A Tribute to Allen Throop

"Allen was a long-time member of the Mid-Valley Bicycle Club.  He died on April 12 of this year, barely 14 months after being diagnosed with ALS. One thing that everyone who knew Allen comments on is his sense of humor.  Only a week before his death he was still playing jokes on his friends.  He was a major contributor to our portfolio of Loop Tour routes—his job as a geologist enabled him to locate many beautiful, out-of-the-way places.  Despite his attention to detail, he was renowned for somehow always forgetting to include one major climb on the route profiles that he published.  We think that Allen would be pleased that we are expanding our horizons by undertaking a Loop Tour outside of our usual territory, especially since we will be in an area filled with interesting geology .  Furthermore, Allen, as a leading figure in the creation of the Greenbelt Land Trust, would likely be happy that on this tour we will be riding one of the longest paved rail-to-trail projects in the west.  Allen was a unique individual who will be missed by all who knew him."

2004 was the first full Loop Tour that has been done completely outside of Oregon.

Day 1: Coeur d’Alene to Bell Bay CG

Day 2: Bell Bay CG to Bumble Bee CG

Day 3:  Bumble Bee CG to Thompson Falls SP

Day 4: Thompson Falls SP to Bad Medicine CG

Day 5: Bad Medicine CG to Bonners Ferry School

Day 6: Bonners Ferry School to Sandpoint School

Day 7: Layover in Sandpoint

Day 8: Sandpoint to Priest Lake

Day 9: Priest Lake to Coeur d’Alene

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