Taken on my recent camping jaunt around South Eastern Australia, much of it off the beaten track on gravel roads and trails. I love this bike - have had it for 20 years. It started off life as an off the shelf drop bar touring bike, however there are very few original parts remaining

Due to the heat and lack of access to fresh water at times on this trip, I had to carry a water bag in each front pannier.

I prefer old school panniers with low center of gravity. I am yet to understand this modern concept of hanging heavy bags from one's handlebars and seatpost

Well, the trick is that one does not hang heavy stuff from seat posta and handle bars one travels LIGHT )

I'm with dreamy on this. If someone chooses to keep their bike "light" by not carrying water, then I suppose it would be advisable those people carry a substantial pack-type bladder (the weight of which is still part of the overall system and is transmitted through the rider's body) or avoid touring in arid areas, or both.

Light is all relative. I've done a lot of the 4 pannier thing, and some bike packing setups, and you can still carry sufficient water with those setups. 2 or 3 bottles worth is easy, and more doable.

Love those Fujis. Great looking setup and I agree about old skool panniers. Back in the day "weight-weenies" were at the top of the cycling list for ridicule. Now they're the norm. I just can't drink the bikepacking koolaid. Lighter and faster does not equal better.

Sounds like people are crossing deserts without water every day. )) to me going light weight touring is not about going "faster", it's about light bike handling. There is nothing ridicule going light ))) Yes, we also toured with panniers, 2 of them, never 4. Here with this setup there is all I need. Tools, spare bike parts, tent, sleeping, cooking, food for serval days, off the bike clothing, warm clothing, rain gear, and and and ... 3x0,75mL water + if needed a foldable flexible 2,5L water bottle. Of course I could carry a whole household with me, but why .. with this setup I can be out 4 weeks or 4 month.

Great looking bike and setup (and photo). I am very impressed hat you are able to meet all those requirements with what looks like very little storage! I wouldn't say I carry much more than that, but I guess my equipment (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, jacket etc) is all quite old school (have had most of it for 20 years) and is bulky and takes up a lot of room.
I am also prepared to carry a bit more to be comfortable especially if on the road for a while.
Re bike handling, I like the feeling of stability from having everything low down and evenly distributed around the bike

Yes, it does not look like a lots of space, but its all there packed. saddle bag is 10-12L (sleeping bag and tent), Carradice bag handle bar around 15L (clothing on and off the bike, very light ridiculous shoes, side pockets, knife, tea bags, chain wax), two fork packs 5-6L each (heavy stuff down there, cooking, food, tools, sleeping mattress), frame bag maybe around 6-7L (2 emergency inner tubes, light tools, tent poles, cosmetics, cables and chargers, even space left for some clif bars). two little stem bags for phone, reading glasses and fuji XE4.

Setup for first short tour this spring. Will be hauling most stuff for 2 people.

Mekong Delta on a Brompton

Here's my tourer fully loaded.

Little loaded rig ...

Picasso like scribbles.....

Took it in the Firefly Workshop , the scribbles are
https://www.instagram.com/matttannerart/
and the painting is
https://www.instagram.com/josiemorway/

personally much prefer the Matt Tanner stuff, goofy in its chaoticness.
(cool 1960s 125 or 250 gp bike with the drum brakes he's messing around with on his instagram)

How do you like your Panaracers?

My bike? These are Rene Herse, 48mm very supple comfortable rolling tire!

After my wife has some needed surgery, I am out on the road for a first of season trip to up the C&O Canal from DC to points north...

All that is missing is the tent on the rear rack. And, of course, me to move it all along.

8 days on the road ..

I don't believe that is your bike---it is impossibly clean!!

Just before we left ;())

Great wall isn't it?