I took the weekend off riding. I mowed the lawn and bought a tent and other camping gear. Next weekend I need to practice putting up and taking down the tent, Also, I need to lay all my stuff out on the floor, pack it up, and put it on the bike. Somehow. I only have one rack and two smallish panniers so it is sure to be a creative challenge. Then I need to see if it is ridable.

The last step will be to find stuff I don't need and leave it home. I have ready many, many tour diaries both on the web and in book form. Every last one of them says that, after a week or so, the riders mailed home a bunch of stuff they didn't need. I'd just as soon save the postage.