Picking up where we left off on Friday…
Have you ever hitchhiked? Or have you ever picked up a hitchhiker? I would imagine that this was somewhat common decades ago. For the record, I have never (and will never) pick up a hitchhiker. For me, it’s a trust issue, or lack thereof. Thoughts?
-Krishna
Krishna, I love that lightning effect! As for hitchhiking, I know my parents hitched hiked in the day, but you’re right I think times have changed. I don’t think I’d risk it unless it was a life-or-death emergency.
I have never picked up a hitchhiker and never will. I might place a call for help if it’s that kind of situation, but I would not put a stranger in my car.
I hitchhiked once, in the late 80′s. There were 5 of us: 3 guys, 2 girls (including me). We were backpacking on the Florida trail, and underestimated how difficult it is to carry a 75 lb load hiking through sugar sand. It took us 8 hours to go 5 miles, and we were 5 miles short of a site where we could legally camp and get fresh water. So when we crossed a rural road, we hitched a ride with an older couple, who let us in the bed of their pickup, and dropped us off at the trailhead to where we needed to be for the night. They were very nice to us.
I’m not sure I’d dare to do it again today.
Times have changed….My Dad would pick up those around the area we lived in, but that was nearly 40 years ago….Today I would not pick one up unless I felt it was the most dire of circumstances for the one who was needing a ride (such as a mother with a baby, dead vehicle, and the weather was not good.)….And I will walk than ask for a ride on the side of the road….These days there is just a lack of trust in folks…..Sad isn’t it.
If you don’t pick up hitchhikers, you never get to meet people like Maureen the Deaf Hooker. (Interesting woman – she flagged me down in my neighborhood as I was going to the grocery store. She was walking back towards her place from the hourly motel, and her place was just around the corner from the grocery store.)
It certainly helps my confidence because I’m big, strong, and armed.
I have attempted to hitch-hike due to a breakdown 30 miles from home, when I was too broke to afford a taxi; I ended up walking 20 miles before a cab stopped who was going past where I lived so offered me a cheap ride for the last 10!
I do pick up hitch-hikers and have never had a problem, they have been unfailingly polite and very thankful for the lift. It’s a shame that fear stops it from being a viable way to travel these days, my dad used to hitch all over the country in his youth…
I also carry jump cables & tow rope and will stop to help stranded motorists, I’ve had people stop to help me a few times in the past and know what a relief it is; on a UK motorway, you have to get your car off within 2 hours maximum or the police will arrange removal for you – if you don’t have breakdown cover it will cost you upwards of £180 ($300+) just to get to the nearest junction, plus extra for the mileage to a garage or home, or around £30 a day in storage charges if you can’t pay the bill immediately.