THE JO-TEL … illegal blog downfield

Here is Hip E.’s recent, colorful, and accurate description of Bay to Breakers.
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It’s definitely the best party in the West. Also, if you are a runner, it is the worst possible race to run in the whole United States. Because when you do, you are literally RUNNING AWAY from the best party you have ever been invited to.

Basically, something on the order of 80,000 people wake up early and head down to the Embarcadero. I’d say once the runners run away, the costume participation rate for the other 60,000 people is right around 90%. Then everyone just walks to the beach. People throw parties at houses all along the route. Tens of thousands pee on walls in parking lots. It is a 10-block-long moving party. Every person there has one single agenda, which is to have Fun. It’s one of those days where you find yourself spontaneously screaming “WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!” for no particular reason around mile 4, and everyone knows exactly what you’re talking about The police standing under the “Alcohol Checkpoint” signs do nothing but stand there with shit-eating grins on their faces. No fights break out. Bands set up and play at random spots along the route. There are homemade floats, rolling tiki bars, naked old people - basically everything they have in heaven.

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