Keren and I joined another bike ride organized by Tal. We met the group at 6am in Mesilat Zion in the area of Sahar Hagay and embarked on a bike trip eastward towards Abu Gosh.

The village of Abu Gosh was first settled over 6,000 years ago. In the biblical period, it was known as Kiryat Ye'arim, and was a ceremonial center where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. In the Byzantine era, Kiryat Ye’arim became a holy place and a church was built in the village. During the Crusader Period the village was ascribed (incorrectly) as Emmaus, the place where Jesus revealed himself after his resurrection, and the Benedictine Monastery was built.

The Benedictine Monastery was built about 1142 and destroyed in 1187. It was acquired by the French Government in 1899 from the Turks and placed under guardianship of the French Benedictine Fathers. Since 1956, it has been run by the Lazarist Fathers. The churce is located in the heart of a well tended garden with ancient trees. Impressive frescoes are painted on the inner walls, and there is a cool crypt at the base of the monastery, where a fountain used to flow (maybe it still does during the rain season?)

After visiting the Benedictine Monastery and eating average quality Humous at Abu Shokry Hachadash we did a roller coaster like 10km of down hill offroad cycling back to the cars. For Keren it was a bit scary, but she handled herself very well, and I absolutly loved it!

Total distance about 40km with 700m climb. Pictures taken with my old (7 years old!) trusty S30.