Hitchhiking is one of my favorite ways to travel. You meet a bunch of people (most of them are quite interesting), and I often find it faster than taking the bus. I did this a little bit. From cross-Canadian and European trips to small small jumps at my house. I do not consider myself an expert, but here are a few ideas and tips that will help you get started.
Appearance:
-Try to look so neat and tidy. I shave before heading off to a hitchhiker and usually a clean shirt and pants. If this is a longer trip, pack a few so you can cool off daily.
Floor:
- Your composition “Floor” and “Group” will significantly affect your hitchhiking experience.
-You should be much more careful if you yourself and hitchhiking by themselves.
-I think the perfect combination is one woman and one man. It is not too dangerous for people who collect you, but you still have each other for safety.
-If you have more than two people, they will need more time to pick them up.
- Drivers themselves are less likely to collect larger groups of people.
Location:
-If this is a long journey, you probably want to get on the highway. On the ramp, next to the stopped stop, is a good place, as the cars will go slower. Make sure the cars have plenty of time to see you and a safe place to reach out and pick you up.
-B careful, in some places it is illegal to hitchhike on the highway. If this is a shorter trip, you can try the local road. Make sure he's busy enough.
-If you are leaving the city, try to get to the outskirts (city bus, metro, etc.), before you go to hitchhiking.
Map:
- I highly recommend bringing a good map. Do not count on people who pick you up so that you know the area and the roads well.
-If you are harnessed in a foreign country, where you do not speak the language, the map is even more important. I traveled from Paris to Barcelona, mainly by showing my map, declaring my destination, responding with “the name of the place c & # 39? Est bon, ”and then swayed into any music they were on.
-Acceptance on a simple phraseological book, so that you can exchange courtesies, is also a good idea!
Sign or not sign:
- The good ones I met are divided by opinions on whether to use the sign. The main arguments are:
To sign:
People-people know where you are going, if they go there or near them, they will most likely stop.
- If you are looking for a long, long trip, we hope that people will go to shorter distances. 1 big trip faster (but maybe not as interesting) as 10 small rides.
Do not sign:
-If people are not going to the same place as you, they cannot stop (even if they follow the same route and at a great distance)
-If they slip, they already know where you are going, and you can claim that they are there or nearby.
Therefore, the decision to sign or not depends on you. I usually use the sign for longer trips where I hire to win a larger trip, rather than a bunch of smaller ones. If the distance at which your route ends is not so many places where people can disconnect (Canadian prairies), then the sign may not be needed. Try both and see what works best for you. Make sure you have a tip in the bag. The best signs are simple and clear. I usually just type my destination name. For materials with an inscription it is best to use heavy cardboard, ask at a gas station or prepare some cardboard (the boxes work fine).
Smile:
- This is one of the most important parts of hitchhiking. Be sure to smile and look friendly. I was attracted several times just because I was smiling (yes, the drivers told me that).
- Oh, and also make sure you stick out your thumb. It will definitely help you ride!
The Pick Up:
- Someone stopped, honey! Approach the car through the passenger side. If it's only the driver, open the door and talk. This is your chance to decide whether to go from this person or not. Find out where they are going, and if something seems smart, feel free to retreat or make an excuse (I'm waiting for someone to be further away, etc.). I usually jump, say “thanks for stopping” and from there.
Friendly and interested:
People usually pick you up for some reason. Perhaps they hitchhiked in the past or got bored and wanted to talk to someone. Make sure you are friends (but not too friendly) and swing the conversation. If you can find out what interests you, you can make them talk for hours. Change stories and make the trip less awkward for both of you. People will often be curious about where you are going and where you have been.
Security:
- All the time when you hitchhike you take a very small but potentially dangerous risk. You are picked up by strangers, and it is possible that one of them will want to harm you or put you at risk.
I was lucky during hitchhiking and there were only offers several times (gay men and older women). A polite refusal was usually enough to stop them.
Nevertheless, I still carry in my pocket and know how to open it quickly. I never had to use it, but, knowing what it was, I felt more secure.
If you are a woman, you should be much more careful (and prepared). Once I rode with two girls (and two pit bulls) who hitchhiked a lot and jumped on the train. They were pretty hardcore (at least for white suburban me) girls with lots of tats and heavy metal taste. This is what they packed for security.
Before you start a pit bull
-Knife
-mace (pepper spray)
- a teddy bear with a brick sewn into the head
After engaging the pit bull (both dogs were very cute and friendly)
-Knife
-mace (pepper spray)
a pitbull
I also suggest having a cell phone (even just a cheap 7/11 charge as you go alone), so you can call 911 if something happens.
Camping:
-Hitchhiking offers an excellent opportunity for free accommodation. Make sure you pack a sleeping bag and a small tent, tarp or tusk,
- If you are driving through the countryside / desert, there are many great places to sleep at night. Get off the road a bit and into the bush. Empty the area, and if it looks safe, then set up a camp for the night. This will allow you to quickly start hitchhiking the next morning.
“If you're in the city, check out the local public parks.” If you can cope with being a little hobo, then go. Make sure your discrete and yours are in an area where help can be called (shouting) if you need it. I rocked a lot of free nights in the parks everywhere.
- In addition, the people who let you down will offer you a place to collapse overnight. It’s up to you to decide whether to accept it or not. You sat in the car and talked to them so that you could decide whether it was safe or not.
“If someone you are traveling with just stops at night before continuing in the morning, you can always find a place where you can go to your tent and meet them again in the morning to continue your journey.
More information:
If you are looking for more information about hitchhiking, check out the hatchbooks. This is a community based website with lots of information.
For an entertaining book on hitchhiking, check out Round Ireland with a Refrigerator.
Summary :
All right, all I got is now.
So go there and try.
Be careful, have fun and do not forget to smile!
If you have any comments, questions, suggestions or more tips and tricks, please leave them in the comments!
Oh, and do not hesitate to share your message using the links below!
Hooray,
Mitchell
