The jitters

We leave in 3 days, and the pre-trip jitters are kicking in just a bit. Still, it is to a much lesser degree than previous trips. We've done it before- the bike, the gear, the clothes are all knowns. We speak decent Spanish, and Chile is a developed country, with a proven tourist infrastructure.
Still, there is the unknown, and that is the fun part. Roads go from just being lines on a map to stretches of pavement and dirt that are sometimes totally forgetable, other times regretable, and often burned forever into our memories as epic, gorgeous, wonderful bike touring. Dropping down the Sierras in southern Mexico to the coast from 10,000 ft. to sea level, or freezing on Orcas Island, getting into Pai in northern Thailand well after dark, the scene illuminated by the full moon and brush fires on the hillsides above town- those are indelible. Those are things you never get travelling by bus or car.
We are going to take more breaks during the day and cook more often for ourselves. We are going to take days off when we need it, and even when we don't. We are going to believe directions and info on road conditions, and be annoyed when seemingly knowledgeable locals turn out to be wildly wrong (this is inevitable, and we never seem to fully learn our lesson). We are going to push the bike up roads that turn out to be steeper and gnarlier than expected (also inevitable, and apparently unlearnable). And we are going to eat so, so much food.