No roads lead to Janne

When I got a GPS from hubbie, the idea was that the thing would show me the way around Lebanon. It appears that it is going to be the other way around.

Maria on a rock (near Laasa)

Today I wanted to go to Janne (34° 04’51.43”N & 35° 49’47.62”E), a pretty much deserted hamlet on the valley floor of the Ibrahim River, surrounded by high mountains. There are three houses, some dogs, a few goats, and a little mosque. These days it has Hezbollah flags on the electricity poles. Last time I was there they were Amal flags. On the other bank of the river spot there is a little church with a bell; everyone has staked its claim.

The road to Janne (from Balhoss)

Main road in Janne

'Downtown' Janne

Crossing the Ibrahim River in Janne

There are no shops, no traffic, no people, and the only sound is the running of the Ibrahim river. The weather has been unusual mild; spring weather almost, and the snow has pretty much melted in the mountains. This usually doesn’t happen until end of March.

The Ibrahim River (Nahr Ibrahim) running through Janne

I wanted to go to Janne to see how the flood waters would be.

Nahr Ibrahim

Well, it is good that I still remember how I last got there, because my GPS was oblivious of its existence. Actually, it knew the village was there, but not how to get there. According to the machine there were no roads leading there. It kept sending me in all kinds of directions, all dead ends, but no road to Janne.

You are nowhere

I was constantly in the green; in the middle of nowhere, no roads, no villages, nothing. But I know you can get to Janne by car, because I’ve been there by car.

The 'new' road, leading from Janne to Laasa

There is a road coming from Balhoss, and a relatively new one coming in from Laasa, although that is not really a road, but more of a path. Wouldn’t advise it if you have a regular car. The AAA isn’t going to be able to help you there in case you break down; the mobile phone network doesn’t reach there.

Stratigraphy (In my next life I am going to be a geologist)

And so I had to teach my GPS how to get there. “I’ll figure it out on the map when I get home,” I though, but maps don’t help either. Apparently the roads to Janne, although definitely older than 5 years, are not mapped. Google Earth clearly shows them, especially the one from Lassa to Janne.

But the maps and GPS in Lebanon don’t think there is a road to Janne.