The Grove Park Dock in Rehoboth Beach is on its way to becoming a reality. The semblance of a pathway down to the historic Lewes-Rehoboth Canal has taken shape and a barge full of materials is anchored alongside. This sight is what recently greeted me as I paddled my last strokes of a 25-mile prone paddleboard journey from Indian River Inlet along the Atlantic coast around Cape Henlopen into the Delaware Bay and eventually down the canal to Rehoboth Beach.
My only wish as I approached was that it was a completed dock at that moment, as it would have made the take-out from my journey considerably easier. Still, I was feeling quite keen to see this project becoming a reality.
Like many folks during the pandemic, I had the time to step back and think about a variety of things. I reflected on how lucky we are to live in coastal Delaware, and how the area has changed over the years. Many would argue for the better, a few for the worse, but having traveled the U.S. and the world for almost a decade in the U.S. Marine Corps, I would say coastal Delaware is doing alright.
Growing up in the area, I can say I am proud to see communities connected by trails and pathways. We now see friends, neighbors and visitors (new friends to be) passing by on foot and bike. The Grove Park Dock will help further these connections, and now folks can enjoy not only connection to neighboring communities but a connection to nature, be it a paddle or perhaps just a little nook to read a book or maybe watch the clouds reflect on the water.
Thank you to the over 150 citizens, friends, family, co-workers, and businesses that contributed to the Grove Park Dock by way of supporting my slightly masochistic paddle endeavor. You helped generate over $12,500, and in doing so, you are helping to create a public access for all to the canal. Also, a big thank you to the folks who joined me by boat, kayak and stand-up paddleboard along the way. You made the sunburn on my hamstrings and the muscle burn in my arms and back a non-issue. Thank you for all the community support. It truly demonstrates a belief in this project and the benefits it offers to our area.
I leave you with this quote to ponder and perhaps consider what you can do to help make coastal Delaware a better place:
“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”
-Edward Everett Hale
If we all do one thing, just imagine what we can accomplish.
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