Day Trippin': Biking in Cape Henlopen

What a beautiful start of the school year this has been, and the next month promises to be great weather to do some bike riding. Take a journey down south to Cape Henlopen for the day if you feel the need to get away and enjoy nature.

I took the journey one day, where bike rentals are free at the nature center. I entered what looked like a quaint little shack, but turned out to be a somewhat large center with a tiny gift shop and aquarium. I handed them my driver’s license—the nature center’s form of collateral—and they handed me a helmet.

Since I am terrible with directions, they handed me a map to avoid getting lost. How nice of them. I picked out my bike and headed on my way, following the arrows until I, apparently, decided not to follow them anymore. The map did not make up for the fact that I did indeed get lost. My suggestion is to follow the arrows.

After finding myself back on the main road, I focused on the nature around me: the wild flowers in bloom, the cacti scattered about the sand, the trees cluttered close—all things with their own beauty.

As I peddled further, the sun rose and a giant tower appeared in the distance, grounded on the sand. This was a great photo opportunity, so I grabbed my camera and snapped pictures of the tower against the sun. It made for an interesting concept: nature meets the artificial. I snapped more photos, and decided to climb the tower. The stairwell is lined with small windows and the top of the tower is completely open, providing a view of the beach. I even spotted funny words and happy faces etched in the sand by others.

Against the railings around the roof, people graffitied different sayings, and a simple one caught my eye—someone had written “I love you” on it. It stuck with me, and I took a picture of it. I just thought it was beautiful and unabashed. I exited the tower, found my bike and rode off again.

At the fishing dock, I saw a beautiful lighthouse across the water and thought of what it must be like to keep a lighthouse. I took a picture of it, and a few of the fishermen, and again went on my way.

The ride was filled with sand dunes, trees, the beach and the wind. Nothing was super exciting, but everything was beautiful and calm.

When my hour was almost done, I headed back to the center without getting lost. I handed in my bike and helmet and reflected on my relaxing, contemplative, picture-snapping day. Nature, bikes and the beach were just what I needed to feel renewed again.