A New Plan

By Ed B. -
Being flexible and ready for change is a good attribute for a hiker/backpacker/walker.  Today's forecast was for high temps and on our agenda was a long hike with steep climbs.  After much discussion we nixed that plan and made alternate ones.  We decided to take a bus to an interesting national park in Beit She'an. This park had the ruins of both Roman and Byzantine eras and were fascinating.  We made a good choice and spent several hours exploring.  From there we hopped a bus to the bustling downtown of Afula.  A stopover there allowed us to go to a large grocery store where we stocked provisions for tomorrow's hike.  We then caught a bus to Gazit Junction where we had reserved a room at the Pearl Valley hotel. It lies at the foot of Mount Tabor, the first of two mountains we will cross tomorrow on our way to Nazareth.  After a little down time, we walked a small distance to the main town of Kefar Tavor where we had dinner at a wonderful cafe that was recommended to us by David, one of the managers at the hotel. He was originally from New York so we had no language problems.  At the cafe we enjoyed delicious salad, salmon and pasta and some homemade sausage.  Eric proclaimed that it might be the best pasta dish he had ever tasted.  I think it was a fitting meal for a trio who will tackle some strenuous climbs in very high heat tomorrow.  Our plan is to leave just after dawn to try and avoid the searing heat.  Check in on us tomorrow to see if we made it. 
Here's Ed with the mascot of the national parks


Joan and Eric displaying our feast

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