Trip Day 27 - Moshav Arbel to Tabgha

Wednesday September 27

  

O M G  what a day it was. It started out pretty harmless. Breakfast first at 7:30 am. Carmel and her husband are such a nice couple trying really hard to spoil you. After my arrival yesterday (before James had arrived) we had talked about grandchildren and showed each other pictures. 


Goldi from Brazil ate with us. She told me her pictures where on Facebook and showed me the link. We had already met her several times where we had stayed before. 

Carmel's husband explained to us how to get back to the trail. James had a terrible time yesterday to find this house because it is not on the trail and there are no markers after coming up from the Wadi into the village and he didn't find anyone to ask. 

We started at 8:30 am and there we are on the trail. 

The old synagogue we had to pass. 

And here we are in the National Park. At the gate we had to pay a fee and she explained to us that there were three routes. The black one was the most recommended. Everybody talked about the red one being so difficult that there were even ladders to come down from the cliffs. 

The black one it was for us. On the map it looked like it was going down on the backside and we expected something like this. 

It was unbelievable beautiful on top. We could see 360 all around. 

 

There were caves on "our" cliff (we could see later) and we could see some across the Wadi too. 

First it seemed to be a regular path. Here an overlook. 

The Sea of Galilee in the background 

... but then ...

Once in a while there was a little piece of flat trail which gave us hope but unfortunately not for long. 

The cliff had many caves and some had been made into houses and even fortresses. Amazing. On the red trail you would get closer to that but we decided we didn't need to.  

  

At the trail junction we met a group of two fathers with a bunch of boys for their bar mitzvah getting ready to go up on the red trail.  

Luckily from here we finally didn't have to tackle cliffs any more. 

And we did meet Lisa and Mark painting the trail markers. Shortly after this they must have stopped because we were behind them and didn't see any fresh ones. 

Where we came from. 

Where we are going. 

The cliff opposite. 

The Wadi (a Wadi is a dry valley which contains water only during times of heavy rain)

At the exit of the National Park we rested for a moment. James picked up one of these meanies which are everywhere. 

We were exhausted. Many emotions had gone through us "up there". James said that if he had known how the trail was (even the recommended one) he wouldn't have taken me. The good and wonderful husband he is, I am sure he didn't feel only responsible for his own life but mine too. Of course I had felt equally scared for him. 

On the other hand, when we had accomplished it (with lots of prayers on the way) we were very happy and yes, a little proud. 

It was crazy though. Oh yes!

Altitude report:

On top of Mount Arbel ... 594 feet

Bottom of Mount Arbel ... minus 613 feet

= difference 1207 feet

So we continued towards the Sea of Galilee (Lake of Gennesaret).

We clearly saw a trail marker on the road near a bus stop. How the heck did Lisa and Mark get down there? No problem though. We are ok where we are. 

After a while we come to a t-junction and cross. There is a marker. The photo is looking back. 

We walk through olive trees to come to another road. James' app is helpful. 

At the main road we decide to walk along the road to have lunch and a rest. The restaurant seemed like an oasis. 

The owner and his helpers were very friendly and helpful. We ordered a shakshuka each and they kept bringing all sorts of little plates with salads from the buffet. And we had water and two seven-up each. 

We were entertained by a bus load of tourists arriving. 

We also got complimentary dates and coffee afterwards. It was all delicious!

Our break took about an hour but then we had to go on. We walked in kind of a dry bed next to the road mostly. But once in a while we walked through some fields. We could not quite figure it out. We came to some closed sections. 

Mark had said to just walk along the shore but the people in the restaurant said no, no, no because it was nothing but stones and awful to walk. 

 

Bananas being grown

Passing avocado trees. 

And then I came to a point where I just couldn't do it any more. Several times I had to stop and lean over and let my heartbeat come down. 

And just when I prayed from the bottom of my heart for strength and energy to finish there was a decorative piece of wall next to the huge pumpstation we had to go around. We found some shade and I even could lay down on the wall to uncramp my back. Prayers answered. 

One more hill to go over. 

And then ... Alleluiah ... there it was. 

We had already passed the sign when I remembered I should have taken a photo. Sweet James went back to do it. 

That's me schlepping along one foot in front of the other. Btw my Fitbit said I took 30,030 steps this day = 12.88 miles

Jesus Trail Book said it should be 16.2 km = 10.07 miles

The Pilgerhouse Tabgha is pure luxury to us. It is beautiful, peaceful and just lovely. I think it is owned by Deutscher Verein Vom Heiligen Land. Many of the people working here do speak German. 

View from our room. 

After a shower in a super en-suite bathroom we are ready to explore. Sitting on the lovely cafeteria terrace with a beer gives us lots of entertainment. 

First we talk to several people from a German pilgrim group. 

Then the people at our table change and it is people from a pilgrim group from England. 

And then a wedding couple shows up with their photographer.  

After refreshing time to go to dinner ... after popping into the gift shop. 

There is something about this Pilgerhaus which just makes you happy. Everything is clear lines and friendly. The buffet is plentiful but not so sickening overindulgent.

There are the long tables with the two groups and a few people like us. We are being seated on a round table which I think would have space for 4 or 5. Behind us sits a single gentleman. Since it is not much fun to eat by yourself we ask whether he wants to join us. He declines first saying that he was quite happy but after a few interesting sentence exchanges he grabbed his plate and beer. He is a retired Catholic priest from Cologne who still does some work here. We talked about the area and Israel and such and it was very nice. 

Most delicious fish, baked cauliflower, salad. I wasn't really hungry but I managed to eat plenty. 

On the way to the room we came past another terrace and decided to sit just for a little while. It was cooler with a lovely breeze. There was a young couple and a friend at the next table and soon we were chatting. Very interesting people with lots of information and intelligent thoughts. 

What a day. 

Thank the Lord!