Let's ride to Port Orchard! (from Tacoma) (Moderate)

Join me for a beautiful loop around the southern part of the Kitsap Peninsula. We'll enjoy water views from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and going through Gig Harbor, Olalla, Southworth, Manchester, Port Orchard and Burley. 

Meet up location is the Narrows Park and Ride on 6th avenue near North Jackson.  Be there, ready to go at 9am. We will start with a required safety briefing, and roll out when that's done.  All riders must attend the safety briefing to participate.

There are rural roads and LOTS of hills on this route. Check out the attached route map. (Download and/or print the cue sheet if you want one.) We will climb and descend hills at our own pace, and we will regroup after hills and before turns if we are spread out. About 10 miles of this ride are on Gig Harbor's Cushman Trail and the shared use path over the bridge. These trails have no official speed limit. We will ride on them at speeds that are safe and courteous to other users, which may at times be slower than standard moderate pace of 14 to 16 miles per hour on flats.  

Plenty of free parking but unfortunately no public washrooms at the start location. There is a Starbucks not far from the start location on 6th avenue between Midred and Pearl. Please plan accordingly to be at the start, ready to ride, at 9am. Our first washroom stop will be at Skansie Brothers Park in Gig Harbor, about 6 miles down the road. We will also be stopping at Olalla Bay Market and Boat Launch (mile 17) Pomeroy Park in Manchester (mile 32) and in Port Orchard (mile 40). If needed, we can also stop for washrooms at Southworth Ferry (mile 27.5) and at Grandview Trailhead in Gig Harbor (mile 63). 

This is a long ride. Bring some food and definitely two water bottles (or equivalent). There will be places to refill bottles and some opportunities to purchase food along the way. We are not planning a long food stop.  

Bring a spare tube and tools to fix a flat, just in case. Other things to bring: phone; ID; cash and/or credit card; ORCA card; water and a small snack. Please have full fenders if the roads are wet, or you may be asked to ride at the rear of the group.

Note: If weather conditions meet the weather cancellation criterion listed above or if there are unforeseen hazardous riding conditions or other unexpected events, the Ride Leader will cancel the ride and all registered riders will be sent a notification email. If the ride is cancelled at least two hours before the start, Ride Leader(s) will not be at the start location. Please check before leaving for the ride.