Recreation
Area for the Blind
In
loving memory of my friend Sylvia who died unexpectedly in
the Netherlands earlier this year. Sylvia turned blind a few
years ago and wasn’t able to practice most of her hobbies
like jiu-jitsu (black belt) anymore, but in spite of her
handicap she managed at least to continue traveling in her
favorite countries Germany and France. Sylvia became 43 years
of age.
Ya'ar Ben Shemen / Mitspe Modi'in. Suitable for mountainbikes and
family cars. Trail for 4x4 exists as well. Short trail to the
cache: 900 m. Long trail: 2,750 m. Signs in Hebrew only. Take a
camera with you!
This
Recreation Area was set up with extra attention to the blind. You
may find groups of blindfolded children here as well, trying to
find their way pass the beds with herbs (lavender, sage, thyme) and
a few historical attractions, of which the explanation is written
in brail.
Neither money
nor energy was invested in this area lately. There used to be a
guiding chain alongside the special path -which unfortunately has
been stolen a couple of months ago- but the spot is still worth
visiting on your way through the woods.
This cache can
be reached from many different starting points, and I will
concentrate here on two of them.
The long track:
Driving into
the direction of Modi'in / Jerusalem, leave road 443 at the "Mitspe
Modi'in" turn. You will be driving straight into the woods. After
250 meters the trail splits.
Continue
straight (south) and turn east at the first opportunity. Continue
driving until the trail splits again into a 4x4 trail and a family
car trail. Take the family car trail (north-
east).
Tell me how
you managed Nº 31 56 .722 x Eº 34 57.647 if you were
biking
J.
You are on
"Derech Ha Khashmal" now (The Electricity Path, just look above
your head to understand the name). Drive until the end of the path.
Turn south until you see (after almost 200 meters) the faded sign
which says "Khanion Ha' ivrim" ("Recreation Area for the Blind")
with next to it a green sign with the number 24 on it and turn
south-east. Continue about 700 meters and turn north to get to the
cache (half circular movement).
The short track:
Leave road 443
one turn after "Mitspe Modi'in" (southwards) where on working days
it says "Borekas". Continue until you see (after almost 200 meters)
the faded sign which says "Khanion Ha' ivrim" ("Recreation Area for
the Blind") with next to it a green sign with the number 24 on it
and turn south-east. Continue about 700 meters and turn north to
get to the cache (half circular movement).
If you intend
to get back into the direction of Tel Aviv, I strongly advice to
make a U-turn at a junction with traffic lights (Modi'in /
Neot Kedumim f.ex.).
Happy
hunting!
