May is Bike Month and Bike Everywhere Month. I hope you can dust off your bike and even join us on some rides.
The Daffodil Classic Bike Ride was very successful as we had a nice weather Window. We had over 58 members sign up and gained 46 new and renewing members. We now have 200 active members thanks to our plan to gain members by having "members only" Special Event Rides. This method means we don't have to procure Special Event permits from various governments and we don't need a large committee to support the riders.
We had several members step up to support our information booth this year at Bike Swap at the new location, Tacoma Community College.
We don't have any Special Event Rides in May, but I can highly recommend the Lewis County Historical Ride on May 11 in Chehalis. There is also the Skagit Classic in Burlington on May 11. In Tacoma there is the Destiny Dozen on May 19 put on by Second Cycle, but be prepared to walk some of our hills.
On June 2, we put on the Peninsula Metric Century Ride and we will stop for free pizza late in the ride at Round Table Pizza in Gig Harbor. The full Metric Century is a hard ride, but we have a shorter easier alternative. On July 13, we put on an easy ride, the Tour de Pierce, starting in Puyallup at Fat Zach's Pizza. It is a fun ride as we watch the STP riders on West Valley Highway and we have free pizza. There is also a safer route on mostly sidewalks and trails for families with kids. On September 8, we put on the Headwaters Century Ride, probably out of Enumclaw with a stop at the Pie Goddess for free pie. If the new White River Pedestrian Bridge is open, we may modify our route and our date.
We also have Bike Trips coming up and we are looking for more trips from you our members. In June, we have a special trip to the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes in Idaho. Book your own reservations at Potholes State Park on June 14. Same story for Harrison RV Marina on June 15 and 16 where the town puts on Pig in the Park. Then, we move to the CDA Campground on June 17,18 and 19 located right on the trail. You can just drop in here with a tent. On June 20, we move to Wallace to explore the trail or ride over Moon Pass to see what's on the other side. We stay here at the Stardust motel.
In mid July, we are hoping to ride the Willapa Hills Trail on gravel bikes to South Bend for a motel stay and take a different way back. We hope to start at Rainbow Falls State Park for a shorter ride. The Park Ranger says we can park there with a Discover Pass. You could also ride from Tacoma all the way to Long Beach. Reverend Hoehne and I did that ride back in the day over five nights on the highway.
In early August, we are hoping to stay at the Sahara Creek Campground in Ashford for a bike and hike adventure. It is a free Campground requiring just a Discover Pass but we need a reservation. In September, we will be riding out of Lake Easton State Park on Tuesday, the 17th.
Feel free to contact me at BobMyrick@msn.com or 253 370-3752 for more information.
Safe travels and happy trails.