Monday 2 June 2025
Hard to believe another American visit has come to an end.
Hard to believe another American visit has come to an end and we haven’t learnt not to hang out late drinking the morning before an early flight.
At least my head felt better this year than it has in recent years when my alarm went off at 4:45am. We were out the door at 5:30am, headed for O’Hare International, and the flight across to Los Angeles.
Despite the forecasted warm weather, it was windy and 21 Celsius in LA when we landed. Getting us ready for Sydney weather, I suppose.
After refuelling at In-N-Out Burger – when in California! – we drove over to Burbank, to a rehearsal studio where my friends Nate and Sasha and the rest of The Voice house band were learning new music for the upcoming season.
It was a pleasure to sit in and watch them run through all sorts of different songs, everything from Journey to Lainie Wilson and Alanis Morrisette. The band is seamlessly able to go from jazz to country to rock to pop. No wonder they’re still going strong on what is still one of NBC’s highest-rated properties.
Took a circuitous route back to the airport, through Malibu Canyon and down Highway 1, aka the Pacific Coast Highway, and saw some of the aftermath of the horrendous wildfires that swept through this very affluent area of Los Angeles back in January. Unfathomable destruction whichever way you look. Very sad to see.
Denny’s for dinner near the airport, then a smooth check-in process had us at the gate just over an hour before boarding began, which is where we end things. Our next flight will be fourteen hours, departing just after 11:00pm Monday in Los Angeles, to arrive at around 7:30am Wednesday in Sydney, completely cutting out Tuesday June 3.
America, it’s been fun – if a little cold. See you in the fall!
kitchtrips 