I entered touring at the shallow end of the pool rather than jumping right into the deep end. As such, my mistakes were small and boring and easily corrected before they become a problem. I started in ideal weather. I did a bit of supported touring first, which is really nothing more than day rides and camping. Then I did some loaded day rides, progressing to longer and hillier loaded day rides, progressing to an overnight flat ride, progressing to a one-week hilly ride. I still have more to learn and longer tours to do.