Jax's limp in the beginning was actually Charlie Hunnam's broken toe being incorporated into the show.
The opening of this episode shows Jax lacing up his "famous" white Nikes. If you watch the show for long enough, it's hard to ignore the clean, white shoes that Jax Teller usually wears. They were a far cry from the dirty, rugged boots most viewers would expect a biker to wear. This was an apparel choice that Hunnam himself made for the character. According to Hunnam, the show choice was based on a real-life biker who helped inspire the way he played the role. Hunnam had opted to shadow the motorcycle club member to prepare for the role. When that young man lost his life, Hunnam decided to dress just like him, including his choice of shoes, while in character.
The trucker that gave Gemma (Katey Sagal) a ride was played by Michael Chiklis, who played the lead role in The Shield (2002). Sons creator, Kurt Sutter, was also a writer for that show. With this appearance, all 4 main members of The Shield's Strike Team made a crossover to Sons of Anarchy (2008).
It takes 5 hours and 30 mins to drive from Charming CA to Klamath Falls Oregon where Gemma's (Katey Sagal) father lived.