Return to Shreveport...

After losing the first draft of this post, i have rewritten it more as a journal...

17^th January – return to downtown LA, to stay with Yann and Robert, and dinner with Mr. Steve Roden

18^th – breakfast with Yann, train overnight to Albuquerque – train full of characters, notably one guy who drinks beer for the whole journey and a 'lady' who continually drags the 'silver fox' (her words) to the observation car...

19^th – arrive in Albuquerque and try to walk to hotel, only to find sidewalks don't exist from halfway there! Quiet evening in with TV and computer.

20^th – wander around Albuquerque visiting Central Avenue, mainly Lindy's Diner for breakfast burrito smothered in red chilli sauce, and Albuquerque Art Museum, then visit City Hall with Andrea Polli, where each floor has art exhibiting, followed by dinner with her hubby Chuck Varga, who sculpts characters and props for the movies and was also The Sexecutioner in the band Gwar!

21^st – head out to Chaco Canyon and visit the mysterious Pueblo Bonito: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pueblo_Bonito

22^nd – after a night in Farmington, NM and heavy overnight snow, we meet with two lovely Navajo artists who Andrea is collaborating with – an hour in their company leaves me reeling with information and inspiration! I then take Andrea's car and head north to explore the sounds of New Mexico, finding the beautiful Jackson Lake.

Head back to Albuquerque where we stay in Andrea and Chuck's very cool new house.

23^rd – a morning stroll around the plazas of Old Town Albuquerque, chatting to native artists, and then a short flight to Austin, TX – the flight takes me to Dallas first, and while boarding I notice another UK passport – I mention this and the bearer turns out to be a gallery owner based in Bristol!! small world...

On arrival in Austin I'm collected by Henna Chou who runs 'Church of the Friendly Ghost' – we head to her place where I play a show in her living room with the very talented Vanessa Rossetto to a small but extremely lovely and appreciative audience. Thanks to Aaron, Henna and George! And of course Vanessa.

24^th – staying at Vanessa's place I get to hang out with her, her cats and her housemates the next day, visiting the Blanton Museum and the Dobie Mall food court – Niki's Pizza! Then I get dropped at the Austin greyhound station for yet another overnight bus ride, this time to Shreveport...