We will have 4 straight days of riding out of Yakima. You can join us for just one day, 4 days or any portion thereof. I will be leading each day’s ride at a high moderate pace (15-17) but will encourage everyone to ride at the pace they are most comfortable with. There will be places to regroup or have lunch together. Please register and indicate in the Discussion Forum which days you are riding (if not all 4) so I can have cue sheets for everyone. Most of our riding is in orchard/vineyard country where services are very limited so it is extremely important to come prepared with the right amount of food/snack items and equipment to be self sufficient for breakdowns. See further details below for each day’s ride. I plan on camping out at Yakima Sportsman’s State Park which is on a first come first served basis this time of year. There are plenty of motel options in town which will be a 10-15 minute drive to the starting points.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 23
The drive from Seattle to the starting point is around 2 – 2 ¼ hrs and is on the way to Yakima. Meet at the parking lot for Helen McCabe State Park (Discover Pass Required). Take Exit 3 from I-82, head west toward Canyon Rd. Left turn to parking lot with restroom.
Yakima Canyon Ride, 45 miles, 2110’ elev gain. Start Time 10:00 AM. This is following Ride #62 in ’75 Classic Rides WA’ which is an out and back route. On this ride there is only one lunch option so I suggest bringing your own lunch. If you want to eat at Red’s Fly Shop Café it will be your option on the way back at around mile 35, otherwise at mile 30 we will stop for lunch at Big Pines Rec Area.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 24
Starting point: Chesterley Park, near intersection of N 40th Ave/W Powerhouse Rd/River Rd. in Yakima. Access parking lot from River Rd.
Yakima – Whistlin’ Jack Ride, 73 miles, 2650’ elev gain. Starting Time 10:00 AM. Ride #64 in ’75 Classic Rides of WA’. An out and back route heading towards Chinook Pass but not all the way to the summit. Lunch stop will be at Whistlin’ Jack’s Lodge where entrees pricing is $12-16.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 25
Starting point: Chesterley Park.
Naches Heights – Wenas Lake, 47 miles, 2490’ elev gain. Starting Time 11:00 AM. Ride #63 in ’75 Classic Rides WA’. Scant lunch options until mile 40, may want to bring your own.
MONDAY OCTOBER 26
Starting Point: Yakima Sportsman’s State Park. It shouldn’t be too crowded so we’ll meet in a parking area inside the park near a restroom. Discover Pass required.
Yakima – Rattlesnake Hills Ride, 69 miles, 2268’ elev gain. Starting Time 10:00 AM. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/10648461 . Lunch stop will be at Taqueria Mexicana at approximately mile 47 in Toppenish. There are many other lunch options nearby.
For each evening and morning I will mention some eating options and my preferred choice but it is best to do your own research for what you would like best. It would be great if many of us will meet up for dinner or happy hours. This is the tentative schedule and I may make slight changes per the weather for each day. Please form your own car pools based on who you see registered on the website. I still have room for two other riders to join me. I hope you can join me as I am anticipating a great weekend of beautiful rides. If you have further suggestions for this weekend please email me directly. My final email will be the week of the ride to give updated weather forecasts and confirm the starting time for Friday. I will also create a Discussion Forum for this weekend so you can tell me which days you will join us if not the whole 4 days.
