Quess I'll see if I can find some pepperspray. I'll be going through bear country as well, so best option.
The dog issue did freak me a little after reading a post on the roadbiekforum where someone did a 300km brevet and had 2-3 huge white dogs run after her while it was dark as well.
Quess my greatest worry is traffic and especially, as several members have pointed out, the big RV's on small roads.
Can't really see having a mirror on my bike. Does that really work?
And where would you keep the pepperspray? In the handlebar bag? Wonder if I would have time to get it out in case of a mutt attack?