January 30th, 2008
Hey everyone out there in dual sport land, I'd like to take a moment to note that the GPS format that GripTwister Tours created and uses in it's line of self-guided GPS tours is garnering a name for itself as a superior method for creating and navigating GPS tours. It has worked very successfully since it's inception and first use on our very first edition of the Olympic Mountains Loop GPS Tour over 4 years ago.
Now we're preparing to introduce our next self guided GPS tour offering, and we're going big. For our second offering, we're leaving the Olympic peninsula and heading straight to... where else, but the Mecca of off-roading, the Baja peninsula!
The first of what is planned to be several different Baja editions will be a (roughly) 1,000 mile tour of northern Baja, with other Baja offerings coming on line in successive years.
Our Baja offerings will be in the same format and with the same features that you've come to admire and expect in our Olympic peninsula version... camping and lodging waypoints,information and ratings; points of interest revealing hidden/overlooked/interesting locations; fuel locations; scenic, interesting or just plain adventurously fun to ride sideroutes; food/water/supply points. And we'll be adding even more features and value in ways that will be revealed closer to the release date, and entirely geared towards the dual sport tourer.
Most routes will be suitable for an experienced rider on a big bike, but as usual, we'll have detours and alternate routes for the rough sections or those stretches that are just plain unsuitable for the biggest bikes.
So, when will you be able get your hands on this new offering, you ask? We'll let you know soon!
July 23rd, 2007
We've finally got an open forum up and running here at GripTister Tours! Find additional information about our products and tours, ask questions or post a ride report if you've enjoyed one of our tours. Go There!
June 23rd, 2007
The 2007 Edition of the Olympic Loop GPS Tour is completed, and orders are now shipping. Note that I will be in Baja until July 2nd, so you may order and accept shipment when I return, or if you need your copy right away, you can place your order in the mean time with Touratech USA.
Go here to learn more about this GPS Tour or to order it.
June 19th, 2007
The 2007 Edition of the Olympic Loop GPS Tour is completed, and orders will begin shipping on Wednesday the 20th. Preorders are being shipped first, so orders place today or beyond will ship after that. This year's package is the best yet, with more info on lodging options, more route options, color photos and higher resolution tracks for GPS receivers that support them. The routes have changed with the closure and blockage of roads, so stay up to date and have less hassles on your ride with this latest edition.
Go here to learn more about this GPS Tour or to order it.
May 29th, 2007
We're working hard on the '07 Olympic Loop GPS Tour right now, and can confirm now that the route has been modified due to road closure by the Forest Service. For this reason, I recommend purchasing the latest edition to those who've contemplated using an older version, or just wondered if their older edition will still work. Each year's edition is updated to reflect any course changes due to road closures or washouts, and is continually improved in general as more information is added. And as always, if you're not pleased with the Olympic Mountains Loop GPS Tour, we'll refund your full purchase price. Estimated availability date is June 15th, as the heavy snowpack still blocks part of the tour route. Preorders are being taken and will be filled first.
Go here to learn more about this GPS Tour or to order it.
May 18th, 2007
We're now accepting Visa and Mastercard for payment of the deposit as well as the entire fee for our Baja tours. Speaking of which, we're putting together our next Baja rides right now... so check them out and get yourself signed up early to be assured a spot, because as with all of our Baja tours, they're limited to six participants.
Go here to learn more about our upcoming Baja Rides.
May 14th, 2007
I've been getting lots of emails about the release of the 2007 edition of the Olympic Mtns Loop Tour recently, what with the sun finally making regular appearances in the Pacific NW. This last winter's snowfall was pretty heavy and ran well into spring, so the snowpack is still obstructing the higher roads along the route. So, unfortunately, it's looking right now like the 2007 Edition won't be available until June.
As for the new edition, we're making some improvements to it to make it an even better package. One such improvement is the addition of MapSource files sporting higher resolution tracks (while still maintaining the standard resolution files as well). Users of Garmin's high end receivers like the 276C and 376C will be able to take advantage of these hi-res versions that display the route in much greater detail and precision. It's just one more way we help you stay on route.
We're also making improvements to the guidebook, with even more information and color photos. Our spiral-coil bound booklet is one of the sturdiest, most weather resistant guidebooks we've ever seen. Each one is hand made of individually heat-laminated pages by Your's Truly. And we're throwing in a couple of cool GripTwister Tours decals with each package as well.
That's all good news, of course, so now I've got tell you about the inevitable... a price increase. We held the price flat for three years, but increasing production costs mean we're bumping up the price to $49.95. I don't think there's a current customer out there who wouldn't say that's still a great deal for what you get. And as always, we offer a full money back guarantee if you are not satisfied.
We will have the link up in the next few days for you to place your pre-order. The first printing run will be just enough to fill all of the pre-orders, which will then be immediately shipped out. Then we'll start our second run from which we'll fill orders for the rest of the riding season.
Go here to learn more or place an order.
February 6th, 2007
Freshly back from Baja, thoughts of warm days and star filled nights are still drifting through my head. Although the worst of the broken pavement that leads into Puertecitos from San Felipe has been freshly paved, the road south of Puertecitos leading to Gonzaga Bay and beyond is worse than ever! It's easy to forget that the so called road is actually an official highway. Rumor is that it's all going to be paved someday soon, but rumors like that are abundant in Baja, and more frequently than not never come to fruition. Well that's just fine with me, as according to the saying coined by Mama Espinosa... "Bad roads bring good people-- good roads, bad people." Although it's barely fit for travel by automobile, or more likely because of that, it's the perfect road for off-road vehicles. Encounters with autos are likely to be slow traveling, if at all. First timers will marvel that there is any development at all along this stretch of road, let alone travel trailers and houses. "They brought that stuff down THIS road?" is the first thought that comes to mind.
It's along this stretch that GripTwister's oceanfront property is being developed into a place with something to offer to off-roaders. We eventually hope to offer overnight accomodations to riders heading north or south along the Sea of Cortez, as well as cold beverages, food and snacks, internet access, and also limited parts and repair services for those just passing by. I spent the last few weeks here working on the place, and it always amazes me how much of the traffic on the "highway" is ORVs.
If riding in Baja sounds like something you'd like to do, there's still a few spaces left for the April Baja ride, so give us a call today to get yourself signed on.
November 7th, 2006
A big thanks to Nicholas Williamson from Australia, whose article detailing his ride with GripTwister Tours around the Olympic mountains back in June was picked up and printed by Trailbike Adventures Magazine. I'll see if I can get permission to print some excerpts from it here. "TBAM", as the Australian magazine is referred to, did a nice multi-page spread with oodles of color photos taken by Nick.
I'm going to add a new section soon to the website that will feature the GPS coordinates of some tricky little bits of trail to ride, some of them with a surprise at their end. The "bits" will all be challenging or interesting in some way, but additionally, you might score yourself a prize for reaching the trail's end. Most of them are known to very few people. In fact, most are the type that if I didn't tell you there was a trail there, you would just ride on by it. These will initially be on the Olympic Peninsula, but may spread.--More Info--
October 25th, 2006
If you've ever dreamed about riding Baja but just haven't gotten around to fulfililng that dream, then you've come the the right place! We're heading down in April for five days of riding in the northern state to some of Baja's great places. Leave the hassles to us and enjoy some of the finest dual sport riding in the world. We're departing the Seattle/Tacoma for the border staging area on April 14th with bike's in tow. We have room in the support rig for 3 riders and their bikes on a first-come, first-served basis for a small additional cost. We're keeping the group size very limited on this tour to maximize our efficiency and flexibility, so sign up early. This ride is classified as GS friendly, but agressive tires are highly recommended. --More Info--
September 14th, 2006
Thanks for your support Adventure Riders!! The riding has been great in the Pacific Northwest this summer, and quite a few of you have made the tour around the Olympics already, with some even making it what appears to be an annual affair. There's still plenty of good riding days ahead to complete the tour, so don't feel like the best is behind us. In fact, September and October are historically great months to do "The Loop", as most folks consider the Labor Day weekend the "end of summer" and don't head for the hills again until next year. That means even less traffic on the roads, and less competition for accommodations, be it a motel or a four-star camping spot. We still have copies on our shelves ready to ship, but at this time of year we let the inventory dwindle in preperation for the slow sales during winter months. Once they're sold-out, further sales of the tour package are assembled on a per order basis until next year's edition is released, so a quick turnaround is not assured.
June 23rd, 2006
It's official... the 2006 Edition of the Olympics Loop GPS Tour is now shipping! Improvements have been made, but we've kept the price at $39.95... a deal at twice that price! Note that just a complete set of maps to cover all the roads in this tour would cost you over fifty bucks!! And they wouldn't even BEGIN to offer the convenience and the wealth of information that's provided by our tour package. I'm so sure that you'll feel that it's a great deal on a great tour, that if you're not completely satisfied with the tour package for any reason, just return it with the tracklog from your trip and I'll refund your money. How's that for a guarantee? What do you have to lose?
2006 Edition of the Olympic Mountains Loop GPS Tour
June 10th, 2006
It's almost here... the 2006 Edition of the Olympics Loop GPS Tour will be shipping next week! Yes, the snow has finally melted enough to allow passage at the higher elevations on the tour. The rhododendrons are in full bloom and the forest is full of wildlife. In fact, on this year's reconnaissance trip, we came across FIVE bears at various places along the route!!
Owner's of previous editions who never got around to the tour will be happy to know that the route has not changed this year, though it has been updated and improved to reflect the current status of camping opportunities. We've also added even more sideroutes to beautiful and interesting places along the main route. The BIG news for those of you who desire to get dirty is that Route X is once again passable... Yeah! It had to be truncated a bit, however, due to a permanently closed section, but it didn't get any easier. Please avoid riding this optional route alone. Get your
2006 Edition of the Olympic Mountains Loop GPS Tour for all the details! Orders are being taken now for the first printing-- don't delay!
March 5th, 2006
Spring is in the air as far as I'm concerned. I've been putting off applying new rubber for the season for a while, but it absulutely must happen soon. hard to get up to speed as quick with slicks. Look for a sample of the Rally race to follow shortly after.
Lot's of people are wondering when the much anticipated 2006 Edition of the Olympic Mountains Loop GPS Tour will be released. Demand has been high even during this, the off season. We no longer have copies on the shelf of the 2005 Edition, but anyone wanting or needing it can still get one here, though we'll need a couple of days to print and burn your tour package before sending it. Please specify this in the "Comments" section of your online order. Otherwise, we will put you on a waiting list for the first printing of the 2006 Edition, which we can only release once the snowpack of the entire route is diminished sufficiently to pass. End of May is the likely month, but with this winter's snowpack, it could be later if spring doesn't arrive on time and with some gusto.All preorders will be included in the first printing.
Video Clips, Photos, and More
Various short video clips, audio clips, and photos from locations on
our tours. Check out some of the amazing sights and sounds you'll
encounter on one of our tours!
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