One thing to bear in mind - we just came back from a pretty good trip around the desert areas, yesterday stopping at Calexico on the US / Mexican border. It was 40C so watch the density altitude and engine cooling - we got high oil temp trying to climb to 8500. Also we got the sh*t kicked out of us due to turbulence for the past couple of days - that's what you get when you can't be bothered to get moving before mid day
I'd fly early if I were you - though it can be difficult after a night on the booze....
y next summer trip will be up the west coast to Washington which I hope to do in August. Should be smoother and less likely to be IFR at that time of year...