Its cool waters had to wash over him, as did the realization that he finally completed his 3,029-mile bicycle trek from California.
The realization was overwhelming as he knelt in the surf with his head in his hands and cried for a moment. He later stood with his silver bike hoisted above his head in victory.
At 30, Singh's longtime dream has been to ride cross country, from the west coast to the east. His desire has been to raise money for cancer research, after the disease claimed his stepfather. His heartache has been a recent divorce, his therapy, the open road.
This was a journey he needed.
"The best way to help myself do this is to help others during the process," said Singh of Columbus, Ohio.
The registered architect quit his job and used money from the sale of his house to fund the trip.
After six months of planning and six months of training, he pedaled from Torrey Pines State Reserve Park in San Diego on April 30. His younger brother Curtis made sure a Charleston keychain was among Singh's possessions. It would help him keep his destination in mind.
Curtis Singh joined his older brother Saturday morning for the last leg of the trip from Summerville.
"We are all very proud," he said. "It was just one day for me. Kevin had 65 days of this." His mother, stepfather, sister, brother-in-law and niece congratulated him and filmed his arrival.
So far Kevin Singh has raised more than $6,500 toward cancer research for the American Cancer Society. He hopes that more donations would get him to his $10,000 goal.
Beachgoers Madison Proulx, 11, and Shanna Savage, 13, brought him $15 closer. Proulx's grandmother died of cancer and Savage's grandfather lives with cancer. Seven dollars and $8 respectively. They said they gave the money they would've used for snacks.
"I know how painful it is to lose somebody," Proulx explained.
As a boy, Singh lost his father, whom he was closest to, to asthma. His stepfather, whom he also loved, died of lung and brain cancer in 1998.
But Singh said his divorce last fall, after nearly four years of marriage, has been the most negative experience of his life.
It took him two weeks to decide to shift gears from sorrow to determination. He would make the most of his life and pursue his dream to ride cross country.
He purchased training equipment and pedaled in his living room while watching the Indiana University Hoosiers and other college basketball games.
When the team was losing, he'd pedal harder until they leveled the score.
"I was pedaling harder and training better since they had a hard season," Singh said with a laugh.
The trip itself has been a smooth one. The entire time the weather has been good. Singh biked 1,600 miles before encountering a day of rain.
Throughout his travels, he boarded at Lutheran churches and in motels. He would observe Sunday as a day of rest and wouldn't take to the road.
Sherene Mitchell of Cincinnati, Ohio said it's been amazing watching her brother humble himself and rely on perfect strangers. Their relationship has also grown, she said.
Joan Spoonamore, his mother, gave Singh her crucifix necklace for the journey. A news station in her hometown of Indiana broadcast the tragedy of an older man on a bike who died after being hit by a motorist. Spoonamore worried about her son's well being and safety.
"As a mother that was always hard to know, that he was by himself," she said.
She carries in her purse a folded note Singh mailed and wears the new crucifix he sent. The neat, blue handwriting on the note tells her not to worry, that he is doing fine.
She knows this was something he needed to do. She asked God to keep him safe.
"I think it was a healing for him," she said of the completed journey. "I just felt that God's angels were watching over him."
Story © MMIV The Post and Courier of Charleston
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