Bike tour/Sep 2015

This page is for planning a bike-touring trip from Seattle to Portalnd via Yakima.

When

September 25-30 (tentative)

Where

Seattle to Portland via Yakima.

Schedule

Day 1: 9/25 Friday

Route: Home to outside Easton Washington (~70 miles/4700ft or 91 miles/3500ft via burke) [Google Map Link]

Overnight: Camping in Iron Horse State Park:

There are four campgrounds along the trail, each with three to four campsites, one picnic table, and a vault toilet. They are located at milepost 2109.5 at Roaring Creek, milepost 2113.2 at Cold Creek, milepost 2123.2 at Carter Creek, and milepost 2127.1 at Alice Creek. [Link]

Camping is primitive but it's free and first-come. Toilets and picnic tables are available at each campsite.

The last campsite is Roaring Creek at the end of Keechelus Lake.

Other camping options from west to east:

Danny Creek Campground
Commonwealth Campground
Snoqualmie Campus
Crystal Springs Campground: $18/pp/night
Lake Easton Campground
Silver Ridge Ranch

Day 2: 9/26 Saturday

Route: Outside Easton to Yakima (~84 miles/mostly downhill) [Google Map Link]

Plan:

Stop by bakery and/or cafe for snacks or lunch in Cle Elem or Ellensberg
Scene bike trip down the Yakima River canyon
If we arrive before 7pm in Yakima on Saturday, visit Los Hernandez in Union Gap (3706 Main St). There is a bike trail almost all the way from the campground). 11AM to 6PM only.

Overnight: Camping at Yakima Sportsman State Park

Day 3: 9/27 Sunday

Route: Yakima to Maryhill (~82 miles/3300ft) [Google Map Link]

Plan:

Pick up food for the night in Goldendale
Stop by Stonehenge Memorial

Overnight: Camping in Maryhill State Park (first come first served)

Other options: Peach Beach RV Park

Day 4: 9/28 Monday

Route: Maryhill to Carson (~57 miles/2600t?) [[Google Map w/ Shuttle Link] [Google Map Direct Link]

Stay (to be reserved): Carson Hot Springs and SPA

Other options: Bonneville Resort

There are two routes, with and without bus.

The hood river shuttle is a dial-a-ride and runs four times a day across the bridge. No bicyclists and pedestrians are allowed on Hood River State Bridge and the nearest bridge is 20 miles away. The bus leaves Port of Hood River at 8:25, 12:00, 1:40, and 4:30 and costs $1 per person. Runs only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We must call (509) 493-4662 in advance to make sure that the bike space is available.

We want to arrive in Carson before 4:30pm to take advantage of the bath and wrap which is available only until 18:00. Google suggests ~5 hours (48.6 miles) from Maryhill State Park to Port of Hood River. It should 97 minutes (17.2 miles) to Carson from the other side. If we make the 1:40 bus, we should make it to Carson in time.

Day 5: 9/29 Tuesday

Route: Carson to Portland (~60 miles/2300ft?) [Google Map Link]

Proposed plan

Let's do an early morning soak in the Wind River hot holes (natural hotspring just upstream). Before going, be sure to the flow rate and temperature of the Wind River before we try to swim across the river. Some more info here.
Breakfast/brunch in Stevenson (5-6 mi outside of Carson)
Stop by Multnomah Falls (apparently the most visited natural site in Oregon
Beer at the Deschutes Brewery in Portland before getting the train!

Overnight: Seattle! Amtrak (Portland to Seattle); Ticketed already and leaves PDX at 18:50.

To bring

phone
wallet/cash
plastic bags
heat packs
first aid kit
laptop?

Clothes

pack towels x2
cycling jerseys
cycling shorts
long tights
t-shirts
pants
underwear
wool socks
knee pads
normal shoes/flip flops

?bug spray
?sunscreen

Bikes

bike with racks and fenders and lights x2
helmet x2
locks x2
alien tool
pumps
ortlieb bags

Camping

tent
sleeping bag x2
sleeping pad x2
utensils x2
cooking pot and mugs
stove
fuel
heatable food
headlights
toilet paper (TBP)
ground cloth (TBP)

Meals

Day 1: Breakfast - Before leaving
Day 1: Lunch - Cold lunch (e.g., sandwiches, etc)
Day 1: Dinner - Hot dinner cooked at camp (with stove, etc).
Day 2: Breakfast - Hot breakfast cooked with camp stove, etc.
Day 2: Lunch - Lunch at diner or similar in Ellensburg
Day 2: Dinner - Hot dinner cooked at Yakima campground
Day 3: Breakfast - Hot breakfeast cooked at Yakima campground
Day 3: Lunch - Cold lunch eaten on road (e.g., sandwiches, etc)
Day 3: Dinner - Hot dinner cooked at Maryhill campground
Day 4: Breakfeast - Hot breakfeast cooked at Maryhill campground
Day 4: Lunch - ?
Day 4: Dinner - Restaurant at resort
Day 5: Breakfeast - Restaurant at resort
Day 5: Lunch - snack along way
Day 5: Dinner - early dinner in Portland before train