What's the least amount of Gear I need to do the camping portion of the ride?
A shelter, it can be as simple as a tarp, however, a three man tent would be ideal. This gives you room to store your gear inside the tent at night and be able to move around. It doesn't have to be high end. Canadian Tire or Walmart usually have an economical version between $100-$150. Borrowing one is always an option, or buying second hand.
If it's used, you can easily waterproof the fly by using a Nitwax product.
A sleep system. This is where acquiring a good sleeping pad will pay off. There are numerous brands available and some are insulated R2-R4. To enhance warmth you can lay an emergency blanket over top of the pad, the reflective side to your body. They are available for a few dollars off of Amazon. You can also cut a piece of Tyvec (Building wrap) the footprint of the pad and lay it face down under the pad, preventing moisture coming up.
Consider a sleeping quilt or Duvet instead of a sleeping mummy bag. When you lie in the bag your weight on the bottom side compresses the insulation to the point of not insulating you.
These items can easily fit into a 30-40L dry bag that you can strap to your seat. There will be room for other things as well.
Meals
Breakfast will probably be done at the campsite as we will not be close to a village that has a restaurant. Lunch stops will be near a place where a burger or subway sandwich can be acquired. There will be a grocery store stop just prior to stopping at a campground to pick up supplies for making dinner at camp.
cutlery you can buy at a dollar store, along with a plate and a bowl and cup.
At some point we can post what gear each person is bringing so we could share a stove, a coffee pot, an axe or grill.
I welcome more tips and hacks, so we can all benefit.