Well done Geoff, glad the bike has reached its new home safely. It looks just like mine's twin!! I love the dynamo hub and light though and am very jealous. I could not stretch to any more money at the time so that will have to wait for a while now.
You are right in your title though, you are going to love this bike. I know I love mine. By the way I have been trying to come up with a name for my bike as you should name them, to begin with it was Rosie - down to the colour, but I felt that it was a rugged sort of bike and should have a male name. Then chatting to one of my friends on my trip and I was talking about the bike and how great it was and she said 'you have got a great friend in that bike' and suddenly the name 'Woody' sprang to mind as in Toy Story - you got a friend in me.
They do have the stability of a mountain bike, but still have a good turn of speed too. I don't regret buying mine at all, though I do still eye up the Audax occasionally as a faster bike for day rides. The Sherpa is the one I would always take on tour though.
Enjoy.