Gunshots, Bunkers, and a Full Moon — Episode 9 — Exodus on Two Wheels • Pedal or Perish скачать в хорошем качестве

Gunshots, Bunkers, and a Full Moon — Episode 9 — Exodus on Two Wheels • Pedal or Perish

I woke up at a small overnight camping spot at Betzet Beach, just a couple of kilometers from the Lebanon border. Slept surprisingly well for a parking-lot camp — no water, no toilets, but quiet enough. Except for gunshots in the morning. Someone firing a rifle somewhere inland, and later shots from a boat out at sea. No idea why. Welcome to the border. I decided to cycle north along the border fence toward my Warmshowers host. I thought I could manage 80 km. I was wrong. I barely made 50. I’m not in great shape right now, motivation is low, and the climbing was brutal — up to around 800 meters from sea level. Lost my sunglasses at the top of the hill, ran out of food and water, and started questioning the whole plan. This area feels like a frozen war zone. Gated kibbutzim everywhere, concrete bunkers by the roads, small prefabricated shelters, defensive structures spread across the landscape. The ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel ended at the end of 2024, and you can feel it here. Nothing looks relaxed. Nothing looks temporary. It’s not beautiful — just functional, defensive, and unsettling. Eventually I had to stop. It was getting cold, the hills kept coming, and I had nothing left. I found what I thought would be a quiet place to camp — and instead walked straight into a full moon ceremony. New-age, shamanistic vibes, people dancing, singing, sharing food. I joined in. When in Rome. Someone even left sausages behind. After a rough day, it felt unreal in the best way. Tomorrow I head toward the Golan Heights — another landscape shaped by borders, history, and conflict. Thanks for staying with me. 🌍 Support the ride with a coffee → https://ko-fi.com/pedalorperish 🎥 Subscribe or perish. #NorthernIsrael #LebanonBorder #BetzetBeach #BikeTouring #CyclingIsrael #Borderlands #FrozenConflict #SoloTravel #CampingByBike #BlueLine #MiddleEastJourney #LongDistanceCycling #GolanHeights