[Pre-ride report by John Pearch and Josh Morse]
While everyone else was battling headwinds or flooded roads up north, John Pearch and Josh Morse prerode the Mossyrock 200k with very little rain and no flooded roads.
This route differs slightly from the permanent route (#801) — the brevet takes a more direct route back to Centralia, turning north on Jackson Hwy at 135K. This brevet route was last ridden in 2010 and has about 4600 feet of climbing.
This brevet starts at Olympia Coffee Roasters in downtown Olympia, taking Capitol Blvd/Old Hwy 99 to Tenino.
We chose a great place for control in Centralia — The Station: Coffee Bar and Bistro. Best French Toast Mochas!
Stock up in Centrailia because there is nothing but hills (no services) until you arrive in Mossyrock. Centrailia to Mossyrock is about 55K with 2200 feet of gain. Centrailia-Alpha Road never stops giving.
There are great views of the Mayfield Reservoir while crossing the Tilton River and Cowlitz River bridges.
After Mossyrock there are rollers along Spencer and Jackson Hwy. Enjoy the great views of the Cowlitz River! It’s about 40K from Mossyrock to Mary’s Corner. Services include an on-route Chevron. If you’re trying to avoid gas station services, Avenue Espresso has great breakfast burritos.
Once you get back to Centralia it’s the traditional flat stretch taking you back home to Olympia.
Areas to be extra attentive:
- Caution in the railroad tunnel on Hwy 99 at 17.9K and crossing railroad tracks at 18.5K.
- Heading south out of Centrailia watch for traffic as you make your way from Hwy 507 to the control and then across the RR tracks.
- On Gold St in both directions there are seams in the road that could catch a tire.
- Mossyrock to Salkum is on Hwy 12 with fast moving traffic but mostly a very nice shoulder for a highway.
- There is the bridge crossing Mayfield Lake with no shoulder so check behind you before entering and use caution.
- Northbound as you leave downtown Chehalis on National (becomes Kresky) there is a brief section of road with no shoulder — there is a concrete curb and then a wall. We rode through here at dusk and traffic was not bad but this area and the old pavement deserve some extra attention.
- The transition from Kresky to Gold in Centralia requires you to take the left lane to follow the turn to Gold.
- Northbound on our ride it was just after sunset and dark with a fair amount of traffic on Main St and then Harrison.
- There are good bike lane through the busiest part of town but there can be a lot of traffic so stay visible and alert.
- It was very dark on the side of the road from Centralia up to Grand Mound with a fair number of cars.
- Good lighting will be very helpful if you are here after dark.
- From Grand Mound north to Olympia we saw only a handful of cars to the finish.
Fingers crossed for tailwinds!