I’m waiting for this.
Saturday – the skies are blue, the north is still empty of visitors, and you can see the signs of the war.
A few days ago, it sowed here.
The sun is gentle, the winter chill is still felt.
So, here I am, getting on the motorcycle and riding toward the entrance to the “Naftali Mountains Scenic Route.” A good dirt road leads to the slopes of the high range, I look at the Hula Valley as if I were in a plane, the valley is beneath me, and the clear visibility highlights the beauty.
The landscape is photogenic and looks great in photos. I continue along the road and reach Kiryat Shmona.”
“I cross the city and reach Road 9779, which crosses the valley toward the Golan Heights.
Road 918, before I get to the junction (left to Havat Bashan, Gonen, right to the Goma junction), I decide to check out the hot spring I found near the road and turn right about 250 meters before the junction.
Another 300 meters on the muddy road, and I’m next to the spring. I think about whether to get in the water, but I don’t have a towel or spare clothes, so maybe next time.”
“Now I will climb to the Golan Heights. The visibility is amazing, and when I look toward the Galilee, it looks closer than ever.
The clear visibility creates a sense of proximity.”
“While climbing, I decide to turn onto the Oil Route, a long, straight road that takes me toward Banias. Just before the end of the road, I turn right onto a dirt path that passes through the ruins of a Syrian village. I continue along the path until I reach the road that leads to the village of Mas’ade.”
The Golan Heights Oil Route
I continue north to Majdal. It’s already noon, and I’m hungry. I remember the best falafel I know in Majdal Shams, the old man who makes falafel and hummus at his little place.
When I park my motorcycle in front of the falafel shop, I notice that the place has changed.
There’s no old man moving slowly in his calming way. A young guy tells me that the old man has retired. ‘It’s getting hard for him,’ he says. ‘But he still makes the falafel dough,’ the young guy tells me.
I order a falafel, and the taste really is similar. I stay for another half hour chatting with the guy, and he guides me on how to get to a viewpoint at the edge of the village.”
“I continue and climb to the northern neighborhood of the village, both to see the snow and to take a look at Syria.
This is the northeastern edge of Israel; from here, there’s nowhere further to go.”
“A good time to say hello to a friend. On the way to Matush’s restaurant in Katzrin, I stop at a hot spring near the Wast Junction. A short stop, and then I continue to Katzrin.”
The village of Majdal Shams and to the left the Israel-Syria border
“Hagi and Shifi are the owners of the restaurant and take care of every detail. It’s immediately noticeable when you open the entrance door. Pleasant music can be heard as soon as I turn off the engine.
“‘What’s this?’ I ask. ‘People talk to me while I’m working. Before you came, I got a burn because people talk to me, and it distracts me,’ Hagi says.
I can understand, everyone knows everyone, and anyone who knows Hagi comes over to say hello and stays to chat.
Salokia Winery –
I take a tour of the winery, take pictures of the wine barrels and bottles, sit down, and enjoy the music and the atmosphere. Hagi finds time to say hello, and we talk about the types of wine, traveling the world, and the balance between work and leisure.
I enter through the winery door into the restaurant, and the scent of wine from the barrels fills the space.
Before darkness falls, I get on the motorcycle and ride down from the Golan Heights to the Hula Valley.
Road 918 from Kibbutz Gadot to Gonen, I ride a few more kilometers through nature. I notice that, unintentionally, I prefer the scenic routes over the fast ones.
It was a fun day today.”
