Anyone ride around Manchester state park in WA state?

[Ryan Ray]

Here is my planned trip: http://goo.gl/maps/WM9a

I'm taking my 3y old son on his first bike camping trip and a friend from out there seems to think the roads are not safe for cyclists. Non cyclists seem to think bike lanes are the only way to ride on a road so I'm not super worried. But anyone on this list ride out there? Seems like a quiet little road.

- Ryan

[art]

Hey Ryan:

You're right about non-cyclists, but that road isn't too good. I've ridden it a couple times with my son on bike camping trips, when he was 10 and 11. He's a very experienced cyclist for his age, but that road was probably the second or third worst part of the trip (which went from Tacoma to Manchester, then Northwest to Port Townsend, and onwards..actually, IIRC, the easternmost part of that road was pretty nice, but it wasn't so good as it got closer to the passenger ferry.The passenger ferry, however, is really nice)  What about approaching Manchester (which is great) via Southworth ferry? I assume your son will be in a trailer, or on a trail-a-bike? When I think about it, I guess the road you show is ok for that purpose, since you're doing the steering. I never felt in danger, even with my son. It was just a little trafficky. The part which cuts over to Manchester is pretty nice and there are, strangely, some camels in the middle of a field just north of Manchester?!

Have fun

Art

Tacoma

[Rob]

Hey Ryan,

Post up about your trip when you get back! I'm looking for S24O destinations around the Sound for my nine-year-old and me. 

The WA State Parks we've car-camped at have been really quite nice, but we've only been to a few. (And they're too far away.) 

Rob in Seattle