Former Delaware governor Markell finishes cross country bike ride in Rehoboth

Former Delaware Gov. Jack Markell has finished his bike trek from sea to shining sea.

On Aug. 8 — one day later than planned due to weather — Markell dipped his bike tire into the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach, 50 days after doing the same in the Pacific Ocean in Oregon.

For Markell, the trek across America wasn't just about the journey. It was a bucket list trip for charity.

"I think it was a win-win. I got in better shape and I got to see the country by bicycle, which is the best possible way to see the country," he said. "I also got to raise money to help out Delaware kids, and I thought that was a great combination."

Markell was riding for "Motivate the First State," a group that raises money for seven Delaware charities — YMCA of Delaware, Special Olympics of Delaware, The Boys and Girls Club of Delaware, Young Life Delaware, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Delaware and the Siegel Jewish Community Center — by turning healthy living choices such as exercising, drinking water or applying sunscreen into "kudos."

These "kudos" become money that is donated to the seven Delaware nonprofits.

Markell raised $120,000 for Motivate the First State on his trip, said Tim Bamforth, recreation director for Rehoboth Beach.

"The ride has taken him 50 total days, 45 riding days, which is amazing with only five days rest," Bamforth said. "Jack went through 10 states and Canada. Jack averaged 80 miles a day. Try riding 80 miles a month — he did 80 miles a day. He traveled a total of 3,370 miles."

BACKGROUND: Markell to serve Delaware – this time from his bike

BACKGROUND: Markell: Wouldn't trade bike experience; couldn't pay him to do it again

Along his ride, Markell was joined by bikers from across the nation.

In Niagara Falls, New York, Markell was joined by Dave Ford, a fellow First State resident, along with six other Delawareans who were on hand for when Markell finished his ride in Rehoboth.

Ford said although the group Markell was with was supposed to end their ride in New Hampshire, Ford said it made more sense for Markell to finish in Delaware.

"He wasn’t the former governor of the Granite State," Ford said. "He was the former governor of the First State."

Markell, who was named "America's most Bicycle Friendly Governor" by Bike Delaware, started planning the trip six months in advance. He had been thinking about making the trek for a long time, but he said he did not have the time when he was a sitting governor.

After his term ended, though, Markell said he could now focus on the ride, and he began training in January.

"It was fantastic," Ford said. "We had a great time. He’s a wonderful athlete, but his big contribution is making healthy activities count for charities. Motivate the First State is all about changing lifestyles to create healthy activities, and then using those activities to benefit seven charities here in Delaware."

It was amazing to cross the finish line in Rehoboth and see all of the welcoming faces, Markell said, which included the Boys and Girls Club of Delaware's Rehoboth Beach chapter, current U.S. Senator Tom Carper, D-Delaware and members of the Rehoboth Beach Board of Commissioners Paul Kuhns and Kathy McGuiness.

Although crossing the finish line was his favorite part of the journey, Markell said he did have some other great moments along the way.

"I would say going through the Badlands in South Dakota was amazing," he said. "I never did that before, and one day we did Mount Rushmore and the next day we did the Badlands and it was absolutely spectacular. And it was only a 58 mile day so we weren’t rushed to get to the hotel by the end of the day. We could take time to take a lot of pictures and see it, and I thought that was fantastic."

And, as much as he enjoyed the ride, Markell plans on staying put in the First State for a while. He said it was a great experience, but the trek wound up being more dangerous than he thought.

"And," he said, "I don't want to spend another 50 days away from my wife."

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