I am a almost fifty biker who bought a Sequoia elite back in 2005 (I think) I really like the comfort and feel of this bike but don't really care for the looks of the sloping top tube. It is very comfortable ride though and that is good for my weary bones! I thought it was neat that it had the extra brake levers on the upper part of the bars but I don't really use them that much. I do love the shifters built into the brake levers though! I can't believe I waited this long to get them! This bike replaces an older Sequoia I had from 86 that I liked but it had a frame that was too big for me. I also had a couple of Treks to here and there in my days too.

As for whether or not your Sequoia would stand up to a Cross country bike trip I feel it would! It seems pretty durable seeing I am a 215 lb rider and it holds up to my weight!
Consider that I rode cross country in 1978 from Mass to LA California and also in 77 from Mass to Minnesota via Montreal on a 1977 Motobecane Grand Jubilee which had only double crank with 10 speeds and a 14-32 cluster. Of course I weighed about 170 back then and was only 20 and had no problems but a few flat tires and broken spokes but it held up fine!
I still have the old Motobecane but it is neglected and needs attention but I just can't bear to throw it out!
I like my new Sequoia but it will never have that special feeling I had way back when I bought that Grand Jubilee! It was one sweet bike and I loved it!

It brings back great memories of my cross country ride back in 78! (Started out with 4 of us and ended with 5)
Our route was Agawam Ma where we started then CT,NY,PA,Delaware, Maryland, DC then VA, KY,IL,Missouri,Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and then to LA Califorinia! Not the conventional route but we started the ride on August 31st and ended in November so we needed a southern route. We made up the route as we went along! It was quite the adventure and we ended up staying with lots of people we met along the way from town to town.

Have fun and don't be afraid to mooch a stay with some local folks you meet as you ride your way cross country! We met many nice people that way!

Good luck with your ride!
Rad from Massachusetts!