North Tacoma - Ruston Way - Point Defiance Loop (Moderate)

We'll be meeting at Narrows Park and Ride/ Tacoma's War Memorial Park off of 6th Avenue. Be there, ready to ride by 9:30am. We will start with a required safety briefing, and roll out when that's done.  All riders must attend the safety briefing to participate.

Ride will take us through Tacoma's North End towards Downtown, then we'll drop down to Old Town Tacoma and Ruston Way, followed by a loop through Point Defiance Park.  There are some hills on this ride - see attached route map - we will climb and descend at our own paces and will regroup after hills and before turns if we are spread out. 

Plenty of free parking at the ride start, but unfortunately no public washrooms. We can stop at Proctor's Met Market, about 3 miles down the road, for washrooms and bottle fill if needed. We can also stop on Ruston way, mile 6.5, to use public washrooms there and we will be stopping mid-ride for a short break at Fort Nisqually (near the public washrooms) in the park. 

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.

This will be a mentored ride for Tzeitel Guttierrez Garralda, who is in the process of becoming a volunteer Cascade ride leader. Hope you can join us!