Today I was driving from Sour towards the Israeli/Palestinian border. I started my trip alone, as Ado was still in Beirut for some business.
I started around 7:30 in Sour and was riding from there uphill towards Marjayoun. On the road I had some super nice breakfast – Kishik/Jibne Manoushe – in a shop on the street with very communicative and welcoming people. The guy in the red-white scarf was driving a small truck with something written on it like “Wurstwaren aus Bolligen bei Bern” – a very clear indicator this car was once used in Switzerland and excellent to start a conversation with my stumbling and fragmental Arabic language knowledge.
Not very long after breakfast I met Adonis and his mother. Sher was bringing him and his bike from Beirut. Around 9:30 we continued our trip towards Marjayoun and Hasbaya where I wanted to spend the night in the tent next to Hasbani river. Hasbani river is probably “the” most important transboundary river in the region. From Lebanon it is flowing to Israel and contributing substantially to Jordan river. When Israeli occupation started there was a plan from Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan to divert the entire river so it would not flow to occupied Palestine. At the time almost a casus belli so the plan was dropped to prevent further conflict.
The area where we were riding today is very much controlled by Hezbollah and very sensitive as it is so near to Israel. Nevertheless we were capturing some photos – in particular when driving along the border. A really very impressive but at the same time saddening ride along a wall of hate.
In the evening we reached Hasbaya region – a druze stronghold where Adonis (and myself) were welcomed like kings. We got an excellent spot where we could put our tent to stay overnight, listening to the sound of Jordan/Hasbani river – interrupted by barking dogs defending their territory.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasbani_River
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fardis,_Lebanon