Earlier today using Google Maps I took a virtual hike in Israel.

I was looking for something else, but got distracted when I saw a long line of street views that did not correspond with the roads in Israel. I knew that it must be a trail.

It looks like over time someone has walked at least a good portion of the Israel National Trail wearing a 360 degree camera setup.

So, I picked a place on the trail and started following it.

Here I am (virtually) on the Israel National Trail. You can see that the portion I am on is a nice wide trail. I like the nice big tree here. I can imagine it being a hot day since the images were captured in June 2015. I am really looking forward to resting under the tree.

As I hike north along the trail I have been passing vineyards. There are many vineyards along the trail in this section and maybe some of you are starting to get an idea of where I am in Israel. It is an area known for the production of table grapes.

As I hike further down the trail I start to catch a glimpse of a very familiar location to me. Can you see the tel in the distance?

Here is a view of the tel, but it is a view that many people who know this tel well have probably not seen.

Do you know where I am yet?

Look what is up on the tel surface. Can you see the sunshades? They are providing shade for archaeologists and volunteers as they work.

OK, if you haven’t figured it out yet this is Tel Lachish. The pictures from the trail are from June 2015 and I am on top of the tel at exactly this moment. In fact I may be one of the workers that you can barely see under the sunshade on the right.

This is what it looked like up under the sunshade at about the same time. It may have even been the same day. You can see the trail down below that the hiker was walking on while the images were recorded

See my post: At the Dig

I hope you enjoyed my virtual hike.

Steven