Day 1: Arrival

Luggage waiting to go on the coach to Heathrow

Today was the day we had been waiting for for around two years. From Steve Cobb first suggesting the trip to California as a possibility, to Phil McMonegal posting on every member of the Southern Youth Band's Facebook page 'woo yeah, one day to go', excitement has grown about our tour of America as we found out new details about what the week would involve.

Having said that, it already feels as if we were last in England a week ago. After a lengthy check-in at Heathrow Airport (they had forgotten that we'd paid for excess baggage for our instruments already), there was an 11 hour plane journey to contend with. Thankfully though, with a large choice of films, regular free food and drink, and good company, it passed enjoyably enough.

At this point, I'd like to say that we drove to camp and got some much-needed sleep - but I can't. Firstly there was immigration to contend with at Los Angeles International Airport, seemingly run by Joe McCarthy's granddaughter, and a perilous drive to the Salvation Army's Camp Mount Crags involving steep mountain drops to the right of the suddenly vulnerable-looking coach.

We were glad to finally be in our rooms for the week. The beds are comfy and double-sized, there are coffee facilities, and en-suites so big that it takes almost an hour just to reach the toilet opposite the door. Certainly about 57 times better than dear old Milton Abbey School, home of SSCA.

Our first practice in America

It was now 7am back in the UK. We had been awake for around 22 hours, and our beds looked inviting. All we wanted to do was get in them and sleep.

Sadly Steve had other ideas. At 11pm local time, he decided it was the optimum moment for a full-blown rehearsal of our 50-piece brass band. Needless to say he was not the most popular man in LA that night as he played through seemingly our entire repertoire whilst accepting no excuses about fatigue.

Perhaps he did so because he wanted a peaceful night's sleep? That's certainly what he got (barring an incident early on where two people walked into his room instead of theirs) because everyone fell fast asleep as soon as their head touched the pillow, exhausted from an incredibly long day.