Count me as one of those who never read On the Road and doesn't really know anything about Kerouac.
As a science fiction story, it doesn't really impress me. It seems to be set in space for no particular reason. But I could see this coming, and the author obviously isn't concerned with this story's lack of "hardness", so I was able to turn down my Indign-o-meter before any damage was done.
As a fun little story I think it works. I can sympathize with the narrator being swept along by a pair of nutjobs. He's envious and fearful of them at the same time.
We envy the bleeding edge types when we see them doing crazy, fun things. They're right, that really is living. On the other hand so is tucking your kids in at night in a warm, safe house. And I have a feeling that they are sometimes envious of us boring types who have a nice dinner with our families and then snuggle up on the couch to watch Lost. I think you're lucky if you can be crazy, but not too crazy, and boring, but not too boring.
I looked up Neil Cassady on Wikipedia. His live-wire personality inspired Kerouac, Hunter Thompson, and the Grateful Dead, but he was dead at 41 from passing out outside in the cold and rain after having taken drugs. He was estranged from several wives and his kids and did two stints in prison. If I had taken a ride with Ol' Cowboy Neil I would probably have had the same reaction as the narrator. If the car came by I again I would know I shouldn't get back in, but I would know I wanted to.
Steve: Nice outro. It would be rude for me to say take pleasure for your problems, but I thought it was poignant.