Thurston County Commissioner District 2 candidate, Sandra Romero, will be leading a bicycle tour on May 31 covering a major stretch of the Chehalis Western Trail and Yelm-Tenino Trail, from Chambers Lake to Yelm. Riders will gather at the Chambers Lake trailhead at 9:30 am for a continental breakfast and a brief introduction to the ride by Romero. The ride will begin at 10 am .

According to the Thurston County Parks & Recreation website, the County “owns approximately 15.5 miles of the 22 miles of Chehalis Western Trail currently in public ownership. The trail is an integral and significant linkage in the planned 42.5-mile county-managed trail system.” The County’s trail system also includes the 14.5-mile Yelm-Tenino trail.

During her last term in the State Legislature, Romero was instrumental in obtaining the State funding needed to build a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Interstate 5, providing the Chehalis Western Trail with a contiguous linkage from Woodard Bay to its junction with the Yelm-Tenino Trail. She also worked on the obtaining the funds needed to build the underpass at Sleater-Kinney Rd. for the I-5 Bicycle Trail. This trail is owned by Washington State Department of Transporation (WSDOT) and provides important links east-west links to the County’s trail system.

Riders are asked to provide any equipment or other necessities for the trip appropriate to the weather or their needs and capabilities. While ambitious riders may choose to return to Lacey immediately, riders wanting more of a break or an overnight stay in Yelm can join Sandra and others for a no-host dinner at Arnold ’s Country Inn at 6 pm. Interested riders may contact Eve Johnson at 360 754-1455 for any questions about logistics for the trip. There are several motels and bed and breakfast type facilities in Yelm.