Tour de wonders: Clark County’s beauty, history the theme of this year’s Ride Around Clark County

Why are wonders usually marketed in sevens? That tradition seems to have started with the ancient Greeks, who observed seven celestial bodies (five planets plus sun and Moon) and regarded that number as the ultimate, perfect, complete amount — of anything.

Clark County has so many more wonders than that. The Vancouver Bicycle Club wants you to discover as many of them on a single day as your pedaling legs will allow. The 42nd Ride Around Clark County event, set for July 25, features five new bicycle routes of different distances, all of which include at least seven, but usually many more, scenic “wonders of Clark County.” (Like those ancient Greeks, the bike club started out subtitling this year’s Ride Around event with “Seven Wonders of Clark County” before realizing they had lots more wonders than that on their hands, and shortened the slogan to “The Wonders of Clark County.”)

Early registration for the event is open now, and prices go up June 18.

No matter which route you choose, it’ll be a snapshot-friendly journey of discovery.

“It will showcase our area in a whole new way,” said Jarret Byrd, the club’s spokesperson. “We’ve reimagined the RACC as an adventure-experience ride, highlighting the most unique aspects of Clark County — iconic local spots that showcase the history, beauty and character of our community.”

Some of these local wonders are iconic draws to our historic downtown and waterfront, including Fort Vancouver and Pearson Air Museum, the railway-berm Memorial Mural Wall and the Kaiser Shipyard tower to the east. Others are more idiosyncratic and obscure, tucked away in neighborhoods, on rustic roadsides or in other unassuming spots that you’d likely never notice without a little guidance — like an easy-to-follow bike itinerary that’s been mapped out by Vancouver Bicycle Club.

What sorts of obscure wonders would those be? There’s the funky yellow submarine and Golden Gate Bridge scale replica west of Battle Ground; the Zylstra Farm sculpture garden just south of La Center; and the huge sculptural sundial on the Clark College campus. There are botanical gardens where you can stop and smell the flowers; emu and alpaca farms where you can share over-the-fence smiles with the irresistibly cute inhabitants; and even a semi-hidden forest gnome hangout where you can meet and greet miniature magical beings.

Sightseeing — including taking some relaxing breathers while appreciating these interesting scenes — represents a friendlier approach to the RACC than its previous incarnation, Byrd said. The club hopes this will tantalize more riders of different abilities — including beginners and families — to give the RACC a try.

The RACC is a fully supported ride. That means there are paper and online maps, street markings and catered rest stops (cookies, bagels, coffee, fruit, more). There’s also rolling mechanical support anywhere along the way — so if you pop a tire or break a brake, a quick fix is no more than a phone call away. When you cross the finish line, an ice cream bar will be waiting for you. (After several years of experiments, “afterparty” food and beer have been discontinued this year.)

RACC’s routes and starting location are all new year. All routes begin and end on East Fifth Street in front of Fort Vancouver. The five routes are:

• A family-friendly 18-mile loop that includes the waterfront and the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail (where the gnomes are lurking);
• A 34-mile “town-and-nature” loop that includes the above but adds a leg out to Vancouver Lake and Frenchman’s Bar parks;
• A 61-mile adventure on both pavement and gravel, including a visit to Green Mountain Open Space park north of Camas;
• A 64-mile “metric century” loop that ventures north to Brush Prairie; and
• A 100-mile loop that extends even farther north, to Battle Ground, La Center and Ridgefield.

The event is a fundraiser for bike-related charities. Children under 12 ride free with a paid adult. Youths 13-17 ride for $20 with a paid adult.