+1 to all that LeeG said.

When I was touring in Canada I met two 19 year old girls who were riding from Whitehorse, Yukon heading to Vancouver. They were both were riding '70s era 10-speeds , one on a Varsity and the other was on a Le Tour. The bikes had front baskets and old Pletscher racks. They only had one pair of old, very worn, panniers between the two of them. Their camping equipment was a mix of hand-me-downs and Walmart purchases. Most of the stuff was just lashed onto the bikes. When I met them they had gone about 400 miles. Their only complaint was that the campsites they stayed in were over-priced. I have no idea if they made it but they were, tough, determined, and having the time of their lives.

Additionally I personally toured 1,800 miles, back in 1979, on a 10-speed with steel wheels. I broke a lot of spokes, but I and the bicycle survived. It can be done.