The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Jerusalem, Israel to Petra, Jordan & BACk

December 1st to December 18th

Ride Coordinator: Thomas Ryan
Report by: Eileen Vergino

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Jerusalem to Petra and Back took us along ancient routes, through villages and ruins, biblical and historical sites - beginning with a walking tour of Jerusalem, visiting Mount of Olives, and the Old City. Day 1 we descended more than 3000' from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, into Kibbutz Ein Gedi (options to visit Qumran, where Dead Sea scrolls were discovered, and hiking in Ein Gedi nature reserve.)  Next morning we enjoyed a sunrise ride, encountering herds of ibex, then hiked the serpentine path up Masada, toured the ruins, and soaked in the Dead Sea, or hiked.

Next ride was along Dead Sea Rift, passing Sodom salt mountains into Hatseva in Arava Valley (Arava River separates Jordan from Israel.) Next morning we climbed Scorpion's Ascent (1500' over 8km on a rough road), through HaMakhtesh HaGadol (2nd largest crater, Makhtesh Ramon the largest), a steep-walled crater the result of erosion, into Yeruchem. Next day we rode deep into the Negev, with stops at Sde Boker (Ben Gurion's home and grave), and Advat,  mountain top fortress/trading post of Nabatheans, ending in Mitzpe Ramon.

Following morning we rode through Makhtesh Ramon, descending to Kibbutz Lotan, with strong tailwinds - riding 100km, climbing 2500', and descending nearly 5000', a fast metric century. The final ride in Israel, into Eilat mountains, passing "Western Border Crossing", along Egyptian border, with views of the Sinai, continuing for nearly 40km before descending into Eilat and the Red Sea. The next morning we crossed into Aqaba, Jordan and enjoyed a walking tour. Then next morning, Aqaba to Wadi Rum was one tough day - headwinds for the entire 65km and 3200' of climbing. The reward was the stay in a Bedouin camp, enjoying traditional hospitality, and sunset jeep tour of Wadi Rum.

Next was the ride into Petra, the entire group completing the rollers accompanied by a full police escort. Though off the bike next day in Petra, we had a full day visiting the Treasury (think Indiana Jones), Royal tombs, Byzantine church, theater, the great temple, Roman colonnade street,  and climbing 850 steps (and over 700') to the Monastary , with an amazing view across to the Negev.

Due to inclement weather the following morning we returned to Aqaba, and then in the morning rode the "Red to the Dead", through the Jordan side of the Arava Valley, along the rollers of the Dead Sea highway. We hiked a beautiful canyon for lunch (and climbed up to a waterfall), then completed the ride to the hotel.

Next day took us up Mt Nebo, one of the quintessential climbs in the Middle East - 24km to the top and over 3300' up. Half the group rode bikes while others saw a Byzantine mosaic map of the region. Gathering at Mt Nebo Church, we rode on, stopping at an oasis above the Dead Sea, enjoying lunch hosted by a Bedouin family. We met the new Jordanian national cycling team coach and several high school girls he is coaching.  An epic ride of 78km and nearly 5300' of climbing.

Our final ride took us from the Dead Sea to the Allenby Bridge/King Hussein border crossing, after which we rode into Jericho, in the Palestinian Territories, our third country of the trip. After a brief tour we returned to Jerusalem. Overall stats: 821 km (508 miles), 8,723m of ascent (28,620') and 9,192m (30,156') of descent; staying in 11 different hotels, ranging from 5 star hotels, to Kibbutz and guest house accommodations. Other than a few flat tires and minor mechanical repairs we rode a total of more than 10,000 miles without issue.