TOP TOURS & INFORMATION COMPILED BY THE BEAR TOP TOURS

Tour leader “Skip” Schippers, somewhere out west – where we can join him.

COME ALONG ON MY TOUR

It’s taken me a while, but I’ve finally found almost the right tour among the many that are advertised in MOTORCYCLIST.

Almost the right for what? For inviting you, our readers, along. Why almost? Because with the expert help of Steven “Skip” Schippers of Great American Motorcycle Touring I was able to tweak the tour so that it covered pretty much exactly the roads I wanted.

If you’ve been reading my stories, you have probably realised how much I enjoy touring the western United States. Now I can show you why. On my visits I’ve found some special places, and I really like the idea of sharing them with you directly, not just on paper.

The tour that offered the best opportunity to do that is Great American Motorcycle Touring’s Best of the West, a 16 day tour with 14 riding days from LA to LA by way of some of the American West’s most spectacular roads.

HIGH AND LOW

Skip has pointed out an interesting aspect of this tour – you get to see both the lowest and the highest places in the US. The highest is Mount Whitney at 4421m, while the lowest is Las Vegas… no, just kidding, Death Valley at 86m below sea level.

The other milestones along the way include well-known attractions like the Pacific Coast, one of the most iconic stretches of Route 66, and Monument Valley, plus national parks like Death Valley Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia and Zion. All linked by superb roads in weather that should be wonderful – although I obviously can’t guarantee that.

Cost is very reasonable, ranging from $5,995 per person for two people sharing one bike and one room to $7,195 per person and a bike sharing a room with someone else and $8,995 per person with a bike and a single room. Cost of air fares is not included, and all costs are quoted in US dollars.

Get some now!

Price includes Harley-Davidson rental; you get a first and second choice of model. Specific BMW and Honda models may be available at an additional cost of $40 per day. Mention my name when you book and you’ll get a discount of $300 per motorcycle.

Okay, I realise that you’ll have to put up with me on the tour. But nothing’s perfect…

NUTS AND BOLTS

You’ll need to arrive in LA on or before 15th August (by 2:00 PM) and you can plan to leave anytime on or after the 30th. Extra hotel days before or after can be arranged. Absolute deadline for booking is the 15th of June, but I would obviously suggest you get in before that; the maximum number of participants is 20. Members of the Bear Army are especially welcome, and will have the opportunity to share a pre tour special evening with the grumpy old bugger – hey, who’s writing this?! – on the evening of the 14th at his favourite Tex-Mex restaurant, the Baja Cantina.

For more information and bookings, please email Skip at skip@gamct. com, and copy me in at thebear@ ausmotorcyclist.com.au

Peter ‘The Bear’ Thoeming

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