H joel,
Im a co owner of the magnificent blue machine that sits alongside your jet box, and my 44 licence has just lapsed after 10 years on my licence. Shame as I enjoyed the sheer simplicity of the 44 it was such a well balanced light machine to fly.... Anyway point is I cant offer any insights into the trip but fly safe and like the previous poster said that sounds like a hell of a first day!!
Chris.