Beneath big skies – State of Escape

26.6.2025

As the saying goes, it's not the destination that matters but the journey. Taking this to heart, our Creative Director Brigitte recently helped her childhood bestie Cate relocate from Austin, TX to Los Angeles, racking up miles, vivid tableaus, and unforgettable memories along the way.

After 4 years living in Austin my childhood best friend decided to move back to Los Angeles. So just like we did in our early twenties when we drove from Bend in Oregon to Las Vegas, we packed up the car and set across country, but this time in an EV @rivianofficial with a U-Haul in tow.

I’ve always loved a road trip, the simplicity and unknown. There’s a certain meditation watching the ever changing landscape through the car window, rolling by, cinematic and captivating. A beauty to the battered and bleached landscape and open skies of west Texas. It’s one thing people reference when describing this vast expanse of the country, the scale of the sky and beauty of the clouds. Contrasting the desert landscapes as sand spouts pick up debris in their path and spiral across the road in front of you.

It didn’t come without a level of ‘range anxiety’ as there were long stretches between charging stations. Only once did we get down to 6% power, with the 40 degree heat and heavy tow draining the charge faster than usual, but together we navigated, scenario planned, talked, listened and laughed our way through. A lifelong friendship bound closer, new memories created and a desire to do it all over again.

Day 1: Austin -> Marfa, Texas

When growing up Cate and I lived at the end of the laneway from each other and were inseparable. Life has ebbed and flowed, but we are family to one another. So when we locked the back of the U-Haul and set off across country, it felt right that we would do it together.

Two women smiling in a car, enjoying their time together.

Day 1: Austin -> Marfa, Texas

Twelve hours and 6 recharge stops we arrived in Marfa. The beautiful sunset approaching town felt like a fitting end to the day. A cultural hub the middle of the high desert of West Texas, Marfa is a gold nugget of creativity that thrives in its isolation.

Stay @elcosmicomarfa

Eat @cochineal_marfa

Coffee @thesentinelmarfa

Sandwich for the road @bordo.tx

Stay @elcosmicomarfa

Eat @cochineal_marfa

Coffee @thesentinelmarfa

Sandwich for the road @bordo.tx

Green restaurant building with mural under clear blue sky.

Day 2: Marfa -> New Mexico -> Tucson, Arizona

They say it’s about the journey, not the destination. It’s all the ‘in-betweens’ that make a road trip special.

Day two was an exceptionally long day driving to Tucson, skimming past the Mexican border in El Paso with our last charging station at 1am with another 2 hours of driving to go.

Podcasts, audio books and conversation to pass the time. We arrived with our sense of humour intact only to fall asleep and set off early in the am.

Day 2: Marfa -> New Mexico -> Tucson, Arizona

It’s the ‘in-betweens’ that make a road trip.

Day two was an exceptionally long day driving to Tucson, skimming past the Mexican border in El Paso, our last charging station at 1am with another 2 hours of driving to go.

Podcasts, audio books and conversation to pass the time. We arrived with our sense of humour intact only to fall asleep and set off early in the am.

Day 2: Marfa -> New Mexico -> Tucson, Arizona

It’s the ‘in-betweens’ that make a road trip.

Day two was an exceptionally long day driving to Tucson, skimming past the Mexican border in El Paso, our last charging station at 1am with another 2 hours of driving to go.

Podcasts, audio books and conversation to pass the time. We arrived with our sense of humour intact only to fall asleep and set off early in the am.

Day 3: Tucson -> Palm Springs, California

The landscape across Arizona to Palm Springs was dramatic and mesmerising in its majesty. Hot, dusty, bleached and remote - long stretches of highway with mountain ranges in the distance. As we skimmed across the edge of the Joshua Tree National Park, the arid landscape gave way to cacti and slowly the palm trees started to appear.

Day 3: Tucson -> Palm Springs, California

Relief set in as we approached the boutique hotel Sparrows Lodge after a blistering hot day. A haven of tranquility and charm. We quickly checked in and sat at the bar for dinner before the kitchen closed.

In need to stretch the legs I was up early and straight out the back gate into an suburb called Deepwell Estates where all my mid-century modern dreams came true - street after street of architectural gems, cacti gardens, palm trees and the bluest of blue sky. I was in my happy place.

Stay @sparrowslodge

Day 4: Palm Springs -> Idyllwild, California

After a well needed morning of rest and no driving, we headed off to our friends house in the mountain town of Idyllwild. Only an hour and 10 away, we passed over the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains to arrive in Idyllwild, where the temperature dropped from 40 to 25 degrees celsius. A welcome respite and our last stop before our final destination in LA.

Coffee @purebean_idy

Day 4: Palm Springs -> Idyllwild, California

Coffee @purebean_idy

Day 6: Idyllwild -> Los Angeles, California

The excitement grew as we made our way into Los Angeles and toward Cate’s new home. Mission accomplished as we unloaded the U-Haul and said goodbye. As I made my way back to New York, I reflected on a varied, vast and incredibly beautiful road trip to remember.

Highway sign indicating 101 North exit to Los Angeles.

Day 6: Idyllwild -> Los Angeles, California