A Memorable Hitchhiking Adventure to California

During the early summer of 1974, I found myself with a few hundred dollars in my pocket and only three months before I was due to leave America on the ocean liner QE2 to move back to England. The urge to experience the vast landscapes and vibrant culture of America drove me to embark on a thrilling hitchhiking journey to California.

A Journey Westward

The westward journey was a blur of encountering different people and places. Alongside the endless stretches of farmlands in Indiana, Ohio, and Nebraska, I picked up rides from truck drivers who dropped me off in small, seemingly abandoned towns. Occasionally, I met fellow hippies who offered me accommodations, some of the best marijuana, and wine. There was an instance where an angry cop in Arizona caught me with my guard down. Standing on an entrance ramp in the middle of the desert, he threatened to throw me in jail if I was still there when he returned from his coffee break. Desperation turned into opportunity when a pickup truck from a seemingly unsavory group picked me up, but they were intrigued and I managed to keep the interaction friendly.

The final stretch was nothing short of magical. Two cute hippie girls in a brightly painted VW bus offered me a ride to their house near Riverside. This turned out to be California in the style that every hitchhiking enthusiast dreams of: the ultimate California experience.

The Venture into California

Settling into California felt like a dream. I had fun in Santa Monica, partied in Venice, and met some intriguing and unconventional people. Eventually, I decided to head back east, passing through Barstow.

An Unexpected Encounter

In Barstow, I was picked up by a young army guy in a mustard-colored Sunbeam Tiger, a rare car with a V8 engine. The drive down the highway and through the mountains was exhilarating, with a great sound system, wicked weed, and a shared passion for adventure. As we drove, the car started to pull to the right, and I realized we had to stop. After diagnosing the problem, it was evident that the wheel bearing had frozen. We were in the middle of nowhere, miles from any town, and the task of fixing the car seemed daunting. However, I decided to explore under the car out of curiosity. I discovered a shocking amount of cannabis bundles hidden under the wheel wells. The prospect of a friendly cop discovering the situation and putting us in a tight spot made me realize how this adventure had gone far beyond what I had initially set out for.

With no desire to explore further, I decided to resume my hitchhiking journey by sticking out my thumb and heading east. Who knows what happened to the young army guy with the cannabis-laden car, but I sincerely hope he fixed the car and made a lot of money from his illicit find. However, I can't blame myself for choosing to keep things at a distance.

Conclusion

This hitchhiking journey to California was a quintessential adventure that blended loneliness, excitement, and unpredictability. It was an experience that left an indelible mark on my life, reminding me that sometimes the most cherished memories are the ones filled with unexpected turns and twists. If you ever read this, I hope you found a solution for the car's mechanical issue and turned a profit, but can you blame me for leaving shortly after the discovery?