I think your first plan is better. The northern route may be cooler but you'll deal with airports at higher altitude and air is really rough around the mountains mid-day. Worst case you may have to delay a take-off mid-day because of density altitude; but you probably will have to delay for rough air on the northern route. They delivered my Ercoupe from San Diego to Kansas well over gross weight and "used all the runway" once in Texas with temps in the mid 90's. Pick an airport with long runways and you'll know if it is going to take off safely while you still have time to abort the take off. Dan C
