In July 2006 I watched the movie Sideways for the first time. It was on a whim too- it was one of those ‘free’ movies you get with cable packages that you can watch on demand. It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and I liked Paul Giamatti so I gave it a whirl. Little did I know at the time what a profound impact it would have on me.

For those who haven’t seen it, the movie can be summarized like this: two buddies go on a tour of wineries in Santa Barbara County in California the week before one of them is getting married…as a sort of bachelor send-off. Something about that movie just grabbed me. I immediately wanted to visit a wine region…the rolling vineyards, the tasting rooms, the relaxed atmosphere…I wanted to experience that.

Being too far from California, it dawned on me that I could visit a Canadian wine region that was a little more reasonable to get to- the Okanagan. Then it dawned on me that I could take my new motorcycle out there and ride through the mountains on the way. I loved the mountains. What a neat idea, I thought: my own solo version of the wine touring I saw in Sideways.

One month later I was on my first motorcycle tour to BC- the Easy Rider Tour 2006.

The tour had such a profound impact that I’ve made motorcycle tours an annual pilgrimage, and each one of them has been named after a movie. Naming each tour with an appropriate title is sometimes a challenge, and for all of these years I’ve resisting naming the tour after the movie that inspired the tours in the first place- until now.

I am getting married in September and this tour is my own bachelor send-off. Before embarking on the most exciting time of my life, I’m taking one last hurrah through the mountains and into wine country. My sister is also getting married this Fall, so the tour will feature some quality time with her and one of our brothers in Jasper. I’ll then be heading south to meet my buddy Scott for some wine touring in Oliver- the wine capital of Canada. Gonna see some scenery…drink some great wine…eat some good food…ride some of the world’s best roads…and get sent off in style.

Finally, a tour that was deserving of the name. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Sideways Tour 2014.

…and for the interested, the full list of tours:

Easy Rider Tour 2006
Ryan & Silver’s Excellent Adventure 2007
Magical Mystery Tour 2008
Little Miss Sunshine Tour 2009
That Thing You Do Tour 2010
Saving Private Ryan Tour 2011
Road Warrior Tour 2012
The Lord of the Roads Trilogy 2013: The Fellowship of the Road, the Tall Towers, and the Return to the Vines
Sideways Tour 2014