Thanks for your extended reply. I read your journal entries and loved your reflections and and descriptions. About 18 mos. ago, I went with Vermont Bike Tours to New Zealand and had a great time, but have no other group to compare since that was my only tour. I definately do not want to do self-supported, not because I don't think it would be fun (and it would fit my outlook...I did it in Europe but when I was a LOT younger) but because I am not capable of hauling all that around at this stage of my life (age 62). I will study some of the possibilities off the Icefields Parkway and try to figure out which group best suits what I want to do.