Video Report this week.
Kibbutz Mishmar Haemek where we met is strategically located on the southern slopes of the Jezreel valley hillside. In April 1948 its members fought a bitter battle over several days against the volunteer Arab force led by the Iraqi commander Kaukji . Seventeen members of the kibbutz were killed in the see-saw battle that finally ended when Yitzhak Sadeh's support units arrived at the battle and drove back the Arab attackers. In a battle some several kls away to the west, Moshe Dayan's brother Zorik was killed in a battle with Arab forces attempting to capture Kibbutz Ramat Yohanan. The Arab Forces included Druze fighters who switched sides and joined the Jewish forces when they realized the Jews were the stronger force. Since that battle, Druze serve in the IDF and the Police.
We awaited Tracey at the launch sire near the Palmach Cave in anticipation of an exciting new ride in unchartered territory for most of us. But Tracey had other unexpected plans and instead David and Michal were entrusted with instructions and GPS destined to navigate us on the path to the Holy grail. A steep immediate uphill was the first obstacle and not knowing where to turn was the second. By then Sami had given up and abandoned the group.
Finding the way again we rode up another hill to be faced with yet another "where to" By then Uri Sahar was turning white so he decided to rest and return to the car. We rode off to again lose the way and returned on our tracks to find Uri now recovered. "I once was lost, but now am found." Amazing, but some grace.
Things started to look better and directions easier as we approached the summit. After a short rest we commenced the return. A slight diversion to the Kibbutzim memorial site enabled us to view majestic vistas as well as to grasp the enormous contribution the kibbutzim have made in sacrifice in the way of fallen soldiers over decades. Their fallen numbers are vastly disproportional to the numbers of fallen in the community at large.
Having climbed for several kls and mostly steep inclines we finally welcomed the fast downhills on the way to the carpark. There was one last climb through the kibbutz to the real holy grail... our cars and for me and Haim, a beer at the Meggido rest area. David and Hylton declined the beer offer but provided good company as we discussed our good fortune at being well enough to be able to enjoy rides like today's superb route irrespective of minor glitches.
Thanks to David and Michal who also provided fine weather. The phot is the site of the Kibbutz Memorial (prior to its construction) when we last visited it 15 years ago. Who can you identify???
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| From 2003, can you name them all? |
Yesterday (Friday) was John's birthday which we planned to celebrate on the Sat ride. Unfortunately neither John, David or Ingride were there to ride along so Meir took the reins and led us up the sandy wastes of northern Basra. It was bearable and for some a chance they could prove they could ride through sand like a buggy. Further along nearing Yacum one of our gang experienced a broken chain which Rafi repaired in a professional and efficient manner. The same rider whose name we will not mention on the grounds that he has expressed his wish for anonymity (but we all know who he is Ha Ha) then had a slow puncture but we were able to re-pump several times and get him home eventually. In meantime on the return from the Yacum singles we realized Talia was missing so I rode back to try to locate her but to no avail. Fortunately she was able to meet riders on the path who were able to help her to find her way back to Ra'anana. By then we were running behind schedule so we hastily powered our way back via Benei Zion and the Raanana canal in order to be at Landwer in time for the "breakfast party". Michal and several others turned up and Durban Talya's young family also joined in so we were well in excess of twenty by then. A rousing chorus of Happy Birthday singers and loads of hugs were a grim reminder to John that he is now over 60. Good luck mate and many more years of riding.
Thanks Meir for returning the Jewish riders to the Promised Landwer despite the plagues that the 20 riders had to "suffer" in perfect weather.
התכנסנו בבוקר יום שבת הצפוי להיות שרבי.
רכבנו דרך פארק רעננה והשכונות החדשות במערב העיר. משם רכבנו למרכז רישפון בדרכנו לכפר שמריהו.
חצינו את כפר שמריהו מצפון לדרום דרך שדרת גנים (ובתים) יפים. בדרך עצרנו לראות את מערות הקבורה העתיקות שהיו פתוחות לביקור.
משם הדרך מערבה דרך הגשר אל שכונת נוף ים, תצפית לים ומסגד סידנא עלי.
חום היום החל להיות מורגש ולכן החלטנו לחזור לרעננה בדרך הקצרה והרגילה.
סה"כ רכבנו מעט אך נהנינו מהחברה המצוינת, מכך שהסתבר כי ליעל ולי יש חבר משותף: חבר ילדות של יעל וחבר מהשרות הצבאי שלי.
בברכת (מאוחרת) חג שבועות שמח
אורי
Rain had been forecast for today, hence the postponement once again of our proposed "away ride", and indeed at 3am the was a brief heavy downpour in the area. But, by 7am when 24 of us met at our usual meeting point the sun was shining and it looked as though the rain was going to give our area a miss. We decided to keep away from mud and David, who led the ride did exactly that. The paths we traversed (some off road and some not) were familiar ones that we have ridden. The weather was great and the company greater. After travelling some 28kms we arrived back in Ra'anana and made our breakfast stop at ArcCafe. All in all it was a very pleasant ride with great company and an enjoyable breakfast stop. As we were about to leave ArcCafe there were a few drops of rain that didn't develop into anything.
I want to end off by repeating a request that has been made before. We are looking for others to lead the rides and do the weekly bulletins. Please volunteer your services. ☺
Have a great week.
On a coolish Saturday morning 19 of us ventured to Rishon Le Tzion to do Arik's home patch ride as he lives there. It was an easy start on paved bicycle paths that lead us to the wilderness by the Sorek River that I have never seen so wide.
However we soon ended up at a small airfield and we were leisurely standing on the airstrip till Ted made us abandon it and wait further away for Arik who was searching for the right direction. Finally we got moving. The route in the nature reserve was very sandy but in some parts we were facing water patches that made us slaloming among them.
We rode on and sometimes walked but reached our destination towards the Palmachim Beach. At this point some riders decided not to carry on. Actually they joined David who had problems with his bike and they all went, biked back to the parking lot. 15 daredevils reached the sea but by that time it was already very hot. When we got back to the cars it was already thirty degrees. This ride was a preparation for the summer to come.
Altogether we rode 38km. At the end some stayed for refreshment and the rest went straight home. Thanks Arik for leading us on an enjoyable ride.
Because of the weather forecast our planned "away" ride was postponed (hopefully to this coming Saturday) and we met, 26 riders in all, at 7am at our usual starting point for another Home Patch Ride. For the third week in a row our turnout was great. Keep it up! This time the ride was led by Rafi (or was it Anna?) and the route chosen took us over familiar ground, albeit in a different order. There was a wee bit of sand, but nothing too much, and we even had two occasions when a light drizzle caused some to stop and put on rain gear.
No one got lost!!!
The route is not important. We'd seen it all before, but what makes our rides a "hit" is meeting up with good friends, enjoying good exercise and last but not least our "Breakfast stop".
Once again we graced Landwers, Ra'anana with our presence. As usual, the food and service was excellent and the chit chat even better.
Here's an appeal. Will those interested in leading the ride or doing a "Ride report" now and again, please contact either me or David (Our contact numbers are on the website).
Watch the website or our Facebook page for details of our next ride. If you aren't on our mailing list and want to be, hit the "contact" button on our website and let us know. Your information is kept private.
An impressive turn out of regulars and a visiting South-American contingent (24 in all) set off for a home patch ride on 14 April. The weather has taken a turn to the warmer side, and a charming route was devised by Uri that set skirting Hod Hasharon and through Neve Hadar joining up along the Israel National Trail and some welcomed shade. In total the ride was around the 36km mark with some extra mileage enjoyed if you rode from home, or got particularly creative in getting separated from the group.
We enjoyed a scenic routing back through Neve Yaraq and Elishama with a minor detour to a petting zoo - before heading back towards a much required coffee stop (which required a bit of searching for one that was both open and could accommodate a bunch of good looking people in lycra).
Thanks again to Uri for leading, and we look forward to many future rides with you at the helm! If you are keen to lead a ride, please let David or John know.
To All Cyclenix Members Friday April 13, 2018
An Important Message:
To all Cyclenix members
Throughout the years that Cyclenix has been riding together, the group has always been organized by the same members. W...
CLICK HERE for the whole story
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August 6th 1983, just 38 years after the bombing of Hiroshima I made my grand entrance into the world! The youngest of three, I enjoyed a typical 80's Jewish South African childhood. I had a lovely protected childhood without any worries about reality? in 1992 my world crashed! We were told that we would be making Aliyah!! So, on Erev Pesach 1992 we arrived in Israel at my grandmother's house in Afula Ilit. I cried for about two weeks straight. According to my mother I refused to say a word in Hebrew for three months till I could speak fluently and I have never stopped talking since. It was quite a culture shock coming from a private Jewish school where there was about one black child to a public school in Afula Ilit where we were only three white kids in the class. Questions like "did you live in a jungle?" or "do you know Michael Jackson?" were a regular routine. We lived in Afula for two years and I went to a religious school at that time. We then moved to Pardesiya, closer to Netanya where my father worked. At this stage I gave my mother an ultimatum: "Either you send me to a secular school or I am not going to school anymore!" My mother knowing that I was always a strong willed person, and, also having shared the experience of being In a religious school against your will, sent me to a secular school. From leaving South Africa till now I was lost and in the wrong surroundings and this is where it all changed. I had great friends, whom I am still friends with till this day (borderline family) and at this stage I could also understand that my parent's decision to make Aliyah, was the best thing they could have done for me. From here it was all pretty much "by the book" finish middle school and high school and off to the army. I guess that the structures of school and the army are what kept me going by any book? whoever knows me, knows that I am anything but "by the book". I worked in a nursery school, and then moved on to working in a glasses shop (optician) where I started to find my path. In 2005 my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and being the only child living at home I took it upon myself to go with her to doctors and treatments. It made my relationship with her flourish and become stronger than ever. She survived to hear the words cancer free but she was never really a healthy person, so we had many other doctor appointments to go to for the next few years. While my mother lived through pain and different problems I started doing my bachelor's degree in optometry. In 2010 I bought myself a? sticker? bike and started riding around Pardesiya. Once to twice a week about 4-8 kilometers was my routine. It gave me a release from studying and all the doctors' appointments at that time. In 2012, once again, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This time it had spread. Though the doctors made us feel optimistic the cancer had other plans and within about three months from the diagnosis, my mother passed away. In Tel Mond where I now lived on my own I couldn?t find a routine. At that point, Yvette who was my customer then, insisted I join Cyclenix for a ride. At a time when I was most in need, I found a family! Then and now I am constantly asked why I don?t ride with people my age. While I always give answers that one's brain can comprehend, it is mainly because Cyclenix for me is my "cheers". Cheers theme song lyrics: "Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. |
If you have any questions or want to get in touch for any reason, feel free to get in touch with David or John:
Email: jcandy@inter.net.il
David: 054-474-1424
John: 050-942-2788
New riders always welcome to join us.
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