Hiking in the Galil and Jojo turns Two

This weekend we were fortunate to receive not one but two shabbat meal invites 🙂  realising I was essentially released from the usual shabbat preparations and my Friday was at our disposal I did what any normal Jewish housewife would do and announced…

“We’re going on a tiyul.”

[Israelis use the term tiyul to refer to an outing, but for me and my youth movement background it spells HIKE]

We decided on the Israel National Trail [the Israeli equivalent to American Appalachian Trail, which starts in the Golan and ends in Eilat]. One day I think it would be great fun to attempt the entire thing but probably best done without 2 small children. The trail picks up on the mountains outside Tzfat next to the gorgeous Meron Forest and follows Nahal Amud, a pretty riverbed, particularly scenic in winter where everything is green and lush. Some friends our us recently sold us a fabulous sling for Jojo which sits over a backpack and Yaron is now old enough to be worn on my back so we managed to hike for several hours with the two of them. [Bear in mind this is the first major exercise I have done since having a baby and I rediscovered muscles which I had totally forgotten about].

The entrance to the trail is a bit confusing, right next to the carpark but you sort of have to walk under the road through a weird tunnel to find it. We had almost given up when we saw a group of 2 Russian couples who thankfully had a map. You then have to clamber down some rather awkward rocks [not so easy with my carrying nearly 7 kilo and Husband carrying about 15] but luckily one the russian blokes gave me a hand down. The weather was sunny [can you imagine going outside with no coat in January??!] and the kids really enjoyed it.  Jojo did not stop smiling from the time we popped him on daddy’s back, and when we got to the smooth non-rocky terrain he LOVED the hiking, and we were amazed at how steady he was on his feet, confidently strolling along with his box of raisins. Yaron seemed bemused by the scenery and then promptly fell into a deep sleep and snored his way through the rest of it. Husband briefly complained about the uneven weight distribution [you should try being pregnant luv, you can’t just take it off when you feel like it then] but unfortunately for him I have done 3 Duke of Edinburough expeditions and I remember something about being able to carry up to a quarter of one’s body weight. So unless he is planning a starvation diet, he has to live with it.

Happily, Jojo was so tired after he went to bed on Friday night we didn’t hear from him until 8:30 the next morning, so we actually got a shabbat rest. He seemed to find the whole experience exhilarating, proving one doesn’t need a ton of money to entertain kids [or oneselves] up here. I did wonder when I left England whether I would miss the green countryside, but take a look at the picture. Can you tell it’s not Devon?

Earlier in the week, we celebrated Jojo’s 2nd Birthday. Amazingly easy to entertain toddlers. A  few balloons and bubbles, some homemade skittles and an old blanket was all it took. When Jojo realised the party was for him he got really into it [especially being thrown up in the air by his guests] and seemed to enjoy it. He loved his yellow car cake [courtesy of grandma, though I was touched that people actually thought I had baked it!] and he has now discovered the wonders of cake icing and opening presents. It has definitely made both me and Husband re-appreciate the simple things in life.