Barak Night Camp to Zofar on Israel National Trail: Day 8

Highlights of the day were the Moa ruins and pasta with pesto for lunch.

Rain overnight had made the outside of my tent wet and the desert only a little damp in places. It does seem to have encouraged the flowers to bloom. Yellow strips of flowers like dandelions, but with different leaves, lined areas that must have held slightly more water. In general there seemed more vegetation and acacia trees today.

Lines of yellow flowers

Acacias

Today's hike was along vehicle tracks and mostly flat along wide wadis. Apart from the flowers and a few interesting bits of rock, the main sight was the Moa ruins. A team of archaeologists were there from Haifa University, trowelling up earth and carefully sifting it. 2000 years ago or more it was a busy staging post on the incense route, which brought incense and spices from the Yemen through Petra to Gaza. 150 camels per day came through the Khan, the low remaining walls I looked down upon from the slightly better preserved fort located on a hill behind.

Moa ruins, remains from the ancient incense route

Not far afterwards I walked into the settlement of Zofar. Google maps appear to show cafes and restaurants at which I imagined myself having a coffee. Be warned, they do not exist! While the area of the Moshav is reasonably large, much of it is planted with date palms, tractors drive back and for along the roads. There is however a grocery store where I bought a coke and a magnum ice cream. After enjoying them I followed Google maps to my accommodation called the "Art House". Being as the owners were just about to have their lunch, they very kindly invited me to join them in a meal of pasta and pesto sauce plus salads, similar to meals I enjoy with my wife back home. Today is Tu Be'Shevat, the "new year of trees", a Jewish festival now given an ecological significance. The owner's children had brought a little pot of flowers home from school as part of the celebration.

26 kilometres walked today including sightseeing at Moa. 270 metres total ascent.

Note: the difference between a Moshav and a Kibbutz is that in the latter property is owned collectively while in the former individuals own their own house and land.