April Bike Tours

Everett - Port Angeles - Victoria, BC - Vancouver, BC - Everett Loop Tour:

Experience Victoria and Vancouver, BC as a bicycle tourist.

8 days in April 2016, starting April 22. Participants are making their hotel and train reservations.

This is a multi-mode tour using your bike, ferries & a train. Carry your gear on your bike for hotels and restaurants. A - B terrain at a social pace on mostly paved surfaces.

Day 1: Meet at the Mukilteo ferry area. Ride ferry to Clinton, bike 26 miles to Coupeville ferry landing, ride ferry to Port Townsend, bike another mile or so and stay the night in Port Townsend. 27 bike miles.

Day 2: Bike 53 miles to Port Angeles mostly via the Olympic Discovery Trail, stay the night in Port Angeles.

Day 3: Bike a mile or so to the Port Angeles ferry area, take the Black Ball Ferry to Victoria, BC then bike another mile or so to a hotel in Victoria. Do tourist stuff.

Day 4: See Victoria via foot, bike, and local tours.

Day 5: Bike 22 miles from Victoria to Swartz Bay, take BC Ferry to Tsawwassen, bike another 4 miles to a hotel.

Day 6: Bike 33 miles to hotel in Vancouver, BC.

Day 7: See Vancouver via foot, bike, and local tours.

Day 8: Bike 4 miles to Vancouver Pacific Central train station, take Amtrak train to Everett.

For further information, contact ride leaders Rick & Cindy Proctor as soon as possible at BikeHound@comcast.net.

Idaho Trails
Dates: April 22, 23, 24
Leaders: Clarence Elstad
Style: various motels, car shuttles, paved/gravel
Fri - We will carpool over and check into our lodging. (This is a hotel/Motel/camping/Airbnb/VRBO/couch surfing/hostel/warm showers, etc. type trip. Everyone will be responsible to arrange their own accommodations.  We may want to rent a house if there are several people interested. I found a 3 bedroom house for $125 a night. We will ride the Centennial Trail that goes from the Idaho/Washington Border to just East of Coeur d'Alene on the lake. This is 23 miles.(https://www.cdaid.org/794/departments/parks/trails-main/centennial-trail) I recommend the use of a road bike or cross bike since the trails we will be riding are all paved.
Sat - Today and tomorrow we will do the ‘Trail of the Coeur d'Alene that runs for 72 miles from the town of Plumber to Mullen (http://www.traillink.com/trail/trail-of-the-coeur-dalenes.aspx). I can almost guarantee that you will see moose on this ride between Harrison and Cataldo.  Today we will ride the section between Mullen and Pinehurst, about 25 miles.
Sun - We will ride the rest of the ‘Trail of the Coeur d'Alene' from Pinehurst to Plummer, about 50 miles.  Bikers can chose to do all or part of the any of the rides, as they wish.  Afterwards we can drive back home or stay an additional night in Idaho and do some additional rides. I recommend the use of a road or cross bike since all of the trails are paved.
Contact Clarence Elstad at: 425-514-3446 or celstad@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to sign up to do the ride. (Check out the web sites I provided for a good deal of detail on these trails).

May Bike Tours

Yakima Wine Weekend
Dates: May 14, 15
Leaders: Jack McClincy, Janell Reich
Style: hub & spoke, camp or motel
Join Jack and Janell for their annual weekend of cycling and wine tasting.
Sat: Winery tour on bike; Steady pace, 30-35 miles.  A-B terrain. Route TBD. Restaurant lunch.
Sun: Sportsman State Park out and back to Naches.  Steady pace, 30 miles.  Picnic lunch.
Lodging: Camping at Yakima Sportsman State Park (reserve early) or choose nearby motel or hotel lodging. 
Ride Leader: Jack McClincy.  Email or call for details jlmcclincy@msn.com or 360-435-5978

Yakima Hub & Spoke
Dates: May 20, 21, 22
Leaders: Mary Jo Gerst
Style: ride various loops, motel
Come and bike in Yakima where the sun is shining and the apples trees are blooming
Fri – Trail ride 28 miles
Sat – Tieton Loop, mostly flat with a few moderate hills.   40 miles
Sun – Cottonwood Loop, mostly flat with one short hill.  40 miles
Rides are steady pace with stops to enjoy the area scenery. 
Ride Leader: Mary Jo Email ride leader for cue sheets and start locations maryjo1532@hotmail.com

June Bike Tours

June GAPCO (Greater Allegheny Passage, C & O canal trail)
Dates: June 3-14
Leaders: Mary Jo Gerst, Clarence Elstad
Style: Inn to Inn, rented bikes
Spend the weekend riding the trails around Pittsburg. Then ride car free from Pittsburgh to DC on an abandoned railroad bed and then along the C&O Canal Towpath. Enjoy historic towns, parks, tunnels and awesome scenery on this spectacular tour.
Lodging will be in motels and inns along the trail.
Contact tour leader Mary Jo at maryjo1532@hotmail.com

Meeting at 1:30, Sunday Jan. 31 at Mary Jo's house if interested in going on the Pittsburgh to DC tour in June.

Port Townsend Tour
Dates: June 8-10 W – F
Leaders: Dan & Elaine Scott
Style: credit card touring, motel

Tour preparation pre-meeting t.b.a.
Credit card tour, motel, no cooking, no SAG. You don't have to haul much for this tour, but you will want to be able to carry some clothing and lunch/snacks. Of course you need to have a spare tube, etc like on any ride.
Wed: Meet at the ferry terminal in Mukilteo, board ferry for Clinton on Whidbey Island. Pedal ~30 miles on mostly quiet roads with hills to the Coupeville ferry terminal ( formerly Keystone ). We will regroup several times along the way, including a lunch/snack stop at S. Whidbey S.P. At Coupeville we will board the ferry for Port Townsend. Upon arrival check in to the hotel of your choice-we will provide some suggestions. Meet for happy hour and dinner.
Thurs: Optional bike ride on local roads, or explore the Victorian town and area. Check out the shops, wooden boats, the harbor, historic Fort Townsend, and the bike trail which borders the boat yard and gently climbs along the hill. Lots to do and eat :-)
Fri: Basically day 1 in reverse; ferry back to Whidbey Island, pedal ~30 miles back to Clinton (a couple of route changes from the first day), ferry back to Mukilteo.
For more information contact ride leaders Dan & Elaine Scott. Scott.dan.l@frontier.com.

Olympic Discovery Trail
Dates: June 17 – 19 (main ride on the 18th)
Leaders: Bob & Viv Biesiedzinski
Style: hub & spoke, camp/motel

The ride starts at the Sequim Bay State Park, campsite #20 (Bob & Viv’s) at 9:30 am and travels west through the town of Sequim and then through lavender fields as we make our way to the Straights of Juan De Fuca and the town of Port Angeles. The trail is primarily “A” terrain, with a few spots that are “B-C”. We ride at a social pace with stops to regroup, and refresh, along the way. Plan for a 60+ mile round trip. Pack a picnic lunch as we will stop along the Straights for a picnic! There will be a “potluck” dinner at our campsite on Saturday evening after the ride. For more information and to R.S.V.P. contact Bob Biesiedzinski at 206-595-3822 or bobbez@gmail.com. There are still campsites available in the Sequim Bay State Park. Go to washington.goingtocamp.com/SequimBayStatePark to make reservations.

August Bike Tours

Eugene Weekend
Dates: August 18-23
Leaders: Mary Jo Gerst
Style: hub & spoke, various loops/hotel
Bike on the many bike friendly roads around Eugene and ride on the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway.
Thu – Meet in Eugene for an evening walk/ride along the river. 
Fri - Bike around Eugene   40-45 miles
Sat – Bike the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway from Cottage Grove 36 miles
Sun - Bike around Eugene 40-45 miles
Mon – Return with an optional stop in Vancouver for a 25 mile trail ride.
Rides are steady pace with stops to enjoy the area scenery.
Ride Leader: Mary Jo Email ride leader for cue sheets maryjo1532@hotmail.com

RAPSody: Ride Around Puget Sound 
Dates: Aug. 20-21
Leaders: Tacoma Wheelmen
Style: A "free"  unsupported ride (you get to pay for your food and lodging).
Ride starts in Tacoma (working on a safe start location for cars), then follows the traditional course (across Tacoma Narrows Bridge and through Port Orchard). Stay at motels in Shelton Saturday night. Wheelmen hope to get a volunteer to drive limited luggage (no tents or sleeping bags) to Shelton.
Members of the 5 clubs that supported RAPSody are invited - that includes BIKES.  If you have a RAPsody jersey from any of the ten years of the event, be sure to wear it!

More details pending from the Tacoma Wheelmen.

September Bike Tours

Kettle Valley Rail Trails explorer
Dates: September 2-5
Leaders: Clarence Elstad
Style: hub & spoke, rail trails and more, gravel
Just south of Kelowna, BC is Myra Canyon, a lovingly restored section of the Kettle Valley Railway Trail. It weighs in at 12 miles (24 km) round trip, but there are no steep climbs or hairball single tracks – just some fun, casual riding. What makes the Myra Canyon section special are the 18 trestles and two tunnels you’ll pass over and through. The trail is compact gravel so a mountain or cross bike is recommended.

On September 4^th, (Sunday) we will be taking a 90 minute train ride with the old Number 3716 locomotive for a ride through the Prairie Valley after which we will attend a BBQ. The price for the train ride, robbery and BBQ is $56.00. Take a look at the attached information and contact me if you are interested in this trip?  www.kettlevalleyrail.org and www.kettlevalleyrail.org/ride/great-train-robbery/.

I will need to get a headcount before August 15^th in order to order the tickets. (This is the last train trip of the year that includes the robbery and BBQ.

We will be doing hotels/motels/Airbnb/VRBO/camping - whatever works for you.  You will be responsible for making your own lodging arrangements.
Fri-Sept 2nd Drive to Kelowna, BC, about 310 mile drive
Sat-Sept 3rd Ride the Myra Canyon Trail, 12 miles each way (we will ride both ways for the great views)
Sun–Sept 4th Ride the old steam train at Summerland and enjoy a BBQ
Mon–Sept 5^th Ride around Kelowna and return to the Seattle area
Contact Clarence Elstad at: 425-514-3446 or celstad@gmail.com for additional information.

Birch Bay Weekend
Dates: September 10,11
Leaders: Jack McClincy, Janell Reich
Style: hub & spoke, camping/motel

Bend Weekend
Dates: Sept 15-20
Leaders: Mary Jo Gerst
Style: hub & spoke, various loops/hotel
Thu – Drive to Bend
Fri - Bike from Redmond to Smith Rock. 30 miles
Sat – Twin Bridges ride. 40 miles.  Drive to Bend 30 min.  Dinner in Bend after ride.
Sun – Sisters Country Ramble. 35 miles
Mon – Bike Madras Scenic Bikeway. 30 miles.  Stop in Madras on the way home.
Tues – Optional stay Monday night in Vancouver and ride in Vancouver.  25 miles
Rides are steady pace with stops to enjoy the area scenery.
Ride Leader: Mary Jo Email ride leader for cue sheets maryjo1532@hotmail.com

Portland-Pasco - CANCELLED!!
For further information contact ride leader Rick Proctor, BikeHound@comcast.net, by Friday August 12th.
Dates: late September
Leaders: Rick Proctor
Style: self-contained camping, motels. Uses Amtrak connections to & from Everet
Everett - Portland - Pasco - Everett Tour
Experience the Columbia Gorge on your bicycle.
8 days in September 2016, specific dates and details negotiable.
Reservations have not been made yet.
This is a multi-mode tour using your bike and trains. Carry your
gear on your bike for a mix of motels and camping, using restaurants when
available. A - B terrain at a steady pace on mostly paved surfaces.
Day 1: Meet at the Everett Station. Using the roll-on bike feature,
take the Amtrak train to Portland, OR. Bike 17 miles to a motel in
Troutdale, OR.
Day 2: Bike 45 miles on the OR side of Columbia River to camp at
Viento State Park, OR.
Day 3: Bike 41 miles on the OR side of Columbia River to camp to a
motel in The Dalles, OR.
Day 4: Bike 22 miles mostly on the OR side of Columbia River to camp
at Maryhill State Park, WA.
Day 5: Bike 55 miles on the WA side of Columbia River to camp at
Crow Butte Park, WA.
Day 6: Bike 32 miles mostly on the WA side of the Columbia River to
a motel in McNary, OR.
Day 7: Bike 44 miles mostly in WA to a motel in Pasco, WA.
Day 8: Bike 3 miles or so to Pasco, WA Amtrak Station, take train
back to Everett Station. Unknown at this time if bike roll-on service will
be available in Pasco. If not, bike boxes will be required for bike
transport on the train.
For further information, contact ride leader Rick Proctor BikeHound@comcast.net.