Notes from ride organizer Colin (on forum May 21):

Hi Folks,

Things are shaping up for the LM 600 June 2-3. Some points of note for those thinking of riding:

- Start/Finish is at the Tim Horton's on Sumas Way & Delair Rd in Abbotsford, this is just north of the Hwy #1/Hwy#11 junction. Tim's shares a parking lot with the Super 8 Motel. Start time is 0600 hrs.

- The Coquihalla highway will NOT BE SWEPT of the winter accumulation of sand & gravel (June 15 is their target). The shoulders on Highway 3 on the return are quite broken up as well. Caution++!! This may be the brevet to try out those new fatter tires.

- The Princeton Control will be at the Evergreen Hotel 1-888-295-7179 (Email: evergreenmotel@persona.ca & Web: evergreenmotelprinceton.ca ) It is 0.8 km EAST of town on Hwy 3. I think it will be excellent for us. It is set back from the highway, and has lots of grass, big trees - plenty of space to spread out (also a pool). I have booked two rooms there for the club - #15 & #12 both doubles for the 'quick-snoozers' to crash in; one is a kitchenette for the volunteers. If you wish to book your own room, expect rates like $64 single/$76 double. Other places in town are the Ponderosa & the Princeton, but they are quite booked up with tree-planters.

- The control volunteers are Princeton's own highly-experienced & highly-friendly Bob & Patti Marsh, who will use the kitchenette to our great advantage since most food outlets will be closed by 8-9pm. Bob & Patti promise to provide enough food for riders for Saturday evening, night & early Sunday morning breakfast - even for those vegetarian riders.

- There is an A&W, but their hours may vary -they expect to be open from 5am to 10pm ... ish.

- There will be a DROP-BAG service to Princeton.

- There are still volunteer opportunities if you are looking to earn that coveted pin.

- The pre-ride will go this weekend May 26-27. So far it is just myself & Jaime Guzman.

- Oh & please pre-register with the randopony link. It will definitely help with the meal planning in Princeton.

Thanks all,
Colin

Additional notes from ride organizer Colin (on forum May 31, following pre-ride):

Here are some updates to my notes following the pre-ride of the LM600 last weekend:

- Start/Finish is at the Tim Horton's on Sumas Way & Delair Rd in Abbotsford, this is just north of the Hwy #1/Hwy#11 junction. Tim's shares a parking lot with the Super 8 Motel. Start time is 0600 hrs. Overnight parking is allowed at the Walmart lot west of the Super 8 - access via Vedder Way, return via Marshall. There may also be parking on Delair Rd. east of Sumas Way.

- we found the Coquihalla highway was actually reasonable to ride now from a sand/gravel perspective - EXCEPT for the Big Bear snow shed, where I have the route taking the riders onto the gravel service road on the right (200m) for safety reasons. I walked this leg. (Photo)

- Although the shoulders on Highway 3 were broken up in places, the traffic was so light and/or lanes available, that we did not feel stressed riding it. The worst riding as far as pavement goes was actually the flat Kent to Hatzic leg of the Lougheed Hwy on the return.

- Beware of cattleguards! I believe I have marked them all in the route sheet but be wary. We dismounted for every one of them.

- I used 32mm tires, but felt my usual 28's would have been fine.

- there is a well-stocked concession truck at the Britton Creek Rest Area Control for card signing & re-supply for the leg to Merritt. There are no stores between here & Merritt

- there are washrooms at the brake check at the top of the hill out of Merritt (about 8km from the Coq Hwy crossing)

- The Princeton Control will be at the Evergreen Hotel 1-888-295-7179 (Email: evergreenmotel@persona.ca & Web: evergreenmotelprinceton.ca ) It is 0.8 km EAST of town on Hwy 3. I think it will be excellent for us. It is set back from the highway, and has lots of grass, big trees - plenty of space to spread out (also a pool). I have booked two rooms there for the club - #15 & #12 both doubles for the 'quick-snoozers' to crash in; one is a kitchenette for the volunteers. If you wish to book your own room, expect rates like $64 single/$76 double. Other places in town are the Ponderosa & the Princeton, but they are quite booked up with tree-planters.

- The control volunteers are Princeton's own highly-experienced & highly-friendly Bob & Patti Marsh, who will use the kitchenette to our great advantage since most food outlets will be closed by 8-9pm. Bob & Patti promise to provide enough food for riders for Saturday evening, night & early Sunday morning breakfast - even for those vegetarian riders.

- I must say that the welcome arrival to Bob & Patti's friendly & scrumptious control for the tired & hungry three pre-riders was a highlight of the brevet ("...best control ever!!") You are in for a treat.

- There is an A&W in Princeton, but their hours may vary -they expect to be open from 5am to 10pm ... ish.

- I have tweaked the out-and-back leg from Princeton to make the turn-around 1 km beyond the Old Hedley Road intersection with Hwy 3 at Stemwinder Provincial Park, with the return now on Hwy 3 direct to the hotel. Simpler, leaves out the rollers coming back and Hwy 3 has a nice clean wide shoulder. This change puts the riders into the sleep control at 360 km. Look for the updated route sheet from the link.

- The controls at Hope & Sasquatch on the return to Abbotsford have been eliminated and leg added into Harrison Hot Springs. There is now an information control at the very end of the road into Harrison.

- There will be a DROP-BAG service to Princeton.

- We encountered hellacious headwinds through Manning Park on the return. So much for making up time pedalling 14 km/h on the down hill glides west of the lodge. I would advise an early start out of Princeton - makes the big climb more enjoyable (22 km to top of Mine Hill), then another 12km or so to Sunday summit - and may get you a bit ahead of the winds.

- The washrooms at Manning are in a separate building just W of the Pinewood restaurant building, with water available there & also at a tap between there & the playground. There was a mother bear & cub in the area, so for you night riders, please do not plan for a snooze on the top of a picnic table. We saw a black bear & a brown bear west of Allison Pass. Oh, & lots of deer on Hwy 5A into Princeton

- Still time to pre-register with the randopony link. It will definitely help with the meal planning in Princeton.

That's about it. See you in Abbotsford Saturday.

Colin

_