got us food. He called it my "birthday day out!", which was nice! He recognises that there is a real divide and inequality between the Israelis and internationals. So it was refreshing to be listened to and he was really open to everything! He asked me to stay and said he wanted me to help change things. I wasn't really convinced, but I said that if he gave me the 50% discount then I'd stay! And he agreed on the condition that I continued helping with everything and implement the changes- so it will be nice to have some control over the group! And it's nice to feel so valued- he let lots of others leave no problem! He had apparently spoken to Miriam before and said they had to persuade me to stay. I messaged Sarah and she didn't mind, plus doing it this way meant I didn't have to miss this section by skipping to Tel Aviv. We didn't get back to the camp til 8pm, I felt a bit embarrassed returning after saying bye. But we had celebrations for the end of Passover- mainly food- pizza and pancake things. It was already dark and I couldn't be bothered to put my tent up, so I had my first night sleeping under the stars!! It was ok- I wasn't particularly cold and didn't get eaten alive, but I do like the privacy of a tent to change, etc.
Tuesday: a long, tough day climbing the Judean mountains to reach Jerusalem. It was hot, plus I got lost a couple of times so probably added 10km. I walked alone, but I don't mind- you can go at your own pace and think and most of the others took buses. We camp on Mt Herzl overlooking Jerusalem where there is the Holocaust museum and soldiers graveyard. We arrived and I showered in the cold shower!! Then me and Miriam done dinner, although most of the Israeli group went to each others friends and families. We had a few of the people from the previous walks who live here come to visit. Then me, Miriam and Ron got the tram into the city to the bars around the market, which is a cool area. They had a couple of beers and got stoned- it's perfectly acceptable (although not legal) to just sit and roll a joint and smoke everywhere here! We got back about 11pm and sat round the campfire- it was a good atmosphere. But it was very funny- it's common for the Jews to go to the woods and prey and then yell to purify themselves. So as we sat round the fire we could sometimes hear this screeching from around the woods.
Wednesday: we had a free day to explore Jerusalem! So after breakfast people went off exploring. I decided to go to the Holocaust museum- it was, as you would imagine, very sad and emotional but interesting and good to learn about. So sad to compare how the western world are today returning to these right-wing views that caused the atrocities.
Then I met Miriam and Ron in the city and we went to the old market for lunch. We had this Israeli pastry/bread that they make into a wrap full of vegetables- it was very nice!! We come back to camp and chilled for a couple of hours. Rhea had asked me to produce a list of jobs that need doing daily in camp and write it onto a wall of the truck. So I got a pen while in the city and decorated the side of the truck with the lists and pictures. One of the girls in the group could get us free tickets to a concert of a famous Israeli band, so we all arranged to go out tonight. We got the tram to this huge cave- you walked about 200m into a cave lit with candles- it was beautiful! Then the concert was in the depths of the cave! Couldn't understand a word, but the beat was good- they were like our Rudimental! It was an exclusive gig with only about 200 people and everyone was dancing! It was a really cool experience, although it didn't start til 9, so was a late night! It is the things like this that make me really pleased I'm doing the walk with the group and make all the stresses worth it- things are slowly changing already since I left in my strop, haha! Only another 400km!
Thursday: a shorter day today- about 12km. I walked with Linda the old Hawaiian lady as lots of the others were leaving late and recovering from last night! We caught up with the heart surgeon and another older Israeli lady who has just rejoined the group. We come across a spring and then had an ice cream in a cafe. A big climb at the end and arrived about 1.30, although now waiting for the truck!
I hear we are having an election- vote Labour!!