Bike Ride in Israel 2006

My first major ride, five days across Israel starting in the Golan Heights and ending in Jerusalem. I had been bicycling for less than a year. The opportunity to go to Israel with my wife’s family and to raise money for a remarkable children’s hospital (Alyn) overcame any trepidation about my ability to ride 300 miles through the mountains and valleys of Israel with 330 riders from all over the world. We raised almost 2 million dollars. A New York police officer and I were the only non-Jewish riders. It was remarkable to experience the commitment and dedication of the riders to their religion, to their country and to the Alyn Hospital. The picture is of me, my bicycle, my sister-in-law who lives in Seattle, WA and my niece, who lives in Israel, over her shoulder is my friend Joel who recently moved to Israel and bunked with me throughout the trip.