Planning and gear- you can never have enough.

I regularly post on Bike Forums, arguably the best online cycling resource and definitely a great way to avoid getting work done. I recently posted my intentions to leave on this tour for the first time, and learned about a few websites that might be a boon if we run out of places to stay. Here they are, in their own words:

Warm Showers List is a list of Internet cyclists who have offered their hospitality towards touring cyclists. The extent of the hospitality depends on the host and may range from simply a spot to pitch a tent to meals, a warm (hot!) shower, and a bed.

CouchSurfing.com helps you make connections worldwide. You can use the network to meet people and then go and surf other members' couches!

I'm not sure if we will need these or not, but it's nice to have the option.

Any day now I should be getting a shipment from Arkel, who have a reputation for building the most technical bags and panniers ever. This is the reason I went to them in search of a handlebar bag. Handlebar bags are to the touring cyclist what purses are to the urban woman- the go-to bag with all the things you can't live without. The problem for me has been that I hate having large amounts of weight on my bars. Another cycle tourist recommended Arkel's map case, smaller than a traditional bag but much more than a standard case, so I've ordered a couple of them for Andrea and myself.