for sheer inspiration you might take some St Exupery with you (particularly "Southern Mail" and "Wind, Sand and Stars " ), and there is a lavishly illustrated French book featuring Chuck Ellsworth and others flying a similar route in a Catalina.
I'd agree about St. Exupery - Wind, Sand and Stars is a fantastic book IMHO - and "Un vol de légende sur les traces de l'Aéropostale" (featuring Chuck) is also excellent. It's in French, but he pictures are good too
It's a trip i'd love to do as well.