I'll go ahead and say it.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Iowa is as representative of America as Barstow is representative of California.

[griffi94]

1. Maybe not even that much lol.

[mike_c]

2. I'm not sure anyone who hasn't been to Barstow will understand this.

My partner and I love the southern California desert. Barstow, not so much. "Can we make it to Ludlow for gas?"

[Blue_true]

3. Maybe your analogy would have more punch if everyone knew

what Barstow is. I would guess a place in California, but that is just a wag.

[Zolorp]

4. "We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold."

-- Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

[2naSalit]

7. !!!

[comradebillyboy]

16. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson at his best!!!!!

Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail was the first and best book about American politics that I ever read.

[Blue_true]

24. Thanks for the explanation. nt

[LeftInTX]

23. I was gonna say:

At least it's on the way to Vegas!!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. A sleepy little town midway between L A and Vegas.

[soldierant]

13. Does it still have aMarine Corps base?

I forget the details, it's been so long.

[Recursion]

17. Yeah, a logistics center

The West Coast version of Albany. I spent about three years there one summer.

[calimary]

22. I hear that!

[soldierant]

25. A logistics center.

Overnight the term "Supply Depot" came into my head for what it might have once beer called. That would make sense.

[grantcart]

20. And a prison

[SunSeeker]

12. Barstow is an overgrown truck stop in the high desert of Southern California.

It's deep red politically.

[DAMANgoldberg]

15. Being a former trucker...

I can absolutely identify with that. Due to the truck stop situation in Southern California, that's as good as it gets. Besides, smart truckers know to fuel in Nevada & Arizona (not that it's significantly cheaper).

[msongs]

5. doesnt everyone have a railroad marshaling yard on their street? nt

[ChubbyStar]

8. My car broke down in Barstow

The mechanic after 30 minutes asked me to marry him. Ahhh Barstow.

[revmclaren]

9. Clovis...

Much more like Clovis.

ONLY!!! 2020 and beyond.

[JoeOtterbein]

10. Sorry.

Yipeeee!!!!!!

[SunSeeker]

11. Yup. nt

[Awsi Dooger]

14. I used to like the Carl's Jr. in Barstow

Convenient stop between Montebello and Las Vegas when I was driving back and forth every weekend to wager on the USFL. Let's see, it was always two double burgers, fries and a giant chocolate shake.

Yes, I lived in Montebello. And not far from a landfill, off the Pomona Freeway.

Later they built a Tommy's in Barstow. That was an improvement for a USC alum.

And one time a couple living in Las Vegas needed to renew their California driver's licenses so they paid me $200 to drive them to Barstow and back so they could do it.

I think that's it for my Barstow stories. Other than the city shows up all the time on true crime episodes. Lots of despicable stuff in that area, including rogue police officers. That area has had multiple incidents of police officers who pull over vulnerable women to rape them. One was higher class than his norm and apparently not afraid to turn him in, so he killed her. Fortunately he left enough clues and physical evidence he didn't get away with it. Then a decade or so later another Barstow police officer committed suicide after being arrested for raping a woman in his patrol vehicle.

[Aussie105]

19. Just Googled Barstow California, and the place looks OK.

I'm half a world away, but have been to SF, if that counts. lol

Of course pictures tells you nothing of the people that live there.

So your post is an eye opener.

[Kablooie]

18. This is downtown Barstow

[Aussie105]

21. Yep.

Just saw that picture in my Googling.

That would pass for a big town here in South Australia once you go beyond the fringes of the capital.

Scariest town I've ever been to was Iron Knob, a disused iron mining town.

Very similar countryside as Barstow.

Deserted for 22 years, except some of the locals never left.

Walked into the one open deli in the place, got the Zombie Eye from those there. I fled.

[Reader Rabbit]

26. Could be worse: Could be Needles.-n/t

[LongtimeAZDem]

27. I only made it out there once; I was headed to Las Vegas

[Reader Rabbit]

29. I guy I worked with grew up there--with no air conditioning!

Also, Snoopy's brother Spike lived there.

[snowybirdie]

28. Visited my son

In Barstow when he was military. I asked his bride when did she start to cry when they drove there after the wedding. She hugged me and cried again! Not a great place.