I am actually meeting up with some friends who are riding the TransAm trail. I am going to ride with them across Missouri.

I have ridden the Katy Trail before, did the whole thing in three days. There are lots of good places to camp along it, that is true. I used a child's bike trailer to pull all of my and my wifes gear on that trip. I do not want to do that again. It has a spring mechanism between the trailer and the bike and I could feel it pulling back against me with every peddle stroke.

I may try the bucket pannier route. I just don't want to end up messing up my bike with them, but it looks like many people have implemented them with success.

I have read some things about people using Tyvek for different applications. Would this work well as a tarp to sleep under?