Thanks for the messages guys, I'm already feeling a lot more confident about getting on and doing this.
troddenmasses - I like the spontaneity and skill building with that plan, sounds like a very good idea.
SNS3Guppy - I believe that is what I am trying to do? Get out of the comfort zone and challenge myself whilst learning? I thought that counted more as experience than flying the same routes in the same airspace over and over again.
To answer questions and add some information:
I'm looking at doing perhaps 20-30 hours flying on this trip. I need to do three times as much, but I want to use the rest of them working on professional skills over home soil.
I can dedicate as much time as needed, although ideally I would like to keep it to 7 days.
Thanks,
4015