Tekoa cross-state bike ride

An application process is now underway for participants in a cross-state bicycle ride on the John Wayne Trail under the sponsorship of the new Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association. Peter Martin and Tom St. John, members of the Tekoa Bike Club, are organizing the week-long trip. Martin told the Gazette this week two and maybe three of the four riders have been recruited.

The cross-state ride has been scheduled to start on the west end of the trail and cross the state in time to arrive at Tekoa during the annual Slippery Gulch celebration which will be June 19 this year.

Tekoa's trail and trestle association was formed with the aim of getting a surface applied to the Tekoa Trestle, which has been blocked off since the trail was opened for riders.

During the Christmas season members of the group installed Christmas lights on the high trestle, which has long served as a logo for Tekoa events and organizations. The John Wayne Trail approaches Tekoa via the Lone Pine Road and bicycle riders go under the blocked trestle. The final miles of the trail depart Tekoa off Washington Street which is beyond the east end of the trestle.

At their organizational meeting in January, the trestle group decided to sponsor a Seattle-to-Tekoa bike expedition this year to scout out the trail in preparation for a possible cross-state race next year.

Martin said the four riders will start on the west side of the state June 14. The aim of the expedition is to scout all segments of the trail. Most of the trail on the west side of the state is paved, including the segment through tunnel at Snowqualmie pass.

The four riders this year will be asked to take notes and photos. Martin said he plans to escort the group by vehicle.

The goal will be to determine whether of not to pursue a plan for a cross-state challenge race on the trail next year. How to stage the race and provide for overnight stops for the riders, possibly 50 to 100 people, will be determined by the scouting trip.

Entry fees for the cross-state challenge race next year have been suggested as a means of raising funds for decking the trestle.

One of the aims of the trestle committee would be to have the trestle decked so finishers in the 2016 cross-state event could cross it at the end of the ride for the 2016 Slippery Gulch edition, Martin said.

Part of the advance work will involve contacting members of the John Wayne Wagon Drivers and Riders Association who travel on the trail each year and usually make an appearance in the Rosalia Battle Day Parade, Martin said.