I remember my first long solo cross country like it was yesterday,when in fact it was 1977. Crystal, MN to Montevideo, MN to Park Rapids, MN and return to Crystal.
The first leg went well as did the second, but I got a bit lost on the third. I flew over a place I didn't recognize but saw a lot of M60 tanks parked. Oops! Restricted airspace over Camp Ripley! I knew where I was all of a sudden and got the heck outa there
5 hours of flying and I was back at my starting point.
Good memories. Congrats on completing yours NOVA!