Tour guides are couple of hogs; HOLIDAY FIRM TAPS INTO HARLEY BIKE CRAZE

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), July 26, 2008

Byline: By ALASTAIR CRAIG

EASY riders John and Dot Johnson are on the open road to success.

Hadrian V-Twin Tours and Rentals is one of the few firms in the UK to offer holidays on Harley-Davidsons.

The biking couple set up the Northumberland company to tap into the worldwide Harley craze and their county's stunning scenery.

John, 54, from Ponteland, who has been riding the iconic bikes for 20 years, said: "The firm is a natural progression for us.

"We get to do what we really love all of the time. It's great."

John and Dot are long-standing members of the Geordie Chapter HOG (Harley Owners Group), the Harley Davidson Chapter in Newcastle.

And the firm are now official agents of the US-based EagleRider Motorcycle Tours and Rentals organisation.

Dot, 52, said: "Our company isn't just a comprehensive service, it's a love of biking, all things Harley and a desire to be on the road.

"Northumberland is a wonderful place to ride. A fabulous coastline, beautiful scenery, towns steeped in history, castles and roads suited to biking.

"We are ideally located for picturesque and fun tours in the North Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland, the Lake District, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Newcastle gives our customers fast national rail links, the airport is a hub of international flights and the ferry terminal a gateway to continental Europe."

The husband and wife team also offer surprise 'Harleygrams' and pillion trips for people who don't ride.

Last year, John was asked to arrange surprise wedding transport for a bike-mad groom and he saw the business potential in offering the service.

Adam Johnson, 24, from Gosforth, who married girlfriend Abi Birkenshaw, 21, was stunned when three Harleys turned up to take him to the church.

John, who worked in the building trade for 30 years before starting his motorbike business, said: "I got a call from Adam's mother about two months ago asking if I would do it.

"I thought it was a novel idea so I got a couple of friends down to ride two other Harleys and turned up with three, two black and one red."

European and US trips are in their catalogue, including jaunts to the HOG European Rally and European Bike Week.

Harleys are available for rent or riders can bring their own.

For more information, visit www.hadrianhdtours.co.uk or call 01661 824713.

CAPTION(S):

FAN: John and his wife Dot have ser up Hadrian V-Twin Tour & Rental, which use harley-Dividson motorbikes PICTURES: DAVE CHARLTON www.chroniclelive.co.uk/buyaphoto ref: 01332683