I flew out to LA on the 4th June – and had already decided at that stage to extend my stay by another couple of weeks.  I flew Aerlingus direct to LA  – and it was a dream!  We flew over Greenland and Canada on the way and I was astounded by the beauty of it all

I got into LA that night, rented a car and was on my way!  I was staying in Santa Monica, by the sea, though any time I went there, June Gloom was hanging around and I didn’t get to see too much.   My mission for the week was to do some writing – so I wrote with Alan on Monday, Lori on Thursday, Sandra on Friday and Alan again on Saturday.  I had a gig in Pasadena on the Wednesday and met up with a college buddy on Tuesday – a flat out week that certainly got me used to driving in LA.  

After leaving my hotel on Saturday morning, I took to the road to Idyllwild – an Alpine like village at the top of a mountain!  Once I got to the bottom it was a 40mile drive to get me 1 mile high! Saturday night was a house concert in Jen’s and then an early start at the retreat the next day on campus.  The house concert was fab – a gorgeous gathering of people to listen to me and Michaut Perkins before we all headed for the retreat the next day. 

Then the writing began! On Sunday I wrote with Magali, Monday with Mel, Tuesday with Brian, Wednesday with Jen, Thurdasy we polished the songs for our performance that night and Friday I wrote with Dena.  A super busy and exhausting week – but toatlly worth it!  There are some videos of the songs on my facebook page! 

 adWas super excited to get back to LA to hang out with my friend Jeanie – who I had met in Europe when we were on tour together.  She was a great tour guide and photographer we even got to spend the day at Universal! 

Part of the reason I decided to stay in the US was because Mark was coming out and playing some gigs (the other part was that I left my job before I left Ireland!)  
​On Saturday we took a train from Portland to Seattle for a great house concert in Teresa’s hippy downstairs living room! 

Then it was back to Portland to settle in with the most amazing hosts!  We were staying with Aoife and Dave and their two kids Lauren and Alice.  Aoife and Dave have been living in Portland for a couple of years, and in the states for about 12. They gave us the most unbelievable welcome and made us part of their gorgeous family for the time we were there, as well as organising some lovely concerts.  Our last one was a house concert in their home – souvenir ticket below! 🙂  We did the Shanghai Tunnel Tour, ate an insane ammount of doughnuts, drank all the good coffee and let’s not talk about the ice cream! 

I had such an incredible trip – I’m already planning the next one!  West Coast – here I come!