Hitchhikers guide to... Hitchhiking

Just recently I went on a road trip that began in Calais- France and took us all the way to Gdansk-Poland. Not your every day road trip mind you, but one that depended purely on the kindness of strangers.


Not only did I not end up as a lampshade in someones fun dungeon, or as a human hand puppet, but I learned a valuable lesson in human nature.

People WANT to help one another and the fear that is instilled in all of us by the media, horror films and those whom are generally just terrified of brushing shoulders with a stranger, limit us from experiencing the most delightful things. Personally I blame these guys

Of course you must have your wits about you, there's a fine line between being carefree and being careless.

1. Do not hitchhike alone. Not only are you more vulnerable but loners generally seem more threatening.

2. Do travel with musical instruments. Obviously the grand piano and string section are not practical, but try a ukulele or a harmonica. If you seem like the gentle, poetic type people are more inclined to help. I mean, hippies are never dangerous are they?



3.  Don't travel at night. People are hardly game enough to let in a stranger let alone one they can't see, and if they are then believe me, YOU are the one in danger.



4. Travel light. You would not believe how hard it is to track down that copy of twilight War and Peace that you've left alongside a Truckie who only knows English curse words (only applies if traveling through a non English speaking country... or does it?)



5. Leave your mark. Of course I don't condone the defacing of public property, but just write your name and destination on the back of a street sign or maybe on a passing animal rock.

6.  Be pleasant. don't do as I do and constantly get drunk fall asleep, thankfully my companion has far better manners than I do.



7. Seating arrangements. generally people will want you to sit in the back, yet others will take offense if you don't take the seat next to them, assess the situation accordingly.



8. Don't be too grateful. Don't jump into any car going any which way. If at any point you don't trust the driver or something doesn't feel right, like perhaps the "Hail Satan" bumper sticker, don't get in the car, someone else will come by soon enough, hopefully someone with a 'visualize whirled peas' sticker... tee hee


9. Know where you're going. Have a clear idea of what roads you need to be on, which directions you're heading in,
and try not to go too off track, unless of course you don't have any time restrictions, you have endless amounts of money or a fantastic opportunity presents itself to you.



10. Don't over think it... Pretty self explanatory

Overall, be safe, be kind, document and enjoy your travels. People are good they just need the opportunity to exhibit it.

Of course in saying all of this, travel at your own risk.