My first tours in the 70s were on an old Raleigh Gran Prix 10-speed. I sewed my own panniers and had very rudimentary camping gear. I had an awesome time and became hooked on touring, but looking back I wonder how I survived with the equipment I had and the way I ate. Now I have enough money to buy the stuff I need (I'm not rich, but bicycle touring isn't that expensive compared to other forms of vacation travel.)

In order to comment on some possible first upgrades it would be helpful to know what you have now. Besides your bike, what have you got? Racks? Panniers? Camping gear? Running gear on your bike?

Your Fuji tourer is way better than what I started on and, by all accounts I've read, a very competant tourer. I met a guy this summer in Glacier N. P. who was riding one. He started in Buffalo, New York, and was heading to Portland, Oregon, by a very scenic route through several national parks. His bike was working well for him, though he had broken several spokes on the stock wheels and had them replaced in Wyoming. He had also replaced the stock tires with much wider ones.