And a bit more energetic. On the other hand, by the time you got to Big Bear it was at least PRETTY.
But who the heck would start a trip from Barstow? The best thing about Barstow is that the 15 runs by it. (don't hate, guys. I had to work there for a summer at the train station. Still brings me strange dreams of jimsonweed and dead beer cans)
1982: I hopped a freight train in Kingman Az. and got caught and kicked off in Barstow. After spending several days trying to get a ride out at a truck stop with no luck (Barstow was notoriously hard to hitch-hike out of back then) I wound up working at the truck stop and living in the trailer park across the road.
Towards the end of summer I had a 10 speed and enough money to hit the road again, hence the trip to Big Bear.