People paddled, pedaled, drank pints and politicked through much of the day Sunday to enjoy a beautiful October day and raise money for the Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park. While the young winter season’s largest flock of snow geese rose from Gordon’s Pond, filling the sky between canal and ocean with an explosion of motion, a fleet of 40 kayaks made its way eastward from Lewes toward Rehoboth.
Organized by Dogfish Head, Quest Fitness and Lewes Cycle Sports, the event took advantage of two of the area’s great outdooring activities –kayaking on the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal and bicycling on the Junction and Breakwater Trail – and paired them with pints of Dogfish beers, ales and sandwiches at the brewery’s Rehoboth Beach restaurant. A northwest wind and rising tide joined forces to push the kayakers Rehobothward from the Canalfront Park where the fleet made the first organized use of the canoe and kayak launching area underwritten by Dogfish Head. The trip started a little after 10 a.m. and ended with a return to the park – after delivering the cruiser bicycles to Lewes Cycle Sports – at about 3 p.m.
The trip was not only invigorating and inspired by immersion in the beauty of the state-park-surrounded canal, it also raised several hundred dollars for the friends group. People came from as far as New York City and as near as Lewes, Rehoboth and Salisbury.
The politicking aspect came from discussions about a water shuttle between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach via the canal and the need for a public landing area on the Rehoboth Beach end to complement the Canalfront Park landing at the Lewes end. Dogfish Head’s Sam Calagione has offered a $5,000 grant to begin the planning of a shuttle and Rehoboth Beach landing project. The trails of the area and the shuttle possibilities create an opportunity to make transportation and mobility in Delaware’s Cape Region an amazing tourist attraction. Now the seeds have been spread. Time will tell whether they have landed on fertile ground.
Nature has already done its work exponentially. The work remaining pales in comparison.
Tags: Dogfish Head, Junction and Breakwater Trail, kayaks, Lewes, Lewes Cycle Sports, Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, Quest Fitness, Rehoboth Beach
October 27, 2009 at 5:17 am |
It was a great day. Thanks to everyone participating and to the amazing teamwork.
October 27, 2009 at 10:34 am |
Best day ever! We loved every minute of it and cannot wait until the next time!
November 8, 2009 at 9:05 pm |
Thanks for all the work you put into this, Matt. Can’t wait for next year’s Paddles & Pedals.
November 23, 2009 at 2:27 pm |
A water shuttle between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach would be great. I have been going to Rehoboth Beach with my family for years and this would definitely provide a great opportunity for further exploration of that area!
June 24, 2010 at 9:42 am |
Good article! Great view! Analysis is through! I learned a lot!