That short summary of minimalist touring ought to be required reading for anyone with a bug for seeing the country on a bicycle. I suspect many fill REI and Surly coffers before even doing an overnighter, then find that touring isn't really their thing. Nothing wrong with that really, except that reading touring sites, you could easily get the idea that for real touring, you gotta have the latest and greatest. Way not so.

Thanks for the CG link. Will be reading it in it's entirety.

Racks are pretty much a necessity for self supoorted touring. Standard panniers are not. You can equip with waterproof stuff sacks for not much money and strap them to the sides of the racks. Even less for non waterproof. Not as convenient, elegant, or durable, but totally functional. Cat litter buckets are even better, and double as a camp stools. Neither are my ideas, but come from ppl on CG.

Point being, there is really no financial reason a person who wants to tour should be put off. Time, motivation, ingenuity, and tolerance are the big four.