Goodbye Jerusalem, Next Stop: Negev

October 26  –  Jerusalem, Israel

It’s our final few days here in Jerusalem before heading for the Negev on Sunday.  How to spend the time?  That’s easy.  Plenty to see and do here.

First things first:  Breakfast!!  Now normally, I am not a big breakfast eater, as you may recall from my minimalist start-up meals on my ride across America.  No bacon donuts here, for sure.  Instead, an Israeli breakfast is a sumptuous feast of more variety and options than you can imagine.  Just check out the photos!  Seriously.  It’s hard to be a disciplined eater here.  I could live on the halva alone.

On Thursday, we made our annual visit to the Western Wall (the Kotel) and enhanced by taking a tour of the underground tunnels.  All these years coming here, and I never had an appreciation for the grandeur that this tiny piece of the wall represents.  This remnant was part of a grand foundation of a massive Temple Mount prior to its destruction 2,000 years ago.  The full Western Wall was a third of a mile long!  Much of the old City was built atop this site and the preservation of the underground structure is of paramount importance.  When you walk beneath the city through these passageways, you are literally walking back in time thousands of years.

I managed to get in a few training rides in the mornings, but the weather has not been cooperating.  Friday was cold, wet and very windy – in fact it felt like the MS ride last week in New York!  I cut it short and rode over to ALYN to drop off my bike, pick up my official ride jerseys and say hi to more of my friends.

I was humbled to find my name and photo on the long-time fundraisers board.  Thanks to all of YOU, Joanne and I have raised over $100 thousand over the years.  (I’m not sure of the exact total, but apparently it has yet to hit $250 thousand.)  Every dollar of this has gone to the hospital and the Children of ALYN.  Once again, thank you, thank you, thank you.

You can click here to find out Why I Ride and to support me.  Or copy and paste this link: www.wolusa.org/goto/jeffblye   To all of my generous supporters – past, present and future – I thank you so very very much.

Please enjoy some more pictures and follow me on jeffblye.com

…Jeff
Wheels of Love Challenge Rider
2007-2018