Fred Comes A'Callin'

A few weeks ago our friend Fred O'Englewood paid us a visit in Mitzpe Ramon. We met him in Be'er Sheva and drove the rest of the way to Mitzpe Ramon. Our first stop was the Cafeneto, of course, after which we repaired to the Pundak Ramon (Ramon Inn Hotel) for a seat at our favorite table and a light lunch.

Fred examines the menu at the Pundak Ramon

The dairy menu in the lobby cafe is quite delightful, and there is an excellent view from the Pundak Ramon's high perch across town to the rim of the crater.

Waiting for lunch at the Pundak Ramon

Rebecca O'Sunnybrook Farm also joined us for lunch as we kid around waiting for our it to be served.

After lunch I gave Fred the deluxe tour of Mitzpe Ramon. We went to the Wise Observatory up the mountain behind town, a place not many people get to see. Why? I think most don't know it's there and even if they do, they don't know quite how to get there.

Fred at the Wise Observatory in Mitzpe Ramon

It was a windy day, evident from our next stop at Camel Lookout, a high promontory at the lip of the crater that resembles a camel journeying across the sands. 

At Camel Lookout on a very windy day

You can judge for yourself how windy it was from this video. I have since lost most of my daily complement of kippot due to the wind and night time astronomy adventures in Mitzpe Ramon.

The wind almost blows us into the Machtesh by Camel Lookout (Har Gamal)

Fred did get to meet Puxtahawney Phil while he was here, but his stay was much too short. Originally planning to stay the night, he skeedadled back after just a few hours here. Come back soon, sooner, and soonest, as Chavie used to say.

Puxtahawney Phil, frightened by his shadow, heads back to his lair for another 6 weeks.

  

Dragged by a Llama

Rebecca O'Sunnybrook Farm won't be heading to the Alpaca Farm today. Instead, she is home resting. Yesterday while trying to socialize a Llama, the beast knocked her down and dragged her across the corral. Now I understand why young Llamas need to be trained in the social graces.

Corral rash from a Llama dragging

On the way home, we encountered these two male Ibex who had managed to jump a fence protecting the greenery growing in the center of this traffic circle. Soon it will be all gone. Ibex have a voracious appetite for greens.

Ibex help themselves to a large serving of park greenery.

  

Picking Alpaca Fleece

Rebecca spent the day picking alpaca fleece. This is the process by which tangles, matts and debris are removed from the alpaca wool prior to further processing. It is a slow, tedious and never-ending hand process, but it must be done. It is also done to sheep's wool before it is further processed. Who knew how much work goes into just making the yarn that is used in our clothing!

This is not Rebecca, but it is all I could find on picking alpaca wool.

  

Rebecca O'Sunnybrook Farm Meets the Alpaca Farm

Our teen-age friend from Englewood, Rebecca, has come to Mitzpe Ramon to work at the famous Alpaca Farm for the summer. Rebecca is not really from Sunny Brook Farm, but she is a tall, lanky, fresh-faced young woman who could well have come from Sunny Brook Farm. She loves animals, especially horses. Mitzpe Ramon, a desert far from the high mountain passes of the Andes, does indeed, unlikely as it may seem, have a large Alpaca Farm which has been here for about 25 years. In addition to alpacas they keep llamas, donkeys, horses, camels, and a large variety of dogs. The alpacas and llamas, over 400 in all, are farmed for their hair which is sheared and used like lamb's wool in making textiles. Nothing is killed, milked, or separated from its calves at the Alpaca Farm. All is peace and bucolic desert tranquility. There is also an excellent B&B on the farm for those who prefer a more rustic desert stay when in the area.

A small herd of alpacas at the Alpaca Farm in Mitzpe Ramon (click for full-size image.)

In addition to alpaca and llama husbandry, the farm entertains tourists who come to see the exotic animals and also ride the horses. The llamas are sometimes saddled up for children to ride as well. Some of the alpacas and llamas wander loose on the farm, and I remember the first time I came, seeing a pair rolling in the desert dust to clean themselves, looking large enough to be bears wrestling. Indeed, a full-grown llama can weigh up to 450 pounds.

Rebecca with a small, young, recently sheared alpaca

Rebecca with her favorite - the horses

Rebecca's main job for the summer is to help train the new herd of 16 llamas the farm acquired from Chile this spring. The young llamas have to be socialized and doing this requires catching one first (if you can, adds Rebecca), hooking a lead to its halter and then walking it around. I don't know if more is required, but I am sure I'll find out as the summer progresses.

A llama, up close and personal

A wide assortment of dogs are on hand, most lazing around in the summer sun. But when the sun sets the action begins for the big farm dogs who are tough enough to protect the animals from desert wolves and foxes (not to mention Bedouin) that prowl the farm at night. (Our cousin-in-laws cattle farm in Tekuma has had both dogs and cattle killed by Bedouin at night.)

A desert farm dog sleeps by day, dreaming of the chase by night

When it gets too hot, the dogs find a nice puddle of water and lie in it. 

A freshly sheared alpaca

An odd family resemblance between the desert camel and the high-mountain llama.

After doing llama training on her first day, Rebecca set to work cleaning the animals' sick shed on her second day. Among the residents was a one-eyed llama with maggots in its eye socket (I don't know if this is therapeutic or what!). I think this is the job they give you to find out of you really like working on a farm. The room, actually a stable for sick animals, hadn't been cleaned or organized for a long time, and in addition to organizing and cleaning all of the paraphernalia, Rebecca had to sweep out the stalls. 

In any case, after a long day at the farm one can always relax and walk along the rim of Machtesh Ramon. Needless to say, Rebecca went to sleep early tonight.

No, Mom, it's not nearly as dangerous as it looks!