Seven weeks at home and I was getting itchy feet. I'd spent quality time with the family, reminded my niece and nephew what I look like, politely nodded as my friends jealously abused me, but I just didn't feel settled. Three months in the mountains made coming home to the claustrophobia of England all the more uncomfortable. My time in Canada had only increased my craving for the outdoor lifestyle that comes with snowboarding, so after a few weeks freelance design to top up the funds, I packed up the snowboard again and set off for the winter of New Zealand. But first, a short break in California. The last time I was in LA, I ran out of petrol in Compton, South Central. This, if you don't know, is a rather dodgy area and I'll
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