You might want to consider the Marinoni Ciclo Alu or Ciclo Alu Extra. It's an aluminum sport touring bike--it might be the right blend of light-weight aluminum performance and touring features. I've seen the Alu online for $1600 with Campy Mirage (but I'm not sure if this was USD of CND), and I believe there are a couple of shops in Vancouver that sell Marinoni. OTOH, if you're not wedded to the idea of an aluminum frame, there are lots of options in that price point for a great steel bike. FWIW, If I were dropping $1600 on a bike, it would probably be a Burley Vagabond.