Tour de PNW Mill Creek - Columbia River

Tour de PNW Phase 2: Mill Creek - Columbia River

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 2 from Mill Creek Sports Park (close to home) to across the Columbia River at Beverly, WA.

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 Sunday, April 30th, 2023. 
• Group size limited to 8.
• Riders must make their own lodging reservations.  

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 drive to retrieve us at the end of this tour to take us home.
• Sufficient public transportation is not known to exist to the Beverly area, so creative bribes may be needed to stimulate willingness from family and/or friends to drive a motor vehicle(s) to Beverly to bring us and our bikes 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, May 21:  Ride bikes from the Mill Creek Sports Park to lodging in North Bend.  49.2 miles & 1,945 feet of gain.  Several miles of gravel.
• Monday, May 22:  Ride bikes from North Bend to lodging at Snoqualmie Pass.  31.3 miles & 3,300 feet of gain.  This includes the 2.3 miles long, dark, cold, possibly wet and probably noisy Snoqualmie Tunnel.  This day will be mostly gravel.  Carry a picnic lunch.
• Tuesday, May 23:  Ride bikes from Snoqualmie Pass to lodging in Cle Elum.  33.2 miles & 536 feet of gain.  This day is also mostly gravel.  Carry a picnic lunch.
• Wednesday, May 24:  Ride bikes from Cle Elum to lodging in Ellensburg.  28.3 miles & 380 feet of gain.  This day will also be mostly gravel.
• Thursday, May 25:  Ride bikes from Ellensburg to cross the Columbia River on the newly reconditioned Beverly Bridge and finish at Burkett Lake Recreation Area on the east side of Beverly, WA.  37.8 miles & 1,159 feet of gain.  This day is also mostly gravel, and has about 35 miles of no shade, no services, and limited access.  Carry a picnic lunch and plenty of water.  Hopefully our drivers will meet us at the Burkett Lake Rec Area to return us and our bikes home.

MidWA Phs 2 rev 1-Mar-2023.pdf

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