Charlie,
PPRUNE is an enigma. Aviation folk are generally the most amiable, sociable and positive can-do individuals you'll meet compared to any other endeavour, and yet pproon can give such an opposite impression.
You'll soon realise that many private pilots are ATCOs and airline pilots as well any other walk of life and realise that much of the negative stuff you read here is almost entirely subjective.
For an idea of how to go somewhere in a GA aircraft I suggest you read
Peter 2000. I suspect he is one of the regulars.