Well I have not read the whole story in detail, but from your tone it seems there is an underlying factor. You're not just looking for a convenient and economical way to travel that distance, but you're also looking for the challenge of a new skill and the magic of flying yourself. At least I see a glimmer of something like that shining through.
So why not give it a go? It looks like you're not exactly strapped for cash, so that should not be a problem. Just go to a school, book a few lessons and set your goals on a first solo initially. Get a subscription to some aviation magazines, see if you can hook up with some more experienced pilots to share a beer and/or a flight or two. And then make further decisions from there.
You don't have to decide to go the whole way right now. There are numerous decision points along the way at which, worst case scenario, you can cut your losses.
At some stage you will probably find yourself holding that PPL. Then set aside a long weekend, rent a C172 or other aircraft, and make the trip. Find a weekend with good weather, bring a pilot friend, just to see what it's like. You can then decide further what it's going to be like doing the trip at double the speed (half the time) because of a better aircraft.