Thanks for your advice Stapfam. I'm a couple of stone overweight although I'm hoping the touring might make an impression on that. I've recently bought a touring bike - Raleigh Venture GT and have panniers front and back and most of the equipment I'll need already. I am 58 and although I have never been in a cycling club of any sort I have usually commuted by bike and have at various times (throughout my 40's) done century rides - I even did 200 miles overnight once.