Hi Lew747,
My words of wisdom would be these.
Above all avoid hurry or rush. Be organised, deliberate and orderly and don't get sidetracked by friends or other club members and waste time.
Therefore: -
1. Get to the departure aerodrome at least two hours early.
2. Take time to relax from your journey. Sit alone and to have something to eat and drink while you think about your QXC. Make a written list of all the flight planning elements you need to accomplish before you depart.
3. Prepare the aeroplane. (If she's going to 'go tech' you want to know before you do your flight planning).
4. Do your flight planning, (including 'phoning your destination as advised above,) working through the list you have made crossing off each item one by one as you do it.
5. Get your instructor to check your flight plan, brief you and authorise your flight.
Then, go and fly the trip exactly as you have planned it.
Good luck! Tell us how you get on.
Broomstick.