Organized tours seem like a luxury item to me. You pay to have someone else do your thinking, make bookings, provide a sag wagon, maybe even do some cooking and wrenching. You also get to meet new people with similar interests. Organized tours have always seemed like something I'd like to try. Unfortunately, I've never had the money so I've never done one. Maybe when both of my kids finally finish college, move out, start paying for their own cell phones and internet and car insurance, and all the college loans are paid off. Lord, will that day ever come?

One reason I started bike touring in the first place was extreme poverty while I was a college student. I had a bike and some camping gear. I could tour on my bike and not pay for anything other than food. (Stealth camping)

I have gotten a bit more bourgeois since. I have a new, deluxe (to me) touring bike with everything on it I could want; a nice set of Ortliebs (including the handlebar bag); camping gear that is the best I could buy for my purposes; even an mp3 player and phone I carry along (I know - who'd a thunk back in 1975 when I started.) When I start a tour I have enough money in the bank to cover expenses plus contingencies. I can eat in restaurants when I want to, even stay in a motel when I feel like it (or can't find a campsite), and I pay for camping most nights. But I still try not to spend more money than I have to, and am still happy when I can find a bargain (like that $3.00 a night biker campsite in Priest River, Idaho!)

I hope someday I can at least try an organized tour, though maybe my inherent cheapness would prevent me from enjoying it.