Upcoming COGS Weekend Getaways 2009

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COGS Weekend Getaways are reserved for COGS members only.

Schedule for 2009

April 25 and 26 - A Sunny Yakima Weekend
Come and ride in sunny Yakima where there is very little traffic and the apples trees will be blooming.

May 16 and 17 Yakima Canyon for a Day Bike Getaway

We will do the "Your Canyon for a Day Bike Tour."  This is a 35-mile ride through the scenic Yakima River Canyon with a gentle grade and a few hills and no traffic.

June 12, 13 and 14 Columbia Gorge

This getaway will include the Gorge Ride, sponsored by the Friends of the Historic Columbia Gorge Highway.

 

July 24, 25 and 26 Beautiful Birch Bay

Over the course of 3 days we will cycle to Lummi Island, Lynden and Peace Arch Park.

 

August 28, 29 and 30 The San Juan Islands Tour

We will stay in Friday Harbor at Wayfarers Inn and cycle San Juan Island, Orcas and Lopez.

 

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April 25 and 26 - A Sunny Yakima Weekend

Come and ride in sunny Yakima where there is very little traffic and the apples trees will be blooming. You might want to plan to do a little wine tasting while you are there since it will be the Spring Barrel Tasting Event Weekend and all the wineries will be open and having special tastings and food.

 

Saturday: Yakima Ridges Ride 

Ride Start: Start time between 7am and 9:30 (Moderate 50 mile riders meet at 8:30)  

Meet At: Fred Meyer by Chesterly Park

Ride Distance: Choice of 25, 50, 70, 100 miles

Registration Fee: $40.00 in advance.
Details: Winding over the ridges of the upper Yakima Valley, each route features rewarding landmarks of the area.  The ride is fully supported and includes break stops, lunch along the route and a celebration with food back at the finish line. 

Details will be posted soon on Apple Valley Kiwanis Bicycle Rides web site

www.desertvalley.com/rides

 

Sunday: Yakima to Tieton Loop

Ride Start: Motel 6

Meet At: 9:00 am leave 9:15 am
Ride Pace: Moderate.
Ride Distance: 40 miles.
Ride Terrain: Mostly flat with one hill in the beginning, very little traffic. 

Details: We will have lunch in Tieton.

 

Lodging: This is a busy weekend in Yakima with the Spring Barrel Tasting. Motel 6 is in Yakima, Exit 31.  Rooms are approx. $52.00 single or $58.00 double when booked on their web site. Camping is available at Yakima Sportsman State Park, which is a very nice facility.

 

Use the COGS email if you need a roommate or want to car pool.
Tour Organizers: Mary Jo

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May 16 & 17 Yakima Canyon for a Day Bike Getaway

We will do the “Your Canyon for a Day Bike Tour”. This is a 35-mile ride through the scenic Yakima River Canyon with a gentle grade and few hills and no traffic.

   

Saturday Ride: Wine Country Ride

Time: Start at 9:30

Where: Piety Flats Winery

Distance: 40 miles

Pace: Moderate

Ride Description:

Details: Meet at Piety Flats Winery 2560 Donald Rd. Take I-82 to Wapato Exit 44 turn left and then left into Piety Flats Winery.  We will ride to Toppenish and see the murals then to Zillah for lunch at El Ranchito.  On our way back to Piety Flats we will pass a few wineries that we can stop in for a visit.

 
Sunday Ride: Your Canyon for a Day Bike Tour
Time:  9:00 start
Where: Roza Recreation Site (mile post 7), check in at mile post 3 on SR 821.
Distance: 35 miles
Registration Fee: $25.00 includes a neat T-shirt if registering in advance.

Ride Description: This is a 35-mile ride through the scenic Yakima River Canyon.  The road follows the Yakima River up a gentle grade with few hills. It is sponsored by Yakima County Crime Stoppers and highway is closed to through traffic. You can sign up in advance at their web site .

Lodging: We will be staying at the Motel 6 in Yakima, Exit 31.  Rooms are approx. $65.00 for a double when booked on their web site. RV and camping is available at Yakima Sportsman State Park.  This is a busy weekend in Yakima so make a reservation soon.

Use the COGS list serve if you need a roommate or want to car pool.
Tour Organizers: Mary Jo

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June 12, 13 and 14 Columbia Gorge

Come ride in the beautiful Columbia Gorge. On Friday we will ride on the Washington side of the river.   On Saturday we will ride on the Oregon side do The Gorge Ride, sponsored by the Friends of the Historic Columbia Gorge Highway.  We will stay at the Columbia River Gorge Hostel in the Historic Bingen Schoolhouse. 

This will be a combined tour with BIKES of Snohomish who will be leading the social paced rides.

 

Friday Ride: Along the Klickitat River

Time:  9:30 start
Meet: Bingen School House
Distance: 40 miles
Pace: Moderate (14-16 mph), and Social (12 - 14 MPH).

Ride Terrain: Mostly flat

Ride Description: We will meet at the Bingen Schoolhouse and drive to Lyle for the start of the ride.  It is a gorgeous out and back ride running along the Klickitat River.

 

Saturday Ride: The Gorge Ride

Time: 9:30
Meet: Gorge Discovery Center
Distance: 40 miles

Pace: Moderate (14-16 mph), and Social (12 - 14 MPH).

Ride Terrain: Some climbing in the beginning
Ride Description: The Gorge Ride is sponsored by the Friends of the Historic Columbia Gorge. The ride is on the historic highway with low traffic, wildflowers and great views of the gorge. For sign up and details of the ride go to the web site: http://hcrh.org/GorgeRide09. html

 

Sunday Ride: Fruit Loop

Time:  9:00 start
Meet: Bingen School House
Distance: 20 miles
Pace: Moderate (14-16 mph), and Social (12 - 14 MPH).

Ride Terrain: Some Hills

Ride Description: We will ride through the fruit orchards and be treated to exceptional views of Hood River Valley and Mt. Hood.

 

Lodging: We will be staying at the Columbia River Gorge Hostel. Make your own reservations at the hostel.  They have private rooms for $49/night, and dorm beds for $19. There is camping in the area at Bridge RV Park in White Salmon 509-493-1111.  Hostel phone reservations: 509-493-3363

Kitchen facilities are available at the hostel if you would like to bring food.  We will do a potluck dinner on Saturday at the hostel.  Make your reservations early; the Gorge is a popular vacation spot in the summer.

 

Directions to hostel:

Tour Coordinators: Mary Jo at maryjo1532@hotmail.com

Use the COGS email if you need a roommate or want to carpool.

 

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July 24, 25 and 26 Birch Bay Weekend Getaway

Come spend 3 days biking the rural roads of Whatcom County. We will be staying in beautiful Birch Bay where we will ride along the bay, have Dutch pastries in Lynden and visit the Peace Arch Park. Evenings can be spent walking along the beach and enjoying the sunset. 

 

Friday Ride: Fairhaven to Lummi Island 
Time:  10:00 start 
Meet: Colophon Café in Fairhaven 
Distance: 40 miles 
Pace: Moderate (14-16 mph) 
Ride Terrain: Rolling with a few hills

Ride Description: We will meet at the Colophon Café in Fairhaven (S. Bellingham). We will bike along the bay and then take the ferry to Lummi Island for lunch. When we return we will have dinner at the Colophon Café before going to the Hostel. 

Directions to Colophon Café: From I-5: Take exit 250 off of the Freeway. Head west on Old Fairhaven Parkway about 1.6 mi. until you reach a stop light. Continue straight through the light, the street winds to the right becoming 10th Street - heading north. Proceed straight through the stop sign and park your car on the street. Café is located on Fairhaven Village Green. 

 

Saturday Ride: Birch Bay to Lynden 
Time: 9:30  
Meet: Pioneer Park in Ferndale

Distance: 40 miles

Pace: Moderate

Ride Terrain: Mostly flat with a few hills 
Ride Description: If you want to come up on Saturday, join us at Pioneer Park in Ferndale. We will ride to the Dutch town of Lynden for lunch and spend some time walking around the town. This is a nice rural ride with very little traffic. On the return to the hostel we will stop at the grocery to purchase food for dinner at the hostel. (Also lunch for Sunday)

 
Sunday Ride: Birch Bay to Peace Arch Park

Time:  9:00 start 
Meet: Birch Bay Hostel 
Distance: 40 miles 
Pace: Moderate 
Ride Terrain: Mostly flat with a few hills

Ride Description:  We will bike along the shore of Birch Bay heading north to the Peace Arch.    While at the park we will have lunch and enjoy the flower display and sculpture exhibit. The return ride will take us on a tour of the country side with a stop in Custer for ice cream. 

Lodging: We will be staying at the Birch Bay Hostel just 3 blocks from the beach. Make your own reservations at the hostel.  They have a limited number of private rooms.  All other rooms are shared rooms that accommodate 3 people. Linen and towels are provided.  Cost is $20 for a shared room or $45 for a private room with bath. Let them know you are with COGS. Hostel phone reservations: 360-371-2180

Kitchen facilities are available if you would like to bring food.  There are grocery stores in the area. We will do a potluck dinner on Saturday at the hostel. 

Directions to hostel: From Seattle-take I-5 north to Exit 266, turn left, go six miles to Blaine Road. Turn right, and go north two miles. Turn left on Alderson Road (flashing yellow light), then left again into Bay Horizon Park. Hostel is fourth building on the right. 

Tour Coordinators: Mary Jo at maryjo1532@hotmail.com

Use the COGS email if you need a roommate or want to carpool.

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August 28, 29 and 30 The San Juan Islands Weekend Getaway

The San Juan Islands are a bicycling paradise, with miles of country roads, only a few hills and low traffic. Join us for 3 days of island hopping and great bike riding. If you can’t come for all 3 days you are welcome to join us for 2 days.

Friday Ride: Friday Harbor
Ride start: Start time approx. 1:00
Meet: Meet at the hostel
Ride Distance:  40 miles
Ride Description:  We will ride out to Roche Harbor and around the island.
Details:  Take the 11:05 Ferry from Anacortes, arrives in Friday Harbor at 12:10.  We will have lunch in Friday Harbor and then do a moderate paced ride around the Island.   There is a grocery store on the main street in town for a sandwich for lunch and food for the weekend.

Saturday Ride: Orcas Island
Ride start: 8:45 ferry from Friday Harbor
Distance: 40 miles
Ride Description: We will ride to Eastsound Village and spend sometime at the market and then go on to Deer Harbor. Then back to the ferry dock for our return to Friday Harbor.

Sunday Ride:  Lopez Island
Ride start: 8:10 ferry from Friday Harbor
Distance: 33 miles
Ride Description:  We will ride around Lopez, the flattest of all the islands.  We will have lunch in town and then take the 3:25 ferry back to Anacortes.

Lodging: We will be staying at the Wayfarers Rest in Friday Harbor. This is a very nice inexpensive hostel just 5 blocks from the ferry dock with kitchen facilities. They have private rooms available in addition to a small dorm. Book soon since lodging is scarce and fills up fast in the Islands. They have just a 3 day cancellation policy.  See their website for details. 
Use the COGS email if you need a roommate or want to carpool.
Tour Coordinator:Mary Jo at maryjo1532@hotmail.com

 Details: Leave your car at the upper parking lot at the ferry dock in Anacortes. Parking fee in Anacortes is 25.00 for 3 days.  The only ferry charge is going over to Friday Harbor.