I've never been on any touring not even a short overnighters along the counryside but I have made preparations by acquiring the basic equipment for touring and that I will do it next year. The crazyguyonabike.com with many journals that were contributed by those who have done it solidified that aspiration. I have always want to see the US coast to coast either on foot or bike and after much research, I settled on bike the best way to see the US.