If it’s been ridden with bad pads for a while, I’d pay close attention to the braking surface. Pick up some rim brake cleaner and go to town on the rims. Also make sure that the toe-in of the pads is adjusted properly, so that you’re using the entire pad surface and not just a corner.
And definitely pack an extra set of pads for a long tour with big descents.
“Populist billionaire” is quite the oxymoron