There is a good website showing lightning strikes
here Link NOT removed......... 
so I'll have a glance at this before heading off. If lightning strikes are reported in the area and the TAF reports TS then I will consider very carefully if I'll go or not.
You are right to fear CB's though, as my instrument instructor once said "with an IR you can go anywhere pretty much...except near a CB...these will rip your wings off"
Cheers
EA
By the way, you probably made a good call, you made it there and back without any drama, and you got into the air this weekend, which is more than I did!