From Ashkelon we will head towards Kiryat Gat. On our way we will pass Giv'ati Junction and the Iraq Suweidan Police Station, known today as Metzudat Yoav (Yoav's fortress). The fortress is one of 36 police stations built by the British during the Great Arab Revolt, 1936 - 1939. Today the fortress houses a museum for the Givati Brigade, presenting the story of these IDF combat fighters, from the brigade's heroic battles during the War of Independence to the present day.
From here we will continue to Lakhish junction, cycling through the Lakhish winery region and the “Land of a Thousand Caves” situated in the Judean Lowlands, the most famous being the caves of Maresha and Beit Guvrin.
In Beit Guvrin we will join the GalgALYN riders for a short ceremony and then continue with our journey.
We will retrace our 2008 (and 2003!) Ride "steps," passing once again through the fertile Valley of Elah, where the Israelites encamped when David fought Goliath (1 Sam. 17:2, 19).
A well-worn road for local riders, we will pass Kibbutz Netiv HaLamed Heh, named after the 35 Haganah soldiers killed in a convoy carrying supplies to the Gush Etzion kibbutzim during the 1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine. Today, the kibbutz is home to the Ella Valley Winery.
From here we will begin our challenging ascent towards Jerusalem along the Nativ Brook, following the path of an ancient Roman road between Ashkelon and Jerusalem.
At Tzur Hadassah we will turn towards "Bar BaHar", nowadays a famous cycling rest stop and continue down a magical and steep descent alongside beautiful pine forests, running parallel to the Sorek Stream. After a strenuous climb via Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital and the Ora Junction we will finally make our long awaited and grand entrance into Jerusalem!
Anticipating our arrival at ALYN Hospital, the children of ALYN, their parents, the ALYN staff, family members and friends will all give us an emotional and unforgettable WELCOME !
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