Cyclocross bikes might be a way to go too. Often they're amenable to being set up as light tourers for supported tours and short unsupported ones and might feel a bit more nimble than a full on tourer.
__________________
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?), 1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"