I'm still alive!! And the walk is everything I hoped it would be!
So I had my last day of diving on Friday after an interesting night in the hostel with an odd polish girl kicking off in the middle of the night and shouting at us all! Diving included using a compass underwater to navigate, bear in mind that I've never understood how to use a compass overwater! But I'm now a pro, which could be handy for the walk! So I'm now officially a qualified diver (to 18m anyway).
The instructor dropped me at the beach where our walking group were meeting and I was early, so I spent a couple of hours reading. Then the group arrived- a varied group- a lot more older people than I expected! About 40 people, with about 60% Israelis, but people are leaving and joining throughout. We all set up our tents directly on the beach and I chatted to a few people, while a couple prepared dinner in this army-like trailer/kitchen thing. We had a bonfire and people were playing instruments- we (they) sang Hebrew songs to celebrate Shabbat and we passed round bread and wine. The tough part was finding somewhere to pee on this busy beach!
Saturday:
A day to relax! So I mainly read and went for a brief swim and chatted to people. The food was good- nice porridge for breakfast and a lot of veg and salad which is perfect for me! We did a yoga session led by one of the guys. I walked to the shop with a German guy and American guy who are both quite cool! And then I got chatting to an Irish girl who's about my age. We had a drama when the weather turned and all of a sudden the tents were being flooded with water as the wind picked up and the tide rose unexpectedly high, so it was a mad dash to move camp further up beach! My cheap tesco tent is by far the prettiest- thank you mother! And the cheap sleeping bag is doing the job!
Sunday we had breakfast at 6 and set off about 7! It was about 17km through the desert, which is not the sand fields you expect, but mountains and canyons- watching the Red Sea get further away! We were literally on the border with Egypt. It was a pretty tough day- lots of climbing and descending! But spectacular scenery and we saw ibex and lizards. Everyone split into smaller groups depending on speed. It was boiling- not a cloud all day! We'd got packed lunches that we dished up at breakfast.
We reached camp about 4, some of the first, and set up tents, which was tricky in the wind on a mountain. I helped do dinner- lots of peeling and chopping veg! Second drama, as we lost one of the walkers- an old fellow with Alzheimer's!! He couldn't manage the first mountain, so someone left him at a road in the hills and went to get help. The rescue team were called and, luckily, they tracked his phone and found him on a bus heading home! We did a yoga session and more singing and music, but I wasn't late to bed.
Monday
Another early start! A slightly easier day today! But some amazing scenery again, still in the desert passing through canyons. Having a good laugh with Sarah (the Irish girl), Daniel (the yank) and Vincent (the German), plus getting to know the others. No blisters for me yet! And no sun burn- I'm using a scarf I bought in Palestine as a veil.
Tuesday:
An 11km walk today, climbing and descending a mountain, then walking through a canyon. I done my good deed by helping some of the elderly on the tougher parts- it was literally like bouldering! But I love the tough bits- it's a challenge! The food is certainly ample, although as you can imagine there can be tension when too many people are trying to help.
Wednesday- a couple of hours into the walk we come across a campsite with hot showers and a shop!! So we all took a break and showered and I got an ice cream. There was lots more climbing, but the views were spectacular! We did about 15km. One of the girls is a yoga teacher, so we do a yoga session most evenings- it is nice to stretch!! People are playing instruments, plus we got frisbee, hoops and various other things, although most people are knackered in the evening and it gets dark early!
Thursday: I was on breakfast duty, which means being up and ready for 5am to light the fire, make porridge and make food for everyone to take for lunch! I was with 2 Israelis and I must admit I got rather pissed off- they spoke Hebrew the whole time with the organiser guy, so I didn't really have a clue was going on and was just told what to do (typical Israelis). But the food turned out on time and it tasted ok- a vege pasta. Today was meant to be a hard day so out of the group of 45, only 15 did the proper trail (myself, Sarah and Vincent included), while another 20 or so did an easier route and the rest rode in the truck or got taxis! I'm certainly not particularly fit and I managed it fine, so I think they are just wimps, but it's funny that they choose to do the trail and then don't do it! It was about 25km with a steep climb at the start then lots of slight up and down. We come across a village near the end and was excited about getting a cold drink, but there was no shop!! We made it to camp by 2.30. So I am enjoying the challenges and being outside with the beautiful views, plus escaping real life for a while. I hope you are all well?!