Par Emilie Tournie Published on 6 never 2025 to 6h32
Who has never dreamed of crossing the United States on a motorcycle with their backpack? There Route 66Yellowstone park, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, legendary destinations to discover during stays organized by Great Escape, travel company founded by Carole Lacarriere et are Mari, living at Saint-Denis-de-l’Hôtelnear Orléans (Loiret). They also offer to trace the journey of their first trip with the no less famous Johnny Hallyday. A story that all biker must live …
A motorcycle and the USA enthusiast
Carole is Born in 1969 in Cully in the canton of Vaud (Switzerland). Horticulturist by trade, she did three years of learning before exercising a dozen years in the field. In parallel, it is a Motorcycle and United States fan.
I have been riding in Harley for 33 years. We left with a whole group of friends in the United States, we wanted to take a trip to the American West and then our guide became my husband
She follows him even in the Loiret and settles there. At that time, the latter worked for a French agency. Carole joins him in his activity and Both create Great Escape in 2005. “And then in 2006, Johnny was one of our first customers.”
Jean Basselin is a former motorcycle racing runner and an old friend of Johnny. He had told her that it would be cool that he organized a trip to him in the USA then Jean contacted us by interposed knowledge to ask us if we could give him small pipes. We ended up in a fast food from Orleans. We discuss and then, at some point, John looks at us and tells us that it is really stupid that we cannot come because he will not be able to remember everything we told him
A unique opportunity that the couple grasped in flight! After asking for the “large” authorization, Jean reminds them to confirm that he leaves with them.
This is how the two guides find themselves with the singer on the roads for fifteen days, in July 2007. “We started from Santa Fe, therefore new-mexic and we went down to Los Angeles, to his home in fact where we joined Laetitia and Jade”.
An incredible experience for the guide that remembers this memory, smile on his lips.
What Great Escape offers …
At the start, Carole and her husband only offered motorcycle stays and each left for their side. For some time, they have decided to offer Motorcycle accessible trips and car And above all to do them together:
- In the footsteps of Johnny (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Route 66, Sedona, Las Vegas, etc) – 15,000 euros
- US Legend (Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Valley Monument, etc.) – 12,600 euros/10 days
- Indian Tribe (Las Vegas, Kingman, Sedona, Tuba City, etc.) – 17,100 euros/17 days
- Buffalo Tour (Yellowstone park, the city of Buffalo Bill, Mont Rushmore, Salt Lake City, etc.) – 16,200 euros
- Mississippi Tour (Chicago, Saint-Louis, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, etc.)-17,900 euros
- Easy Rider Tour (New Orleans, Henderson, Beaumont, San Antonio, Los Angeles, etc.)-17,500 euros (for a couple in motorbike) or 14680 by car
Six dates are available for the year. The guide explains us to fill the groups itself (from 8 to 14 people maximum) on behalf of an agency in Paris and covering them at the insurance level.
On the other hand, one can only work from early May until the end of September because after it is too cold. We also made the choice not to make a trip to July-August because of the heat. After, if we have a group that asks us, we will do it, but for the dates I do, I really put them off vacation period
Once the group is complete, the participants receive, a month before departure, an email containing a list of take -out cases as well as the necessary documents to their epic.
How is the trip going?
“We stop every hour, so it’s quite quiet. And then, we make an average of 300 to 350 kilometers per day but it is America, it is not the small roads of our home so, it is true that it is very easily done, ”she reveals.
She also adds that they leave in the morning around 8 a.m. and return to the hotel around 5 p.m.-5:30 p.m. to enjoy the swimming pool. Although their customers are for most regulars -the oldest is 80 years old -Carole recommends beginners to start with a trip to the American West.
Often people have a bad vision of America, like a lot of our customers at the base. And when they arrive, they all tell us “what are they nice, what are they welcoming”!
“Americans are very binding people. We have not returned to it since the election of Trump but I do not think there will be a big difference (compared to their welcome). After perhaps some customers will tell us that they boycott America, ”she says.
Future projects
Passionate about Alaska, Carole left alone about fifteen years ago and wanted to introduce him to other people. His goal within two years: Put a 20 day trip to Alaska and Canada on the program.
In the meantime, the guides couple took off on May 13 for a trip “in the footsteps of Johnny”. Everything is complete but if you are tempted, there are a few places on theIndian tribescheduled from May 28 to June 13 and the Easy Rider Tourscheduled from September 17 to October 2, 2025.
█Pratique : Great Escape
Contact at [email protected] / [email protected]
Tel : 06 25 76 39 23
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