FRIDAY RIDERS: Mill Creek Parks and Neighborhoods

Happy Earth Day! We'll explore a few different western Washington biomes represented in the neighborhoods and parks of Mill Creek on this social ride. We'll primarily be on streets, some quieter than others, but most of the time either with formal bike lanes or pretty good shoulders on the busier sections. From our starting point at Martha Lake Airport Park, we'll go to McCollum Park -- if it's not too muddy, we'll take a single-track dirt shortcut through the woods into the back entrance of the park. Then up Dumas Road into Mill Creek, past Jackson High School and into the land of subdivisions. We'll make our way past wetlands  to Tambark Creek Park, then head over to Willis-Tucker Park, passing more subdivisions as well as older semi-rural neighborhoods. There will be a lunch stop at the Whistle Stop Grocery and Deli, which has fresh-made sandwiches, indoor seating, and 12 microbrews on tap if you want to bring a growler to fill.

There is one fierce hill, and we'll stop at the top to breathe and congratulate ourselves for making it up, either riding or walking.

Bring money for lunch; water and snacks, and a spare tube and tools for flat fixing.

If it's raining heavily or extremely windy that day, I'll post a cancellation notice here by 8:00 am. If it looks like light rain or intermittant rain showers, I'll be at the ride start and will consult the Dark Sky app to make my decision about riding or not. Feel free to call me at 425-238-4045 for updates that morning.

Pre-registering online: If you have a Cascade account, you can pre-register for this ride online by clicking on the Register button at the top of this page and entering your information. Pre-registering saves time at the beginning the ride and provides legible emergency contact information. You are also electronically signing Cascade's waiver form, so each individual needs to register via their own Cascade account -- a couple cannot register both people via one log-in. If you cannot make the ride, you do not need to un-register.

DIRECTIONS TO START: From I-5 just north of Lynnwood, take the 164th St. SW exit and turn onto 164th heading east towards Mill Creek. Turn left (north) at the 2nd traffic light after the freeway, at Meadow Road. Turn right at 146th St SW, and the  park will be on your right just past 4th Ave. W.