Escape From LA
The Escape From LA: Stage 4
California is a place of contrast, even at its periphery along the coast. The transition from what's colloquially known as Southern California to the great lost innards of the Central Coast is subtle, yet jarring at the same time. Jagged...
February 2, 2017
The Escape From LA: Stage 3
Looking incredulously at the chicken and waffles placed in front of my gaping maw, I wonder how I got here. By here, I mean this prototypical breakfast spot in a prototypical coastal California burg. Incredulous? It's because my chicken and waffles have been made with drumsticks. I am an unabashed waffle whore, and the perfect marriage of a briny, breaded...
February 1, 2017
The Escape From LA: Stage 2
Southern California is as massive as it is convoluted. The sprawling, writhing mass of humanity that emanates forth from the 101/110 interchange wraps its way around the contours of the LA Basin, spilling out at the edges, like an overfilled bowl of soup ported from the stove to the table. We rejoin the story at one of those craggy edges, as the prota...
February 1, 2017
The Escape From LA: Stage 5
For anyone who's ever raced a longer stage race, there's a sense of physiological familiarity that happens somewhere around the third day, and it compounds, like interest. Getting out of bed becomes harder. Walking is laborious. Stairs are devastating. Mental faculties deteriorate. Sleep is precious, and the growing mountain of sheer exhaustion makes it d...