Tour de PNW Rialto Beach - Mill Creek

Tour de PNW Phase 1: Rialto Beach to Mill Creek

Here’s an opportunity for a few good riders interested in an expeditionary bike tour to explore a slice of our Pacific NorthWest region in a unique adventure.  This tour is designed for active senior bicyclists to ride their bikes eastward in a series of 5-day tours, or phases, across Washington and Idaho.  Riders may do 1, 2, or all 3 phases.  This tour is for Phase 1 from Rialto Beach on the Pacific Coast to the Mill Creek Sports Park and home.

For more general information for this tour series, refer to the initial Tour de PNW announcement: https://bikesclub.org/memberforum/13034453.

Ride leader: Rick Proctor, BikeHound@comcast.net, 425-293-3153.

Register:

• By Friday, March 31st, 2023. 
• Group size limited to approximately 6 due to availability of lodging in Discovery Bay. 
• Riders must make their own lodging reservations soon.  

Routes: 

• Links to RideWithGPS routes for each day are in the attached spreadsheet.  There have been significant updates to lodging suggestions.  You must make your own lodging reservations soon. 
• Tour de PNW is planned for overnight stays in motels and most meals in restaurants to minimize weight and bulk on the bikes.
• This Tour de PNW does not require camping equipment, but the routes have sections with many hours between restrooms or porta-potties.  Riders must be willing and able to “go” outside.

Pace: 

• The moderate “effort” pace of this tour is intended for riders who regularly ride paved roads at a moderate pace slowed down by a touring load of gear, gravel riding, uphills, headwinds, photo stops, etc. 
• Routes pass through sections with wild areas, opportunities to get lost, and sometimes no cell phone service.  The plan is to keep everyone within line of sight and frequent regroups for safety. 

Equipment:  

• Your bike must be in good condition and ready for the route. 
• Before the tour starts you should test ride your bike fully loaded for the tour to make sure everything fits and will stay where it belongs on the bike when riding on rough surfaces such as gravel and rough pavement.
• You must be able to do your own minor repairs, including flat repairs, and maintenance.

Drivers: 

• Someone will need to deliver us to the beginning then drive home.  The riders will ride from Rialto Beach to the Mill Creek Sports Park. 
• Sufficient public transportation is not known to exist to the Forks area, so creative bribes may be needed to stimulate willingness from family and/or friends to drive us in a motor vehicle(s) to Rialto Beach then drive home.

The Plan:  The tour schedule and estimated costs, including links to RWGPS routes for each day and suggested lodging for each night are in the attached spreadsheet.  Bad weather could cause a reschedule.  Check with Ride Leader if in doubt.

• Sunday April 2:  Drive with bikes from home to lodging in Forks, WA.  The route with the Edmonds - Kingston ferry may be the best option.
• Monday April 3:  Drive with bikes from lodging in Forks to Rialto Beach.  Ride bikes to lodging in Forks.  14.7 miles & 594 feet of gain.  Car drivers take cars back to lodging in Forks.
• Tuesday April 4:  Ride bikes to lodging in Port Angeles.  62.9 miles & 2,735 feet of gain.  Car drivers take cars home.
• Wednesday April 5:  Ride bikes to lodging in Discovery Bay.  39.2 miles & 1,459 feet of gain.  Lodging at the Valley View Motel consists of several cabins.  Make your reservation here ASAP.
• Thursday April 6:  Ride bikes to lodging in Port Townsend.  26.1 miles, some of which is gravel, & 1,270 feet of gain.
• Friday April 7:  Ride bikes & 2 ferries to Mill Creek Sports Park and home.  45.5 miles & 2,820 feet of gain.

WestWA Phs 1 rev 27-Feb-2023.pdf

E-Bike Riders Read This:  E-bike riders and Ride Leaders should understand the BIKES Club e-bike policy.