Sunday morning I lingered a little when packing my campsite. This was the last time I’d pack up this trip. As I rolled out of the campsite I headed to the pond the park is named for. I’d seen Nature up close for much of this trip, and I was entering the most densely populated part of Delaware. Standing on the boat landing at Lums Pond was a “goodbye”, or more accurately “till we meet again.” The waves lapped at the edges of my cycling shoes.

Then off to breakfast in the last small town I’d see this trip. I had French toast at Kildare’s general store/post office as folks on the their way to and from church stopped in. I didn’t know which of us was more uncomfortable in the early morning heat, me in my Lycra or the churchgoers in their suits and dresses.

Traffic was light as I turned right onto a road that took me to Rt. 9. I rode across highway ramps without stopping and without fear. Once I reached Rt. 9 I was near Delaware City, which it seems is nothing but a collection of refineries. I rode through one, thinking this was a scene only Ayn Rand could love.

As I climbed a hill four miles out of New Castle, I felt the rear of the bike become unstable. I had my first flat on the rear. A couple of roadies out for a spin warned me about the large amount of glass on the shoulder from here into town. I finished changing the tube and kept an eagle-eye out for glass the rest of the trip.

On reaching New Castle, I headed for Battery Park, where I ate, drank, and rested until the greenflies discovered my presence. From there I headed back to Rt. 9, passing through The Strand, the historic district. It was in this area that William Penn landed in 1682 when he came to inspect his colonial holdings. (Delaware was part of Penn’s land grant from the King; while he chose to found his “green country town” Philadelphia up the river, its at New Castle he first set foot in the New World.)

Then it was off to Wilmington, Delaware’s biggest city, a scant five miles up the road. After riding through some busy traffic I reached the town at 1:00 PM. Here’s my bike in the downtown historic district, surrounded by banks and financial services companies. Delaware’s favorable banking laws and location close to DC and New York make Wilmington a favorite place to incorporate or have an office. In fact, there are so many banks in Wilmington the city should be renamed WilmingTARP. Note the church overshadowed by the HSBC building in the second photo below.

By two I had reached the outskirts of Wilmington. I was to meet my friend Dennis at 3:00 at the PA border, another ten miles or so. I plodded on through increasingly hilly terrain. As I neared the border, Dennis arrived early, and not finding me began to travel south to meet me. I decided the three or so miles additional were meaningless, and not wanting Dennis to have to search for me, I stopped at the entrance to Winterthur, the former Du Pont mansion, now a museum and garden. In a few minutes Dennis arrived and my tour came to an end.

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