The end of a great adventure

From our motel on the north side of Dover it's only 15 miles to Bower's Beach, the finale to a journey that in all has taken 6 months and 6 days. Although not so grand, boisterous or remarkable as some of the other more prominent beaches in DE, this one seemed to me the most suitably matched to our trip.

The trek to the shore takes all day. So many wonderful people stop to take an interest. Some offer food, others water, while many just want to pet Bud and have a friendly chat. This may be the smallest state on our walk but there's nothing small about the hearts of those who live here.

It's dark by the time we actually make it to the sand, and the sign says that the beach is closed after dusk, so I guess our celebratory swim will have to wait until morning. I put up a tent in the Park right off Main Street since there are no signs prohibiting it. Bud settles down in the grass, but then gets excited to find three meaty bones on his blanket, a small reward for a job well done. We both fall asleep fairly quickly, but are awakened around 00:00 when the little Beagle next door becomes aware of our presence.

By 5:30 I'm ready to pack up and head once more for the shore. The quiet fishing town hardly stirs as we make our way back toward the beach. A few boats are headed into the bay, as the first resplendent rays of the sun begin shining forth on the horizon.

Once on the sand, Buddy goes crazy, like a puppy again, he darts haphazardly every which way. I don't know if he's ever been to the beach, but he certainly seems to like it. He finds a turtle, and many strange looking 'horseshoe crabs' (I was told that's their name, but honestly these things ought to be called alien crabs since they resemble something from a sci-fi film). A quick dip, a walk and then it's done... perhaps.

I don't have any grand epiphanies to elucidate, nor any concluding thoughts which need be shared. I only wish to end with thanks, my sincere gratitude to all those countless people along the way that have made this walk so wonderful. It's doubtful that I'll meet many of you again, but I'll certainly remember your kindness in months and years to come, every time I go back to the pages of my journal.

Thank you,

Lucas Hansen