15th September: We have arrived safely in Beirut and were welcomed warmly by the Progressive Youth Organization..

16th September: In Lebanon it is the beginning of a national day of remembrance; a holiday, a beautiful day by the Mediterranean. We selected our bikes and toured Shabra-Chatila, a Palestinian refugee camp. The people in the camp are allowed to work only in the camp itself; the choices are few and unemployment is high.

I like the juxtaposition of the balloon with the abandoned Holiday Inn sporting evidence of artillery fire from the civil war.

17th September: We rode from Beirut to Sidon along the Mediterranean coast about 25 miles. It was at least 90 degrees with very hot sun. We had lunch in an old castle by the beach. It was very lovely. We, 200+ of us, met with Mrs. Harriri, the sister of the asassinated Lebanese leader Harriri.

18th September: Today we rode to Damascus. They blocked the roads for us and every turn was manned by police. We rode through the ancient covered souk to waves and calls of "hi".

Mrs Assad at the opera.

For the ride last year, Quabbin High School students gave me a bicycle which I gave to a Palestinian youth organization in Jordan (PYO). They have since used it to promote riding and their organiation. Marta, a supporter of the organization borrowed it for this ride.

19th September: Today we rode along the Golan Heights. We went to the opera, where we were met by Mrs. Assad. It was a day of extremes -- a beautiful modern Opera House in Damascus, and shell-destroyed buildings along the Heights.

In Syria, our sponsor (Areeba) placed billboards around our route.

20th September: We had a wonderful day biking to Busra. Madame Assad bicycled with us! Upon our arrival in Busra we were greeted with cheers and calls of welcome.

The Shouting Hill on the Golan Heights.

21 September: In Jordan today, Queen Rania bicycled two kilometers with us. It was very hot and we had to pedal in 2nd gear going *downhill* due to the wind! I ended up in the bus for half of the ride.

Dancing in Busra where we slept in Bedouin tents.

22 September: Crossing the Allenby Bridge with 150 women into the West Bank took 6 hours; three in Jordan and three in Israel. We rode past the Palestinian checkpoint into Jericho, the oldest known city in the world, where we were treated to a warm welcome and a lovely meal. Much needed after biking in conditions similar to Death Valley - 44˚C/111.4˚F! That's our bicycles below.

This a piece of the “WALL” in Ramallah.

23 September: Today as we cycled through the city of Ramallah, we spoke to many Palestinians. As with everywhere else we were greeted with nothing but goodwill; here the conversations went like this:
"Hello, where are you from?"
"America.."
"Welcome!"
Tomorrow we head back to Jordan, and home.