Hi guys, Time for another GO book excerpt. Did you do much hitch-hiking back in the day? This is from Chapter 3 Salvation. Americans have this thing about them. Probably starting with the early Pilgrims and Jamestown settlers, we have added the travel gene to our national DNA. In the 60’s and 70’s, young people in the tens if not hundreds of thousands hit the road in their hard working Fords and Chevys, the iconic VW bug or bus, or with their thumbs stuck out. Where were they headed? “Just down the road, Man.” “I’m thumbing to California.” “Heard of this really cool festival up in the mountains/desert/San Francisco/Colorado” or, “I don’t know! Where are you going?” Sometimes sharing the same stretch and sometimes splitting off from one another, US Highway 101 and California 1 were natural corridors for this moving mass of youth. A hitch hiker could find a ride and smoke some grass from Ventura, through Santa Barbara, up the coast through Big Sur and Santa Cruz, then to Mecca itself, or, as the map showed, San Francisco. Past S.F., the roads split and Cal 1 followed the rugged California coast through Fort Bragg, rejoining 101 just south of Garberville. 101 left its sister at Sausalito, following the Russian River, and continued north through Petaluma, Santa Rosa and Cloverdale. North of Ukiah is where the enormous, impressive Redwoods started. From there the road wound over hills and valleys and around the huge trees. At countless places on their journey, travelers could find a place to “crash” and something to eat. People—mostly hippies like them—had a house, an apartment, a trailer or even just a porch to offer their guest. If nothing was available, then a city, county, state or national park offered at least a picnic table that could be used as a shelter or bed, depending on the weather. The roads continued up to the Oregon border, but for many, Eureka was the last stop. 101 was like a funnel, pouring wandering souls into the Ranch, Carlotta, Living Waters and Mendocino. This would be a typical scene: A long haired guy with a back pack and his thumb out, stands by the side of the road in the afternoon, heading south on 101. A car with four people in it—two guys and two girls, pulls over. They ask, “Where you headin’?” “Down to San Francisco, man. How far you going?” “Not too far. We can take you a ways. Jump in.” “Thanks dude. Got any dope?” “Nope, sorry. But if you need it, we’ve got a place where you can crash tonight.” “Far out. That’d be cool. No grass, huh?” “No man. I gave that up when Jesus came into my heart. I don’t need that stuff anymore. I have all the peace and joy I was looking for. Jesus gave it to me.” Now the hitchhiker realized that when he got into the car that he felt something from these people. What was it? There was peace, a kind of joy, and somehow it seemed that they liked him. An honest, simple kind of liking. He was a little confused, but he felt comfortable around them. He realized, “these guys are Jesus Freaks” but they didn’t seem like the weirdos that everyone rolled their eyes about. It turned out, they were living on a commune, a Christian commune called the Lighthouse Ranch. He spent the night there and heard more about Jesus. Walter Burbank knew that he needed God. He left home in Montana, and hit the road for Los Angeles. Rides took him over the Cascades to Seattle, then south. The weather was cold and wet and he was happy for any lift that would get him out of the elements. The road took him to the Northern California coast, through Eureka where he was dropped off south of town. When he stuck his thumb out, a car pulled over and he jumped in. Jerry Lee was driving, had four college students in the car and was witnessing to them. He dropped the students off and when he left the freeway at Hookton Road, asked Walter if he wanted to come to the Ranch. No thanks. Walter’s next ride took him as far as Fortuna. The guy driving asked him, “Have you ever heard about Jesus?” They talked for a while and Walter knew that something was happening to him because for the first time in years, he began to feel happy. The Christian asked Walter if he wanted to pray and accept Jesus. He said no, but he would think about it. Well, two rides and he had heard plenty about Jesus and the Gospel. There was a lot for him to spend some time thinking about. He stuck out his thumb again. A VW bus pulled over with two guys and a girl in it. They were sitting in front, and Walter had to sit in the back on stacks of advertising newspapers. As James Jankowiak drove and Saundra listened, Kim van den Plas turned around and asked, “Have you heard about Jesus?” Well, now that you mention it, yes. “Do you want to pray and accept Jesus?” “Yes.”
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 15:03:48 +0000
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