My first trip was an overnight between Quebec City and the town of Magog in 1998. I had started my fisrt "steady" job in the spring and my first major purchase was a touring bike. I had a handlebar bag, a small backpack and a sleeping bag strapped to the rack. I camped under the stars. I'm not sure I even had a sleeping pad, maybe a blue tarp. I remember butt pain and changing saddle mid-trip. I haven't used a backpack since then.