Touring Bike Recommendation

[mudmucker]

none of our LBSs actually stock any touring bikes, unfortunately.

I am finding this too. Especially for LHT.

our favorite bike tech helped us immeasurably in determining what size we needed, etc.

I am interested in what went in to determining size. Did they take specific measurements? If so, which ones? Or did you/they take the general specs off of a bike that already fit you, and made the translation to what fit within the Surly dimensions...

I might be interested in getting a frame.

What rims, hubs, and tires do you have on it?