This is the story of my first experience as an Enviormental Protester in 1981. This was the final days of a year long Journey on the road Hitchiking across the West and experiencing life ( true life on the wild streets of our Nation). This was a Journey started because of lost love, but it became an adventure that let to enlightenment and Discovery... See More... Read More, the sharing of many journeys, experiencing many new loves, many friendships, of many dificulties, of many joys. Of learning just how much good is in most people and seeing how much the fear of unknown things can blind some people. This was an educaion that taught me just how cold but at the same time how warm the road can be.
This is the story of my first experience as an Enviormental Protester in 1981. This was the final days of a year long Journey on the road Hitchiking across the West and experiencing life ( true life on the wild streets of our Nation). This was a Journey started because of lost love, but it became an adventure that let to enlightenment and Discovery, the sharing of many journeys, experiencing many new loves, many friendships, of many dificulties, of many joys. Of learning just how much good is in most people and seeing how much the fear of unknown things can blind some people. This was an educaion that taught me just how cold but at the same time how warm the road can be.
This Journey started because of lost love, it became a Journey of discovery over a year later!
I may at a later date chronical my adventures from the beginning, but today we will start this in Taos New Mexico after saying goodbye to the members of the Rainbow Family I had been a guest of up in Rincon Canyon. After having a native Charm of Protection tied around my neck and being blessed by the tribal elder I said my goodbyes and headed North to Denver. From Denver I headed to Cheyanne, then Evanston where I sat for 3 days sleeping under the underpass. Then the morning of the 3rd day I received my first of many blessings to come a ride by an Oil worker who took me to his home and where I spent 1 week with his family as their guest ( we went to provo to bar hop, to dinner I had a blast watching their kids) when this time ended My friend took me to the Truck stop in Salt Lak where I found a driver that needed a Humper ( someone to unload the furnishings he carried ) we hit Sacramento and I received 100$ to unload a load of antique priceless furniture.
Well then I got picked up by some young kids heading into San Francisco. So their I was in DownTown San Fran with no idea where to go or what to do. In a construction area with well I'll leave it to you to get the idea ( young good looking guy alone in San Fran lets just say I was nervous and maybe a little scared and I wanted out of thier fast, Well with directions I made it back to the Bridge where I sat and as the sun started to set a Hippie painted VW Van pulled up and the couple inside asked where I was headed, when I told them they agreed to take me to this really cool Diner in San Jose where they new I could catch a ride south on Coast 1. So off we went to the Diner smoking some good weed ( hippies always got the best smoke, well back then they did lol) laughing and just having a great time.
When I got to the Diner I decided to go in and have dinner ( I had some money and they were reported to have awesome burgers and fries. Well while eating the next blessing came on my Journey, my cute waitress had an admirer and he lived in San Jose and worked in Monterey at a Jag dealer. Well she asked him to take me down to the Junction and he said cool ( not only did he give me a ride he would not let me pay for my dinner all this kindness I could not understand with a backpack on the road most treated me like a bum, I had a shower and shaved before in Sacramento, but I still could not understand Yet). We went outside and I just froze here was the coolest black with tan leather Jag standing before me and the dude was laughing telling me to get in, he asked if I had ever been in one and I laughed back and said no. He hit the junction and was off like a rocket, I did not stop squeezing the seat till we hit the junction to Monterey and Salinas where my Journey with him ended with his friendship.
I went into the Diner/bar where after a couple drinks then coffee and a lot of good conversation,I became close with the bartender ( who was quite a looker in her 40’s as I said I was 23 ) at closing time she offered me a warm bed and respite from the cold night and I took her up on the offer with joy in my heart. When I awoke in the morning to a hot breakfast and a that angelic face I new in my heart I did not want to leave, I could have found many comforting nights within those arms, but I new my Destiny lay farther south and I had to leave. She took me into Salinas and dropped me with a friend of hers that delivered veggies to LA and with a kiss and the memory of her sweet smell I said goodbye.
I arrived also on Tuesday night, but I landed in San Louis Obisbo late in the night, nervous and cold from hitching down from San Francisco, I entered a local bar and thru some nice residents was offered coffee a sandwich and a ride out to the campground ( where the Main group of Protesters were camping. When I thanked them for the ride and exchanged hugs and some light kisses from the girls I went looking for someone to help me get settled.
This is where I met a really sweet sister from one of the groups of families ( that were members of the Rainbow Family ) they let me sleep in one of thier tents that night, which led to a vary well deserved and needed restful sleep. The next morning at the group breakfast I was introduced around to the camp leaders and the Teachers that were to teach the Non Violent training and other classes we would take and perticipate in for the next 2 days. Then Breakfast was ready and we headed for the serving line, while getting a bowl of Oatmeal I saw sitting on a log away from others a lone man wearing a buckskin jacket who I thought I recognized and yes I found out it was Country Joe ( of the Anti war song fame) he looked the same except older and tired ( probably of fighting the good fight for the rest of us), I wanted to go say hi, but was told we had to leave him alone. So I walked by and smiled ( he smiled back with accknowelgment that I recognized him. Later While standing eating my Oatmeal he came by and shook my hand ( others told me I must have a good aura since he rarely ever spoke to someone he did not know, well that was my first star gazing thrill.
Well after Breakfast classes started and yes I had the guy with the Beret, had to read the same manual, pretty much just as Sanderson remembered. That night was a concert with Country Joe played, Robert Blake showed up ( he plays a great guitar ) Jackson Browne showed up, and of course Wavy Gravy played MC. Thursday we formed our groups and I also chose the main gate at Avila Beach, I had heard the talk about the Blue Line ( that was the line if you crossed it you got arrested for trespassing) I wanted like always to be in the thick of things.
So we formed our groups, talked strategy, practiced non violent reaction ect. Then after dinner some of us went into town ( san Louis Obisbo) for drinks. I met up with the girls that had given me the ride out on Tuesday, here things did not go well for me ( earlier one of the Rainbow family members gave me some mushrooms ) by the middle of the night I was off in another plane of exsistance, and ended up leaving the girls and just walking, walking, and walking, I came to many conclusions about life and mans purpose in this exsistance that night walking under a wonderful blanket of stars. The smell of the Ocean so close. By gods grace or providence I ended up back at camp and sat down at the campfire and thats where I stayed the whole night.
The next morning we loaded up the bus and headed to The bright little Blue Line and our...... destiny!
Some additional commentary.
Now today the plant is in operating status, but this rally and the one following it were a success. Because this movement forced additional tests, revealed weaknesses in structure ( over 150 small cracks were discovered) and forced additional stress and enviormental impact tests the construction cost tripled, they had to double the concrete walls and make it more sustainable for possible quakes from the San Andreas Fault. Because of this movement no further Nuclear Plants have been built in California.
51 years old as of 10/14 and still Rocking the World as A Big Dog!
I AM A BEAST A FREAK OF MOTHER NATURES WOMB. I am an overly Arrogant, self Manical, Inflated Super Egotistical, Self Absorbed Love me or hate me dont give a **** what you think get moving or get the **** out of the way overly opinionated self centered son of an American Legacy! THIER IS NO ONE LIKE ME.
I WILL NEVER GIVE IN I WILL NEVER GIVE UP. THE IRON IS MY WORLD, AND STEEL IS MY WILL. I AM MASTER OF ALL I CAN SEE.
Do You think you can stand with me and be my Brother ?
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