Discover the Duwamish

Before the arrival of Euro-American settlers in 1853, the Duwamish people used the Duwamish River as “the way in” to the interior of the Puget Sound Country.  The Duwamish plied the river in canoes;  the settlers followed with barges and shallow-draft boats.  Today, the river’s valley cradles all manner of transportation -- conventional rail, highways (I-5 and S.R. 99), a county airport, light rail, the river and, yes, the Duwamish and Green River Trails.  Local historian and author Judy Bentley will be on the ride, and we will stop at two points where she will tell us a little about the peoples that once lived along the river.   

The ride will begin at Jack Block Park.  The route, which is predominantly flat, follows the Alki and the Duwamish/Green River Trails to Fort Dent, then we will return to the start.  On the way back, we may detour for coffee at a Starbucks in Tukwila.  Much of the trail is on a bike path, but there will be times when we will be riding on roads with vehicle traffic – in the South Park area and on West Marginal Place South.

This Is a social ride, and we will stay together.  The pace is “leisurely,” which means riders should be comfortable with riding 10-12 mph on a flat road without headwind.   You don’t need any special biking gear or apparel – just a working bike and a helmet.   If you haven’t been on your bike for awhile, have it checked out at a local bike shop before the ride.   Also, it’s wise to bring a charged cell phone, water, and money for the coffee stop.

We will leave Jack Block Park at 9:30 a.m.  Parking and restrooms are available at the Park.  The Park can also be reached via the King County Water Taxi to West Seattle, or via the Rapid Ride “C” bus.  Plan to arrive 20 minutes early so we can have time to do introductions and the safety briefing and start on time.