Les Becker and Mike Hassur: Crossing The Narrows Bridge And Heading To The Port Orchard Area

Author:  Mike Hassur

We left Les Becker’s house in University Place about 6:50 AM.  The temperature was around 50 degrees, it wasn’t raining, and the weather forecast was good.  Our plan was to cross the Narrows Bridge and head toward the Manchester/Port Orchard area.  We followed Grandview Drive north past Curtis High School.  Before long, we were crossing the Narrows Bridge.  There were minimal crosswinds, so crossing the bridge was uneventful.  Each time that I see that bridge, I’m impressed with its size and beauty.  The engineer(s)/artist(s) who designed it did an amazing job.  After crossing the bridge, we headed down through Gig Harbor.  We rode all the way through Gig Harbor and headed north on Crescent Valley Drive NW.  Before long, we were crossing the Olalla Bridge (each February, members of the local Polar Bear Club jump off that bridge into the water).  Just after crossing the bridge, we turned right on Banner Road SE and climbed a seemingly endless hill that reached grades of 21%!!  We continued to work our way north toward Manchester and Port Orchard.  Along the way, we met another cyclist named, John.  He ended up being a good cyclist, and he rode with us to Manchester (rather, we rode with him; since he seemed to know the roads quite well).  By the time we arrived at Manchester, Les and I needed to turn back.  We retraced our route pretty much the way we had come.  This time, when we crossed the Narrows Bridge, there was quite a crosswind.  We found ourselves having to lean to the right to counteract the force of the wind.  Each time that we would pass one of the giant uprights that hold the bridge up, it would block the wind causing us to lurch to the right since we had been leaning that way.  It probably looked pretty comical.  Anyway, we made it safe and sound. 

Tom Peterson and Les have been urging me to ride in this area; and now I understand why.  It’s beautiful with its short, steep climbs and views of the water.  By the way, Manchester (which I’d never heard of) is a lovely, little community situated right on the water.

To see video of parts of this ride, go to:  http://youtu.be/pcgmz-OEyAc .