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Markell completes cross-country ride

Hundreds on hand as former governor dips tire in Atlantic in Rehoboth Beach
August 8, 2017

Former Gov. Jack Markell completed a cross-country bicycle ride Aug. 8 by riding south through Delaware and dipping his tire in the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

Though Monday’s rain postponed the final leg of his Pacific-to-Atlantic trek until Tuesday, the weather did little to dampen the enthusiasm of Markell and dozens of riders who joined him, starting in Wilmington at daybreak.  They arrived in Rehoboth Beach after 3 p.m. to a festival-like atmosphere where he spoke to the crowd and then took off his shoes and socks and marched down to the beach to dip his front tire. It’s the traditional end for cross-country cyclists.

Markell’s journey began in June and two months later he had logged over 3,800 miles. All those miles, starting in Astoria, Oregon, raised thousands of dollars for Delaware charities through the Motivate The First State initiative.

After leaving Wilmington Tuesday morning, Markell and other riders headed south on Route 9, stopping in Augustine Beach, refreshing at Dogfish Head’s Milton Brewery, joining forces with three dozen other riders at Cape Henlopen High School and finishing with a run through the woods and past salt marshes on the Junction and Breakwater Trail. The final leg on the trail was a fitting tribute to a man whose First State Trails and Pathways initiative created a permanent legacy for his eight-year administration.

A Rehoboth Beach Police patrol led a beaming Markell down Rehoboth Avenue and through a finish-line tunnel - provided by Seashore Striders - at the Bandstand.

Mounting the steps in the shadow of the pink Dolle’s sign, Markell expressed his gratitude to all who had followed his journey blog, and to all those who sponsored the ride to raise the charity funds.

He said he had been through many great places across the United States and met a lot of great people.

“But,” he said, channeling Dorothy of Wizard of Oz fame, “there’s no place like home!” 

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