ShoMeRacing, the part of touring that rarely gets mentioned on here is that it's 90 percent mental, 10 percent physical. Even if you ride your bike just 4 hours a day on tour & spend 20 hours a day off of it, you'll cover the country in less then 3 months.

However, what might get you prepared is to do some mini-tours and pick some BAD WEATHER DAYS. The mini-tours will give you a chance to test out what works and what doesn't work. You will get wet, you will fight unreal crosswinds, and you will deal with mechanical issues.

SPeaking of mechanical issues, learn your bike well. Learn how to fix a flat, change a spoke, replace a bicycle chain.