Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Where Do I Begin?

Alright, I need some help.

I read an article in a magazine about a year ago about the East Coast Greenway, and it was very interesting.

Now a year later, I have a free summer, and really, nothing to do. So I thought to myself, 'Why not try my hand at traveling this ECGW?'

I'm thinking of traveling the ECGW from the tip of MA to FL. I have a bike that's reliable, tons of time to kill, money to spare and well, I just need some tips on how to go about completing this awesome journey.

I'm a college student, I'm in shape, was in the military and can handle my own. Like I said, where do I begin with this?

What should I bring?
How do I bring it?
What unpredictable situations might occur?
Any negative/positive advice?

I know this topic is very broad, but...any information is appreciated, thanks.

Put on a surgical mask and go over to the Touring Forum. You might find someone willing to talk to you there.

Gotta go wash my hands, now.

Yep ... Touring Forum:
http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=47

Where do you begin?
To tell the story of how great a love can be?
The sweet love story that probably isn't meant to be?
The simple truth of the greenway that appeals to thee?
where do you start?

... sorry, couldn't resist. I'm a bit of a fan of that song, especially Shirley Bassey's relatively recent cover of it. But, anyway, yes, you should post to the touring forum. Don't feel too bad about the mistake. Someone makes it once every week since this forum was created.

I will say that, as a piece of assistance, that the Greenway exists more in theory than in fact. In its current incarnation, it's a series of individual rail trails that are loosely connected by different roads with varying levels of automobile traffic. One of these days, in the far future, the Greenway project aspires to give you completely traffic-free travel from Maine to Florida, much in the same way that the Appalachian Trail allows you to hike from Maine to Georgia through continuous wilderness, but that day has not yet arrived for bikes.