Adventure Cycling Excursion experiences?

[RussellSeaton]

Has anyone ridden the Adventure Cycling Excursions?  These are the roughly two week long self contained, camp, cook, loaded tours.  About 15 people or so.  Any comments or experiences you would like to share?  I've toured loaded a fair amount but have never camped and cooked.  I've always stayed in hostels, pensiones, friend's houses, or motels at night.  I am considering getting my feet wet with a self contained tour in the summer of 2005.  The Adventure Cycling Excursions look like a fairly simple and straight forward way to do this.  And I wouldn't mind trying touring with other people for a change.

[jerrbeck]

Yes, has anyone ridden these?  My girlfriend and I are considering trying one out as a "test" for doing the Lewis and Clark Trail with AC. and would be interested in other's experiences.  We did Cycle Utah, a supported tour, with AC last year and enjoyed it tremendously!

[Peaks]

On our Northern Tier trip this summer, we caught up with the AC tour.   It appeared to be a well run tour with a good leader, and a compatable group.  

Frankly, other than fellowship, I don't see the need to tour with a group.  The group appeared to be tied into a schedule and exclusively campgrounds.  We usually didn't decide on a nightly destination until after lunch.  And, depending on where we were and the weather, it was either a motel(20%)or a campground (80%). We liked our flexibility.  

Also, the AC costs more.  I figure we spend roughly $2700 for two of us  for 56 days.  The AC tour cost roughly $3300 for 90 days.  

Now, depending on your goals, a group tour might be nice.  I could enjoy a week or two of companionship and fellowship along with a more leasurly pace.  The New England excursion has peaked my interest, as has many of the cross state tours offered by in many states.