Day 2 of the Alyn Hospital charity ride:
Awesome! What a rush today! It was totally amazing. We started the day heading to the Golan Heights which is basically a mountain that borders with Syria. After a short rest at the foothill of the mountain, we climbed 2600 feet (it was steep) up to the top of the Golan Heights. The scenery was beautiful and picturesque. We all felt very accomplished once we reached the top. After a short rest we continued across the Golan Heights where we saw tanks, the Syrian border and some army basis as we rode. Then we went down for a 1500 feet decent down all the way back to where we started. The thrill of the going downhill at about 30 to 35 miles per hour, not pedaling is really a great feeling after climbing so much earlier in the day. Tomorrow we start our way for 3 days ride to Jerusalem where we will ride right up to the Alyn Hospital and the children will be waiting to see us with flags and music. I think it will really put a big smile on their faces when they see all of us and what we did for them. In fact just so you know, there were many times as I was climbing the mountain that I was telling myself just to think about th
e children and if they are living with their disabilities doing the best they can as they have no choice then my choice should be to stay on my bike and not take the easy way by getting off.
I know I made the right choice.
Regards,
Abe
Days 3 and 4 of the Alyn Hospital charity ride:
Guys, yesterday I was too tired to email you. On the 3rd day of the ride, we started the morning leaving Tiberias and climbing the same hill that we came down on Sunday at about 50 miles per hour. So you can imagine how steep it was to get up it. But, somehow we did. It was a tough struggle, but now we can laugh at it. By the time we finished that hill (mountain), we rode about 39 miles. We stopped for lunch and I was feeling a bit tired and a little weak (sorry to let you down) so I gave them my bike to put on the truck and rode the bus for 10 miles until the next rest area. I missed a big hill (my bad). I slept on the bus for about 30 minutes and when we finally reached the next area I was jumping off the bus energetically and got on my bike and rode the next 20 miles to a town called Zichron Yaakov (it was one of the first modern settlements in Israel founded by the Rothschild family). Either way, since I got back on the bike I was in the front behind the pace car and I was pumping away at the pedals. I was the first one to make it to the hotel that day. (I did have an advantage of resting).
On day 4, we left Zichron Yaakov and started our ride to Tel Aviv. We rode until lunch (a nice cruising ride). But a few of us decided the day was too nice to be all day on the bike so we figured out a way to have them take our bikes on the truck and we found someone to call us a couple of cabs and we went directly to Tel Aviv, went to the beach enjoyed the ocean and had lunch (it was a perfect day). The people found out later and were not to happy, but we were all very happy. Hey, sometimes you need to break the rules. Anyway, tonight they had a party in a night club for all the riders. It was amazing. They showed us videos of the ride, they gave out jackets to people who rode 5 years with them and had a live band that was amazing. Everyone who was there had a blast. Then at about 11:45pm I was hungry, so we went out for a falafel sandwich. It was delicious. I guess what I am trying to say is that I took 1/2 day off and we enjoyed ourselves.
Tomorrow is day 5 (we will have an additional 100 riders who will join us). It will be the hardest day as we will climb to Jerusalem (about 4000 feet up). However, it is anticipated to be the most meaningful day because we will ride up to the hospital where the children at the Alyn Hospital and their parents will be waiting to greet us with flags and party favors. It will be a great day for them. I am so touched by it that i have tears even writing this email and thinking about it.
Regards
Abe
Days 5 of the Alyn Hospital charity ride:
Guys,
Forget about the bike ride today. It was hard. In fact it was extremely hard. But we did it! We climbed more than 4000 feet uphill. It was like riding up a wall. What we did was nothing. In fact , the true heroes here are the children of Alyn. I was almost in tears. We arrived at the alyn hospital at 3pm today and all the children were waiting for us with flags, there was a band and guys blowing the Shofar (Ram’s horns). All the riders came in singing "Hevenu Shalom Alechem" (meaning: we bring you peace) and there were people on both sides of the street cheering us on. It was like a parade and they felt we were there heroes. But I believe most of the riders feel the true heroes are these children. They are amazing!
I am going to leave it at that. The rest I can tell all of you when I see you. But you should know that this week I gave all the strength in my body for these children and I feel damn good right now.
See you soon,
Abe
This is the five day email correspondence from one of my yoga clients, Abe Shalam, on the Wheels of Love bike ride in Israel to raise money for Alyn Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Hospital. -Dina