Pacific Northwest Corners 2024

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW

Leaving the hot summer weather behind, you will enjoy the cooler weather of the Northwest corner of the United States. Sample the San Juan Islands, British Columbia in Canada (SW Canada), and the extreme NW coast.  Clean air, views of the ocean, snow-capped mountains, beautiful farmlands, quaint towns, courteous drivers, and less travelled roads await you. You may not want to go home!

We’ll travel to the following well known and highly regarded resorts:   Rosario Resort on Orcas Island, Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, Washington and the Harrison Hot Springs Resort in British Columbia, Canada.  We’ll also visit the delightful towns of La Conner and Lynden in Washington State.  We’ve timed our trip to be in Lynden for the annual, and very charming, Raspberry Festival. 

If you enjoyed the Islands of the Pacific Northwest tour, you’ll love exploring more of this beautiful part of the country.  We’ve also timed this tour to begin just two days after the Islands of the PNW tour ends in 2024 to enable those already here to easily join the PNW Corners trip.

RIDE RATING
This tour is rated as 2B!  The tour has 8 required riding days.  Most days have options to add or subtract mileage and/or elevation gains.  The average riding is 45 - 50 miles each day with not many sustained climbs, however there are times you can expect short climbs of grades of 8 to 10%.   Two required rides exceed the 2B rating for distance:  one is 55 miles and another is 60 miles.  There is chipseal on many road surfaces.   The rest day on Orcas Island has an optional climb of Mt. Constitution which also exceeds 2B rating for elevation. The ride into and out of Harrison Hot Springs has a bridge to cross that has no shoulders for bicycles.  We’ll coordinate a group crossing if needed.

CUE SHEET, MAPS, GPS FILES

GPS files for all routes including those for optional days will be created using Ride with GPS (RWGPS).  A link will be provided well before the tour to all the GPS files in an "Event" and you will be able to download all the files to your computer, bicycle computer or smartphone.  You will also be able to print maps and cue sheets if wanted.  Note: It is up to the rider to know how to use his or her GPS device and/or RWGPS on your smartphone before the trip begins. 

DAILY ITINERARY

Day 1:  July 7 - Meet in Bellingham/Fairhaven at 5:00 pm for our first Happy Hour.

Day 2: July 8: - Ride down the Chuckanut Hwy to Samish Island and continue to Anacortes.  50 miles, 1,800 ft.  For those who arrive early in Anacortes, there is an option to take a quick trip over to Guemes Island for a 12 mile addition.  We’ll have a group pizza party after happy hour.

Day 3: July 9 - A short 2 mile ride to the ferry, sail to San Juan Island and the town of Friday Harbor to explore the town or we’ll provide a few optional routes to ride.  Then back to the ferry to sail to Orcas Island, then ride 14 miles to the Rosario resort for a total of 16 required ride miles, plus any optional miles you choose.

Day 4: July 10 - Rest, or use the day to explore Orcas Island, Moran State Park, and Mt. Constitution. The top of Mt. Constitution is approximately 8 miles from Rosario with an elevation of 2,390 ft and 15% grades.  This is a bucket list ride for many cyclists.  We’ll have a group dinner that night.

Day 5: July 11 - Ride to the ferry to leave Orcas Island, then proceed from Anacortes to the delightful small town of La Conner. There is an option for a side trip to Deception Pass on the way to La Conner which adds 7 miles to the ride total for the day.

Day 6: July 12 - From La Conner we ride to Lynden where we’ll stay two nights.  49 miles and 1100 feet.

Day 7: July 13 - Rest day in Lynden for the annual Raspberry Festival – this was a favorite for the riders of the NW Corners 2017 tour.  Optional ride routes will be available.

Day 8: July 14 - Today we cross the border to enter Canada (PASSPORTS required) and ride a relatively flat route to Harrison Hot Springs. We must cross an extended bridge with no shoulders.  We’ll coordinate a group crossing if needed.  55 miles, 1,000 ft.  This distance exceeds the standard 2B rating of 50 miles.  We’ll enjoy a group dinner that night.

Day 9: July 15 - Rest day at Harrison Hot Springs. Breakfast will be provided at the Lakeside Café at the resort. Enjoy the hot spring pools at the resort or choose among ride options that include short and flat to exciting! 

Day 10: July 16 - Leave Harrison Hot Springs for a ride to Abbotsford, BC. 60 miles, 2,000ft.  This distance exceeds the standard 2B rating of 50 miles.  Again, breakfast will be provided at the Lakeside Café.

Day 11: July 17 - Abbotsford BC to Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, WA. This is a hotel located on a spit of land that is in the extreme northwest corner and is surrounded on three sides by water. We will cross the border back into the US so your PASSPORT is required!    40 miles, 1,200 ft.  Breakfast will be provided in Abbotsford before we begin the day’s ride.  We will host a final group dinner at Semiahmoo.

Day 12: July 18 - Leave the Semiahmoo Resort for a ride to Birch Bay for beautiful views. The return route also has another option of a short 7 mile loop around Lummi Island. This is the last day of riding. 45 miles, 1,500ft.  We’ll stay in Fairhaven, where we began the tour.

Day 13:  July 19: This is where the tour ends and we say our goodbyes. This is the start of the weekend, so it’s a nice time for a visit to Vancouver BC, Seattle, or other great destinations in the area.

WEATHER
The Northwest is known for rain, however July is one of the drier months. Expect temperature in the 68 - 80 degree range during the day.  If there is rain, it is seldom extensive or severe.  It is recommended to bring light rain gear just in case.

LODGING
Lodging will be a combination of small independent motels and higher end resorts.  Highlights include 2 nights at Rosario resort on Orcas Island, and Harrison Hot Springs resort in Canada. Also 1 night at Semiahmoo resort on a spit in the extreme NW corner of Washington.

LOGISTICS
Meet in Bellingham on July 7 at the Village Inn in Fairhaven, near Bellingham, WA.  The Bellingham airport (BLI) has connections from both Seattle and Vancouver by air or bus. Airlines flying into Bellingham are Alaska, Southwest and Allegiant.  You can take a taxi from the airport to the Village Inn. 

Options to get to Bellingham/Fairhaven from the SeaTac airport in Seattle (SEA):

• Bus from SeaTac to Bellingham airport – Belair airporter  https://airporter.com/shuttle/schedules/bellingham-to-seatac/
• Amtrak has multiple trains running from Seattle to Vancouver with a stop in Bellingham each day.  www.amtrak.com
  • Take a taxi/Uber or the Light Rail from SeaTac to the International district in Seattle, walk one block to the Amtrak station then take the train to Bellingham. The Amtrak station is about 4-6 blocks from the Fairhaven Village Inn.  Early advance reservations are recommended.

Daily flights from Vancouver, BC to Bellingham are available from Alaska Airlines, United, West Jet and Air Canada.

For those driving to the start, there is secure parking near the Amtrak station which costs $30 per week. Other parking near the hotel is free, but not secure.

The final day of riding is Thursday July 18. The stay at the Fairhaven Village Inn on Thursday, July 18 is included in the tour costs.  On Friday, July 19 you are free to depart for home, Vancouver BC, Seattle or any other great location.

Bike boxes will be stored at the Fairhaven Village Inn during the tour.  A van will be available to transport luggage and supplies.  Participants are expected to complete the required rides as the van will not serve as a sag vehicle.  However, the van will be available to assist with emergencies or to accommodate riders when possible.  Riders who have tested positive for Covid will not be transported in the van.  Participants planning to use an E-bike or tandem should contact the Ride Leader.   These bikes are acceptable on the tour, however, bike storage will be in the hotel rooms most nights which may provide some complications.  E-bike rentals are available more easily in Seattle than in Bellingham at this time.

Valid passports are required to participate in this tour.  Please make sure the expiration date for your passport is more than 6 months beyond the end date of the tour.

COST & ADMINISTRATION
Cost is $3,400, plus the nonrefundable $50 BAC registration fee. The cost includes 12 nights lodging, 4 group dinners, 3 breakfasts, 12 happy hours with snacks and beverages, RWGPS files, and luggage transfer.   The initial deposit is $2,000 with the final payment of $1,400 due no later than March 1, 2024. Costs incurred in Canada have been converted assuming the Canadian dollar is worth $0.75 USD. Depending on currency exchange rates, there may be an adjustment in the amount of the final payment.

HEALTH and SAFETY

Vaccinations for Covid are recommended, but not required. (At this time, proof of COVID-19 vaccination, pre-testing and quarantine are not required to enter Canada.) Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride.  A plan will be in place and communicated in advance of the tour start date to all ride participants in case someone’s health becomes compromised during the tour and the group’s health and safety are placed in jeopardy.  The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

SINGLES AND SOLOS POLICY:

Singles are a great addition to a tour and we welcome them.  However, on this tour we can only accommodate a limited number of singles who will share a room with a roommate. We recommend that singles find their own roommate prior to signing up.  Ride Leaders will introduce and assist singles to find roommates, but singles must make their own rooming decision. The solo supplement is $2000 which is due on March 1, 2024.  Please contact the Ride Leader if you want to be solo, since extra rooms may be difficult to reserve.  Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check.  They should be mailed to:  Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

CANCELLATION POLICY:
The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY
Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.   All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents.

While in the US:  BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents. This coverage applies when touring inside the US, regardless of your nationality. It’s assumed that members’ personal insurance will cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, so these have not been included in the BAC policy. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible. You may want to consider personal coverage for emergency evacuation, as this is not included. The costs of treatment or quarantine for Covid and other unexpected illnesses are not covered. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date.

While in Canada:  BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, and repatriation. This coverage applies when touring outside the US, regardless of your nationality, with the exception of Canadians cycling within Canada who are not covered. It will cover you door-to-door for a maximum of 90 days but will expire if you make a side trip not related to the BAC tour for more than 7 days before or after. There is limited coverage for a family member to join a covered person in an emergency. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date.

SIGN-UP:

To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit of $2000 and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee of $50 by credit card.. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Leader by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.