MOUNT OLIVE – Mount Olive, Kenansville and Wallace will be rolling out the welcome mat for hundreds of cyclists expected to ride throughout the day on Friday October 8th.
The historic Mount Olive train depot will serve as a rest stop for Cycle NC’s annual Mountains to the Coast hike, which started on Saturday October 2 in Sparta and ends over 450 miles later on Saturday October 9 in North Topsail Beach. Cycle NC organizers predict that around 800 runners will participate.
The Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce, Town of Mount Olive and Mt. Olive Pickle Company are working with Cycle NC to plan the day.
Race organizers will provide drinks, snacks, portable toilets and bicycle maintenance services for the rest area. The rest is up to the local organizers. Cycle NC encourages communities to show off their local history, food and culture to cyclists, who participate as much for the authentic experience of North Carolina cities as they do for cycling.
“This is a great opportunity to show our city to people across North Carolina and across the country,†said Julie Beck, Speaker of the House. “We can show them what makes us so special and give them a healthy dose of our ‘dill-lightful’ hospitality. Hopefully they will come back, or at least tell others about us.
Cyclists will cycle to Mount Olive, arriving between 9.45 a.m. and 3 p.m., with most arriving before noon.
The Mount Olive History Museum will be open and a self-guided walking or bicycle tour highlighting the town’s history, architecture and landmarks will be offered. Mt. Olive Pickle will be offering free pickles throughout the day and cyclists will have the chance to take a ride on the Parks and Recreation Department’s Pickle Train.
From Mount Olive, cyclists will cycle to Kenansville to take in the views and then head to Wallace’s River Landing where they will spend the night.
Some cyclists, participating in a Century Ride – 100 miles in one day, will leave Mount Olive and visit Elizabeth’s Pecan Shop in Turkey before joining the main road in Kenansville.
“We want to let everyone know that we’ll have all of these people here,†Beck said. “They will come into town via Smith Chapel Road from the west, spend some time downtown, then head to Kenansville via East Main, Johnson and Oliver streets to Beautancus Road.â€
In its 22nd year, the Mountains to the Coast Ride offers a different route through North Carolina each year.
