Yam L'Yam Captain's Log: Day 1

This saga starts like many do: first thing in the morning! Spirits are high at 7:30 am. The crew met promptly outside Beit Leni. Only minimal standing around - just enough time to readjust our packs a few times and then saunter out to the bus stop. (Our packs weighed an average of 20 kilos...42 pounds - we were advised to not let the bags exceed 30% of our body weight....oops) We arrived at the train station early enough for all of us to buy our tickets to Nahariya. From there, we had approximately a two hour train ride - last chance introspection/nap (and in my case, a chance to make a friend. a girl in the army who blasted Disney music on her iPod loud enough for the whole car to hear).

Look how clean and put together we are!

After a quick sheruit ride to Akziv/the Mediterranean Sea - we quickly dumped our packs and filled up our Yam containers. I had decorated mine with Mike earlier that week, but apparently permanent markers do not apply to yogurt-drink bottles. We met up with the rest of our group (the Israelis who did not travel with us from Tel Aviv), took some commemorative pictures, and then headed out on the green trail.

Collecting some Mediterranean Yam!
(because the last thing I need is extra weight on my back)

Molly...what are you doing?

Finally, we got started on our 22 kilometer hike (Jeremy, that's 13.7 miles) very close to high noon. The first part of the hike takes you through a banana farm (it reminded me of that time Andi and I got lost in the middle of Florida over Thanksgiving).

After the plantations, we entered the real trail. We ate our first can of tuna. We also learned that with a little bit of (pink) toilet paper, you can set the tuna in oil on fire. Apparently it tastes a lot better than regular tuna. If I had known.... I would not have convinced Sarah, Molly, and Nina to buy their tuna in water because it's "healthier".

This part of the trail went along a river/creek/brook. Which is aesthetically pleasing... but kind of a pain in the tuckus when you have to cross it and you don't have water shoes.

Nina had awesome bright pink water shoes.

 I was never one to play hop-scotch in grade school, so my rock-hopping skills are not as developed as they could be. I promptly gave up and put on my flip flops.

I wish I had played the "I don't have water shoes" card.
PS - I saw her with sandals the next day... just sayin'.

The above picture sparked some testosterone matches. Uri and one of our Israelis, Meir, decided they could carry each other with their packs on. As impressive as it was, I ended up falling behind the main group. Unfortunately, I would spend the rest of the day playing catch-up.

As you can see, spirits were high on day one.

This next picture wasn't even taken after the difficult part of the day... After finally reconnecting with the rest of the group, I had about 30 seconds to recollect myself before our steep climb to summit.

Danger of Collapse... Me or the Rocks?
After hiking 90 minutes in my sandals, I'd say Me.

The climb up probably wasn't as bad as the Pinnacle... and it was only 30-40 minutes. But for some reason, I truly struggled. I think it was the combination of the big rocks to step up on, a 40lb bag, and the fact we had been walking for 6 hours that gave me the troubles.

I was tempted to tap out, but I powered through!

We made it to our campsite, aka a gated community/kibbutz(maybe?) near Ma'alot just as the sun was setting. We pitched our tent, ate some meat sticks for dinner, and I went to bed as soon as I could. I would like to mention this as gently as possible while still maintaining some lady mysteriousness. It turns out we were not in the woods as we might have preferred... yet we were camping out on someone's property...very near to their front lawn... as in.... you get the picture.

At the end of Day 1, I felt like I was not as fit as I should have been to undertake such a feat... but don't worry, readers, this adventure is just beginning! Things might just turn around for this ole gal on Day 2!