I certainly don't endorse this now but when I was a young man I can say I did this across the entire country. The memories are far too numerous to mention here but suffice it to say they are mostly pleasant. It was such an adventure! I had the time and I didn't need much money. The folks I met along the way enlightened me to America. What a GREAT country I lived in! ... but again, the times have changed.
I actually did some hitching as recently as 2 yrs. ago when I lived in a rural California community in the mountains. I walked the 3 miles to/from town when I needed to get provisions. I simply ambulated the highway w/ my back to the traffic and my thumb out. Kind folks picked me up about half the time.
Daisy- So sorry you ladies missed out on the indescribable adventure. I guess I'm lucky to have been a male under those circumstances. I guarantee, I was never afraid and the incidences of benevolence warmed the cockles that you alluded to in one of your recent questions.
Jerry- I once got a ride to Worchester Mass. which was part way to my destination of Buffalo NY. I was dumped off at a laundromat hoping it was open all night so I could sleep there. Alas, it was near closing time. A patron learned of my peril and not only provided a place for me to sleep, we actually partied in a bar (drinking age was 19), he entertained w/ guitar and showed me some exquisite artwork he had done. In the morning he got up, said help your self to breakfast and as he went to work he asked me to lock the door. I left that guy $10- (which was a good portion of all the money I had)
Folks- I'm not trying to glamorize hitching as much as I'm trying to point out how much different the world used to be. I made a concerted effort to give rides to as many hitchers as I estimated folks that gave me rides. This took me 2 or 3 yrs. Eventually, hitchers faded into Americas past and along w/ this many pleasant memories for me.
I actually did some hitching as recently as 2 yrs. ago when I lived in a rural California community in the mountains. I walked the 3 miles to/from town when I needed to get provisions. I simply ambulated the highway w/ my back to the traffic and my thumb out. Kind folks picked me up about half the time.
Daisy- So sorry you ladies missed out on the indescribable adventure. I guess I'm lucky to have been a male under those circumstances. I guarantee, I was never afraid and the incidences of benevolence warmed the cockles that you alluded to in one of your recent questions.
Jerry- I once got a ride to Worchester Mass. which was part way to my destination of Buffalo NY. I was dumped off at a laundromat hoping it was open all night so I could sleep there. Alas, it was near closing time. A patron learned of my peril and not only provided a place for me to sleep, we actually partied in a bar (drinking age was 19), he entertained w/ guitar and showed me some exquisite artwork he had done. In the morning he got up, said help your self to breakfast and as he went to work he asked me to lock the door. I left that guy $10- (which was a good portion of all the money I had)
Folks- I'm not trying to glamorize hitching as much as I'm trying to point out how much different the world used to be. I made a concerted effort to give rides to as many hitchers as I estimated folks that gave me rides. This took me 2 or 3 yrs. Eventually, hitchers faded into Americas past and along w/ this many pleasant memories for me.