Barstow, CA

6.22.2010

If yesterday was the colonoscopy you have to get on your 30th birthday, today was the lollipop you get on your way out of the doctor’s office. The route today was very laid back, and took us about 45 miles from Victorville to Barstow CA along the famous route 66. It was easy riding and gentle rolling hills the whole trip. Our pace line was finished by 10:30AM and averaged a speed of 21 miles per hour. As one man in a Cadillac stated when we pulled up to a red light in Barstow, “You motherfuckers are fast”. The worst part of the trip was that we had to stay focused on the road the entire time. The age of route 66 was seriously showing on some parts of the road, and it was all I could do to hold onto my vibrating handlebars and try to call out potholes on the left and right. When the pavement evened out later in the trip we no longer took those kind of conditions for granted

We did not have a friendship visit today, but we did get to spend a little bit of time in the town of Barstow. Let me give you a little history about this bustling metropolis. Barstow was built essentially because trucks that were passing through the area needed a place to get fuel. As a result, the buildings that make up the town fall almost exclusively into one of three categories:

A) Gas Station
B) Fast Food Restaurant
C) Motel (Not Hotel)

One good thing about the town is that there is a movie theater, and it was in walking distance of the motel where we are staying. Half the team went to go see Toy Story 3, and the other half went to see A-Team. I was in the Toy Story crowd and couldn’t have been happier with my choice. Pixar never lets you down.

Me paying attention to the road... and Chris's game face.

After the movie we had dinner at the famous California burger joint “In N’ Out”. I got myself a delicious Double Double burger, with a strawberry shake to drink. It was a much better experience today (my second In N’ Out visit) because I neglected to get my fries “Animal Style”. For those of you who aren’t familiar, Animal Style fries are similar to regular fries, except Animal Style fries are bombarded with a slurry of ingredients that no well meaning potato should ever be subjected to. These include Onions, Nacho Cheese, Pickles, and 1000 island dressing. I didn’t want that stuff coming up again on our 85 mile drive through the desert tomorrow.

We’re officially beginning the second leg of the South Route. We’ve moved from chilly hilly territory to the hot and flat territory. Tomorrow the temperature is supposed to be in the 90s. Yay! We’ll get through it though. I’m glad I brought my Camelbak.