(Very) good and important point.

1. I certainly do not have the reputation of being risk averse. Quite the opposite. This thread being a case in point where I am warned that the SC is very difficult and unlikely to be suitable for kids. I am used to this. It is too early to tell, but I have the strong feeling that we'll do it (Northbound, probably starting at Lake Isabella, but it really depends, because the Western section of the Mohave is appealing as well. We are used to being outdoors under blazing sun in temperatures above 35 celsius. This desert does not feel threatening to me, but may not be the best way to start a trip if there's a heat wave. I will add that crossing LA by bike sounds great to me, too. We've walked across the City of Toulouse (population 1M+) with two donkeys in tow etc. etc.)

2. I am quite well travelled and used to "winging it". I am used to leaving home for several weeks, packing time zero-to-the-airport being counted in minutes. Yet I hate wasting time searching for accommodations so yes I tend to know what the options are and am often booked ahead. Always with the understanding that a booking is not binding (well, you may have to pay for a roof that you will not see, so what, as long as it is not frivolous).

3. OTOH, (a) I learned to prep for the worst in the context of sailing; (b) our bunch has young kids that adapt well to many/most situations, but I have responsibilities towards them. We've never bought packaged tours. I derive pleasure in planning.

4. Over preparing... maybe there is a risk. But let me suggest the following analogy -- if you go the a museum of modern art, without having any artistic culture, I would venture to say that you will not appreciate it that much. Learning before going to the MOMA isn't detrimental. Unless you purchase the catalog ahead of time, check the items you wish to see in sequence, go on a rainy Sunday afternoon and then make a fuss because it is packed with visitors... (I remember reading somewhere that one should read tourist brochures prior to leaving, in order to know where not to go

5. There will be a time, I hope, when we (my wife and I) will be able to leave from the front door, without any plan. Serendipity. Yep