Northern Transcon Day 0 - Check in at Everett WA

This is the day for bike assembly, check in, test ride, rider meeting, and send off banquet.  PAC Tour has been using the Best Western Cascadia in Everett for several years as a starting point for the Northern and Pacific Crest tours.  Bikes arrived in a variety of containers - cardboard boxes, hard shell cases, inside vehicles, etc.  The back parking lot was busy, but we were blessed with dry weather.  Several riders, myself included, took a shakedown ride to the Mukilteo ferry (7 miles each way, including a couple of tough climbs).

Lon and Susan conducted a one hour rider meeting in which they introduced crew members and explained the daily routine.  This year's group includes 16 rookies (I'm one of them), which is a larger number than usual (50 riders total, including crew).  A great catered buffet banquet followed at 5 pm.  Tomorrow we take the ferry to Whidbey Island and ride almost 100 miles to Sedro Woolley WA.

Bike unpacking and assembly at Best Western Cascadia, Everett

The NC Crew

Michelle working the check in table

White board is used to post daily updates

Fancy paint job on the team tandem

Mukilteo - depart from here on ferry for Whidbey Island

Everyone gets a fancy name tag to hang on their bike

Each tour features a unique jersey/vest design

Susan N with Retta at banquet

PAC Tour send off banquet