Board items:
Club Rides 2022:
April 16 Daffy
May 14 TBA
June 5 Peninsula Metric Century
July 16 Tour de Pearce
August 14 Rhapsody
September 3 Headwaters Century
These are in addition to the weekly rides that are posted on the website.
Darrell Eslinger
Information on Darrell’s memorial: Darrell Eslinger Memorial March 19 2:30 at University Place Presbyterian Church. Link to Darrel’s Obituary: Darrell Eslinger Obituary (1950 – 2022) – Fife, WA – News Tribune (Tacoma) (legacy.com)
There is a Memorial Ride scheduled for Sunday March 13, Foothills Trail. Check the website for details.
New/Renewing Members:
Lynn Hennings,Gerald CarpenterCar Ward,Sue Nicholson,Taran Robinson, Jeff Brune, Julie Heidt, Harley Bunch, David Barret, Harry Simmons, Henrich Schmidt, Pamela Dollar
Contributor
Ginger Phalen
Join Zoom Meeting General Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/99120747095?pwd=VmRpT25XNC8vK1pId3ljSy91cjlqUT09
Meeting ID: 991 2074 7095
Passcode: 448863
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,99120747095# US (Tacoma))
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abRkW3OlYn
Scott Pierson Trail
This is part of the ride Bob has used for the Cyclovia rides and working toward a weekly public ride incorporating this trail..
Scott Pierson Trail — Washington Trails Association (wta.org)
T2P Regional Trail
Connie Gaitan, WSDOT
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Pierce County, and the cities of Fife, Puyallup, and Tacoma are working together to plan and build the T2P Regional Trail. Throughout March, WSDOT is hosting an online open house to update the community on recent decisions regarding the trail and to gather input on priorities for trail features.
Further detail on the website
Trails & Ales BEVINAR Focuses on the Tacoma to Puyallup Trail
Larry Leveen , Forevergreen Trails
A BEVINAR? What’s that? It’s a virtual Trails & Ales event! Join ForeverGreen Trails at 6 PM on Friday, March 18th as we focus on the highly anticipated Tacoma to Puyallup Trail (also known as the T2P or the SR 167 Trail) which is part of the SR 167 Gateway Project. WSDOT representatives will be joining us to talk about this important regional trail, provide an update on the status of its phases, and promote an online open house to solicit public feedback on certain project design aspects. This webinar is FREE so please join us and spread the word — all welcome! Register at: https://www.forevergreentrails.org
Biking Along with Bob
Bob Myrick
It seems like I’m always drawn back to Death Valley for an annual winter get away. I’ve gone on organized outings with my guide friend Wayne Martin and sometimes with just two people. I’m a little too old now to ride over two big passes from Bishop California so I confine myself to the low lands.
The best time is November thru February and you need to reserve NPS sites early. There are three other commercial sites available, Fiddler’s Roost is the best. Cabins are $300 and the big hotel is $500+.
This year Charlene and I took our sweet time driving my pickup truck camper. We stayed in Corvallis KOA, Ashland private camp, Oroville KOA Casino, Visalia KOA and Red rock canyon state park before driving thru Trona to the Furnace Creek campground.
On the way, we visited Chico California home of the Wild flower ride and tried out Bidwell Park based on Fred Swift’s recommendation. It was good. First day in Death Valley we rode to Artists Palette only about 20 miles, but very steep. We stopped at the Inn at Death Valley Oasis $500+ and split a $25 lunch and drank some Death Valley Pale ale.
Next day, we hiked thru the Golden Canyon for several hours and stopped again for the $25 lunch and the beer. Next day, we rode early to Stovepipe Wells camp and snacked at the general store.
We packed up the next day and drove to Shoshone campground and the home of the Crowbar Cafe. Then the next day we did a pave/gravel ride to the China Farm Date Ranch down some 18% gravel and enjoyed our Date Coffee Shake. On the way back we stopped at the Brewery in Tecopa hot springs and had BBQ Brisket with the trimmings and the beer.
We planned to go south thru the Mojave Desert, but my friend Wayne invited us to overnight in Bishop and another friend wanted to visit in Reno. Big mistake because we were caught in a big windstorm at the Boomtown KOA and chains were required next day for Donner Pass. We waited an hour or so for the road to be cleared.
We went on to Oroville KOA Casino and won $5 with our free play money. First time there, we won $21. From Oroville, we stopped again in Chico and rode the famous Honey Run road to Helltown and Centerville museum. You can keep going UP and arrive in Paradise, home of the big fire.
On the way home, we stayed overnight at Castle Crags State Park and rode the Bear Creek Trail in Ashland next day. Then, we stayed overnight in Canyonville at the Casino and managed to drive all the way home. I would have liked to ride the Willapa Trail in Chehalis but Rainbow Falls State Park had no space on the Friday night.
If you are interested, Adventure Cycling runs trips in Death Valley and Backroads $$$$ too. Some friends fly to Las Vegas and rent a car or a small camper van. You can shop at Walmart and even rent bikes in Las Vegas or in Furnace Creek, standard or Ebike.
That’s it for March
Walt
Happy Cycling! – Tacoma Washington Bicycle Club