Hi Eric,
I have a set of Panaracer Pasela tires on one bike, and a set of Continental gator skins on another. I find them both to be comfortable, but the conti's don't have the tan sidewall that you are looking for and are out of our timeline. The Pasela's are comfy but tend to flat easier due to the soft compound. The conti's have a smooth tread, or actually a lack of tread but they are a fast tire and last longer than the Pasela. The Pasela's have a raised tread, and the first time I carved a turn with them I found the transition from the tread to the smooth sidewall to be disconcerting. I got used to it but it's a strange feeling. I don't think the Pasela would be a good tire for any type of loaded touring.
My two cents.
Jay Sexton
Sebastopol, CA