I realized the audacity and oddity of what we were attempting when I shared our plans with the Uber driver.
He was driving us east on Interstate 10 from West LA to Exposition Park. I explained to him that we planned to walk from the Colosseum back to where he picked us up in Westwood - about 14 miles.
Normally, the song is right: Nobody walks in LA. But we joined several hundred other people to be the exception and undertake the Great Los Angeles Walk.
This was the 19th annual installment, organized by Michael Schneider, who undertook the first one in 2006 with a few friends to celebrate his 10th anniversary of living in LA. The goal is to explore the city and see it in a way you never would in a car. The route changes and attendance grows each year as more people hear about it.
It still has a very unofficial feel. There are no sign-ups, waivers or finish line. Just show up, walk as little or as much as you like, and end up at a designated brewpub to celebrate afterwards.
After delivering a brief welcome via bullhorn, Michael wished everyone well and sent the throng on its way. Our foursome, which included my wife April, our 20-year-old son Drew and his friend Sam, found itself close to the front of the pack.
Non-participants didn't know what to make of this large group of people - who clearly shopped at REI, given the prevalence of Hokas, Camelbaks and running tights - walking through their neighborhood.
Along Vermont, a woman driving a black Benz rolled down her passenger window and asked, "You guys going to the game?" Someone in the group said, "No, it's a walk." Since the woman had a green light, there wasn't time for further explanation.
Our route turned west and followed Washington Boulevard for about six miles. The city rolled by in a series of tableaus. We walked past a street art festival, where artists deftly applied spray paint to their murals, then stepped back to consider their progress. People experiencing homelessness called to us from their tents set up along the sidewalk under freeway overpasses. We passed through Mid City's Wellington Square neighborhood, with its gated streets and large, well-kept homes. Crossing La Brea, we looked right to see the Hollywood sign in the distance.
There were things we probably should have stopped to see, but the boys kept an ambitious pace ahead of us. Any dawdling for photos or further exploration would have put us further behind, so we kept moving.
The miles quickly ticked by. We found ourselves in Culver City around lunchtime. We considered our options in the shopping center at the old Helms Bakery. Pasta Sisters looked tasty and had the shortest wait. It felt good to sit down and rest our feet.
We ate quickly and hit the sidewalk once again. The weather was perfect for undertaking an ambitious walk across the city - overcast and cool. Just after mile nine, we turned north on Overland toward Westwood. A few raindrops fell, but the skies held otherwise.
The last mile and a half followed Westwood Boulevard. The hills we encountered reminded our tired legs how far we'd already walked.
Westwood Village soon came into view. The official route called for us to walk to the entrance of UCLA and then return to Broxton Brewery. But we called it a day when we reached the brewery first and our watches showed we had logged 14 miles.
The trek was audacious and odd, but despite my initial doubts, we had done it. The real question is, would we do it again?
April says "yes." So, hold the Saturday before Thanksgiving on your 2025 calendar and we'll see you somewhere along whatever the route happens to be.
Eric Harnish lives in Castaic, which features nice walking paths around the lake.

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The Great Los Angeles Walk
greatlawalk.com