Gems of the Pacific Northwest Tour

  • 09/10/2017
  • 09/17/2017
  • San Juan Islands & La Conner, Washington

Registration

NOTE1:  Vacancy for one female participant to share a double occupancy room.   Applicant must submit forms and $1,150 payment no later than Friday, August 25 to tour leader, Kathy Stommel, 9631 Autumnwood Pl, Highlands Ranch 80129; cell #719/671-5579, email:  OutOfTownTours@dbtc.org

NOTE2: Registrations for this tour MUST BE COMPLETED ASAP in order to guarantee lodging on San Juan Island. Don’t delay!  

It’s been a long time since DBTC offered a tour in this bicyclist’s paradise - so let’s go! Kathy and Joe Stommel will lead 18 riders through the breathtaking, and sometimes challenging, scenery of Washington State in the Pacific Northwest. Tour dates are Sunday, September 10 through Sunday, September 17, 2017. This tour is best suited for independent riders who are comfortable riding on roads with little or no shoulder, rolling terrain, and moderate traffic. Drivers in this area are accustomed to cyclists, but extreme caution and single-file riding will still be required. 

Routes will range from approximately 20-45 miles, with plenty of options to customize the distance to suit each rider. Maps and cue sheets will be provided, and participants will be encouraged to ride at their own pace. 

PRELIMINARY TRIP ITINERARY 

Day #1, September 10 – Travel by State of Washington ferry from Anacortes, Washington, to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Ferry transportation and dinner is on your own before Welcome Meeting at our hotel this evening. 

Day #2, September 11 – Ride on San Juan Island with visits to a lavender farm and winery; optional longer route will lead to a sculpture park and historic Roche Harbor Village. 

Day #3, September 12 – Another ride on San Juan Island with stops at a county park featuring a historic lighthouse and opportunity for whale watching. 

Day #4, September 13 – We’ll travel by ferry with our bikes to Lopez Island, the “friendly” island with gentler terrain. Be ready to wave “hello” to each local resident you encounter. 

Day #5, September 14 – Check out of hotel before boarding the morning ferry with a stop at Shaw Island. This tiny island has minimal development, but there are plenty of interesting sites to visit along our bike route. After the ride, re-board the ferry and return to Anacortes. Transport yourself to our next destination, the quaint waterfront town of La Conner, Washington, in the Skagit Valley. 

Day #6, September 15 – Ride from La Conner to Deception Pass State Park with a breath-taking ride over the Deception Pass Bridge (Google it!). 

Day #7, September 16 – Enjoy one final ride through the agricultural Skagit Valley region. Farewell dinner this evening. 

Day #8, September 17 – Tour ends after breakfast. 

Our lodging in Friday Harbor on San Juan Islands offers two room types - Standard and Deluxe; both include two queen beds; in-room refrigerator, microwave, and coffeemaker. The Deluxe room is slightly larger, with air conditioning and a small patio. PLEASE NOTE: This hotel does not offer breakfast and does not allow bikes in the rooms. On the plus side, the hotel has the only indoor pool and hot tub on the island and is within easy walking distance of the ferry, a full-service grocery store, and many restaurants!

Our hotel in La Conner provides a free continental breakfast and welcomes bike storage in your room or in a secured location behind the front desk. All rooms have two queen beds, in-room refrigerators, and gourmet coffee & teas. 

Tour price is $1,150 per person with the standard room in Friday Harbor or $1,200 per person with a deluxe room; La Conner hotel rooms are included and do not differ in price. Although this tour price is higher than other DBTC trips, you will find that comparable commercial tours are at least two to three time more expensive! Registration price includes seven nights of lodging, happy hour refreshments, ferry transportation on day #4 and #5, one group farewell dinner, and at least one picnic lunch. 

Room type requests are on a first-come, first-served basis only! Prices are based on double occupancy, but a single supplement can be arranged. Please guarantee your spot with a $300 deposit no later than March 15, 2017. The San Juan Island hotel requires a non-refundable deposit in March, so we can only proceed with the tour if firm commitments for all 18 spaces are received by this deadline – DON’T DELAY! 

Send deposit checks payable to Kathy Stommel, along with the required DBTC Registration/Medical Form and Liability Waiver Form (Items #1 and #2 of the “Out of Town Tours” tab at www.dbtc.org). Mail check and required forms to: Kathy Stommel, 9631 Autumnwood Pl, Highlands Ranch, CO, 80129. Deposits will be returned in full if the tour does not fill by March 15, 2017. 

Remember that all tour payments are non-refundable, but may be transferred if a suitable substitute can be secured. Questions can be directed to Kathy Stommel at OutOfTownTours@dbtc.org or 719-671-5579

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