EASTERN WASHINGTON TOUR
June 27-30, 2003

What is a tour like? We start with a small group of riders, up to 25, we add interesting scenery, spice it up with some cheerful camaraderie and we take off! We will have a sag wagon to carry luggage and provide a delicious lunch, snacks to replenish our energy, water and juice for hydration, and ride support along the way. The rides are not a race, but a trip through the country, so a moderate to brisk pace is good. Each night we’ll stay in a nice comfortable motel and eat dinner out at a restaurant. Breakfast can be a bowl of cereal, or bagel, and juice “from the back of the sag wagon” or a full meal at a local café. The length of rides can vary from 60 to 90 miles and the difficulty might vary from easy to strenuous. The ride leaders make sure everyone is getting on down the road and getting what they need. The sag wagon will meet us at the end of the day’s ride with more snacks, liquid refreshment, and your luggage set out in the hotel lobby. All you have to do is take it easy and review the day’s exploits with your fellow riders.

Who is leading these tours for CBC? Ken Condray, Becky Bottino, and Ralph and Carol Nussbaum are all experienced tour leaders. Ken Condray has been leading tours for over fifteen years and has done tours at all levels and lengths for several bike clubs. Ralph and Carol have led and helped with tours over the last three years as well as leading the popular Country Ride Series for CBC. Becky, the newest member of our group, has helped to plan and lead several tours. Together we bring over twenty years of experience to these tours. Our goal is to bring everyone home satisfied and happy and we’ll do our best to see it happen that way.

Tours are fun and challenging. They take cycling to a new level. Those of you who have done RAW or other tours know that you soon forget about the daily worries of life and, at the slower pace of a bike, see the passing countryside in a new and more intimate light. You can make new friends or solidify old friendships, and you can challenge yourself to ride a little farther or higher than you usually do. You come home satisfied and energized.

Are you ready for a tour? Try answering the following questions:

• Have you ridden at least 60 miles for at least two to three days in a row?
  
• Have you ridden distances as long as the ones listed for the tour? (That’s 100 miles for our first tour.)
  
• Have you been riding regularly over the last year?
  
• Have you ridden in bad weather (rain, cold, or heat)?
  
• Will you have an opportunity take some training rides before the tour?
  
• Do you like a challenge?
  

If you answered YES to all of these questions, then you are ready for a tour. Sign up now for a fun three day weekend in June! See details below. If this tour is successful, multi-day rides could become a regular part of CBC offerings. We hope to schedule another tour in August or September. Give our first one a try and see how much fun it can be!

Friday, June 27
We meet the first night on the shore of Lake Chelan and get to know each other over dinner.

Saturday, June 28 - 80 miles
We’ll start off riding down to and then along the beautiful Columbia River, climb some hills and get some great views of Eastern Washington terrain. We end the day with a breath-taking descent into Coulee City for the night. Our hotel is just a short walk from the foot of Grand Coulee Dam where we can easily catch the nightly laser show projected on the huge dam face.

Sunday, June 29 - 95 miles
Today it’s off bright and early as we leave the Columbia River and climb two beautiful passes (Disautel and Louploup Passes) to get to Winthrop. Winthrop is known for its old western style downtown with some great restaurants and refreshing afternoon ice cream. Then relax in a great outdoor hot tub! This is the hardest and longest day, but if you are not impressed with the variety and beauty of Washington’s landscape, then you’ve been riding with your eyes closed or focused on the fog line.

Monday, June 30 - 56 miles
Monday, we’ll take it easy, traveling along the peaceful Methow Valley and impressive Columbia River back to Chelan and our cars. For an additional $75 we can book you another night in Chelan.

Your mere $225/person tour cost pays for the three nights in a motel (based on double occupancy - a room all to yourself will cost an additional $100), the rental of the sag wagon, lunch, snacks, and breakfasts for the three days. Dinners are on your own. To register, send a deposit of $100 with the registration form below to the CBC office by April 20th.