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hey o p. trek 520's and other similar old touring bikes can be had on CL or ebay for a reasonable price (miyata, nishiki, fuji, &c.). you'll need someone to do a full overhaul of the bike, though. make sure the bike fits well, has tons of hand positions (ie no flat 'trekking' bars).
travel with less than you think you need. almost everyone who tours ends up mailing shit back home at some point.
balance your load between the front and rear wheels to offset weird handling characteristics.
take a disposable point and shoot camera. it'll let you get the photos w/o sitting there trying to get the right photo on a digital/phone.
don't try to pack too much food on the bike, you'll be able to buy food along the route. However, figure out what your calorie intake/fat burning/energy expenditure is going to look like so you don't bonk super hard. trying to hump it up a remote mountain pass when your legs are jelly is not fun.
I recommend using the smallest tent you're comfortable in, as volume and weight on the bike will be a big concern.
in the western usa, there will be stretches where you'll need to travel 70-100 miles/day between services. plan accordingly. it's not a bad idea to take a reservoir to sterilize found water on the go.
