RE-RUN

Regardless of the political situation, I will endeavor always to ride deep into the hills, when time permits, and smile at my fellow man no matter what walk of life he or she may come from.

I had not done much climbing for over four months and Sunday was a sudden test to my system. Fortunately, the speed work that I have been doing and the leg work in the gym did significantly help me in the end run. I never pushed the pace all that hard, but did find myself in the 150’s on the heart rate machine quite frequently.

As always, on a clear day, the Jerusalem hills are from some angles as beautiful as places in Connecticut, Mass or Vermont. It’s just that there are not that many places in comparison to the vastness which are the states. Thus, one is smart if they relish those brief vistas that afford grand views devoid of too much overdevelopment (I don’t seem to be able find a clear horizon anymore in the hills that don’t have either a small settlement or some random antennas sticking out their ugly heads).

The trail was, as always, rocky and in places good and steep. Laturn’s immediate climb let me know that I was feeling good and strong and I climbed to the ruins before descending into the valley. From here I climbed to Neve Shalom on the Israeli Track and headed towards Jerusalem via the Burma Road. I found my favorite downhill on this road and skidded my way down it. After crossing route 38, I took the parallel black trail which is kind of like a mountain biker’s rollercoaster, and then hung a left and started the steep climb. Lots of riders, who had started earlier, were already heading down. Also ran into (almost) literally, a Bedouin sheep herder and had to stop as his dogs took off towards my legs. He called them off and we had a good laugh.

I skipped my normal rapid descent down Nachel Kisalon and headed up the “green” trail which eventually becomes the “blue” trail. It adds on a bit more climbing and then becomes a wild downhill that tests the nerves and tires a bit. My front tire was so tested, it blew out and covered me in green slime. I ended up having to patch the tire as I feared the tube would protrude through it. Luckily, I didn’t get anymore flats and the ride back was joy.

On such a good note I’ll end this. See, no snide remarks about the “peace process” or corrupt ministers. No mention of ministers who last for perhaps a year (at best two) and then move on making no dent in the projects they convinced us were so important. No mention of 12 dead in Afghanistan. No mention of wacos in Iran with no visions of peace. No mention of Barry Bonds and number 713. Those things are for another letter.