hitchhiking advice?

[FunkyHiFi]

Was interested in advice about hitchhiking from anyone who's done it. Interesting stories are good too. :)

Without going into the grisly details, due to the need to move out of my present living situation in the next couple months, I need to travel to another city(s) to check out employment opportunities.

Thanks for any thoughts on this.

[DIGI]

Sure. Don't do it. We aren't in the 60's anymore. Unless you want your head to end up as some nutcase's jock strap.

[TAL]

Towel

[b i o n i c]

whatever you do, don't get in any vans driven by teddy bears (y)

[JoLovesMCA]

I say don't do it. Is there any other way for you? Maybe I watch the news too much but I guess that's a good thing because I am super extra careful when I go out. There are more and more stories of missing people.

I live in Houston and there was this guy hitchhiking.. He looked miserable from the hot Texas heat and had his hand out but I passed him and I hate not being able to help somebody but you just can't trust anybody in the world we live in now.

[kaiser soze]

a few simple tips

1) Do it - hiking is great exercise for the mind and body
2) Get to know how a compass works and how to read maps
3) Start with popular more traveled trails (usually better groomed and safer for beginners)
4) Beware of critters especially ticks!
5) Beware of poisonous plants especially ivy!
6) Dress appropriately, sandals are not for hiking - dark clothing generates excess heat
6) Take a light bag, with a healthy energizing snack and water
7) Take a camera and binoculars
8) Bug spray, sunscreen and ointment come in handy
9) Go with a friend or few

there's some great hiking advice

for hitchhiking advice

1) Don't Do it!

[Splashleigh]

have you checked out the human centipede thread? a timely warning about asking crazy strangers for help. don't do it!!

[FunkyHiFi]

Thanks everyone for your advice.

Yea I know it's not the safest thing to do, but one thing on my side is that over the years I've had several people ask if I was a police officer (I'm not) even though I wasn't wearing anything close to resembling a uniform, so that could help keep some of the more nutty types away from me. :)

Is there any other way for you?Nope. My own car crapped out four years ago.
We aren't in the 60's anymore.I won't lie: I will admit that Jack Kerouac was in the back of my mind when I first thought of this (I never read his book though).

Where I am now I'm pretty much just.....existing....because I've been unemployed for 3+ years so I need to leave & look elsewhere for a job and to preserve my own sanity! Not to mention I have never liked this city since moving here.* But both degrees I have now are useless (think "globalization" and "politicizing something that should never be politicized"). And as far as minimum wage jobs, the only offers for interviews came from businesses that didn't use those strange online personality tests or whatever they're called. Even the large retailers I worked for successfully in years past won't call (they all use online tests) and this was happening before the current economic meltdown.

And if I do find some kind of crap job here just to pay the bills, I am afraid I'll be one of those people stuck in a place they hate, regretting they didn't take that chance to leave when they were still healthy - and stupid :o - enough to do so.

The feeling-sorry-for-myself section: I like this 70s folksy rock track a lot (for first time listners, the 2nd half is a lot happier! :)) but lately have a hard time watching the video someone made for it - you'll see why if you watch it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzA9ii4KWjo).


* the music scene is pretty lame and I'm an outdoors type of person (no hunting though) and all that's here is concrete, strip malls and ugly clay-encrusted flat land.

[cosmo105]

most sane people don't pick up hitchhikers, and most sane people don't hitchhike. seriously, don't do it.

[FunkyHiFi]

most sane people don't pick up hitchhikers, and most sane people don't hitchhike. seriously, don't do it.I guess things are different nowadays. I'll take y'alls word for it.

But yea, reading the posts here is causing certain news stories to float up from my subconcious and they aren't too encouraging. And I just watched the human centipede trailer Splashleigh mentioned. :eek:

[JoLovesMCA]

Yeah and today my neighborhood was on Nancy Grace. A girl went missing in broad daylight just across the street from me. There is a big search for her right now. This type of thing is so common. It's so unfortunate these days we aren't safe anywhere. (n)

[Adam]

Towel

Happy towel day everyone!

[trailerprincess]

There must be some kind of car share scheme or something similar you can sign up to online? What about posting an ad and offering to chip in with the fuel costs for anyone travelling in your direction? Should help with costs and means you get to probably check out who you'll be travelling with before you get into some kerazy dudes car.

[jabumbo]

got a bicycle?

[FunkyHiFi]

There must be some kind of car share scheme or something similar you can sign up to online? What about posting an ad and offering to chip in with the fuel costs for anyone travelling in your direction? Should help with costs and means you get to probably check out who you'll be travelling with before you get into some kerazy dudes car.I'll look into this, thanks.

got a bicycle?That thought did very briefly flit through my mind :D but it's getting really hot now: Texas' "hot" is NASTY because it's not the dry heat most other states have. And anyway my mountain bike has a busted derailleur & it's rusty from salt spray at the beach (my fault, too many jack and cokes!).

Towel Day eh? Well down here that's a handy item to carry with you when outside for any length of time right now!

[hpdrifter]

I think it's actually a fairly common way to get around in other parts of the world. People make a few extra bucks taxiing people around.

But it really isn't common in the States and is pretty dangerous. I think cosmo's right, I don't think most average people would be inclined to pick up a hitchhiker.

[Dorothy Wood]

don't hitchhike. use this: http://houston.craigslist.org/rid/

[HEIRESS]

I've ride-shared via craigslist many a time.

Actually my fiance has pimped out his own extra car seats on trips from Montreal, Canada to NY City numerous times as well, no bad experiences yet...

[funk63]

Try not being a sketchy weirdo. Also start thinking of some stories that will garner sympathy like your aunt has cancer and you need to get to that town or something. Start by crying and asking to use a phone, most people won't mind, then sort of work your way to asking for a ride. Act sad and destitute, make it so that the weight on their conscious would keep them up at night if not for giving you a ride. Oh yeah talk about god alot say things like "I just knew god was looking out for me today" etc etc.

[yeahwho]

Be sure and tell 'em Large Marge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RryZV8NK9-Q) sent ya.

[FunkyHiFi]

The closest I've gotten to ride-sharing was reading a bulletin at college in the 80s and getting rides with two different people. But I figured that was so much like hitchhiking as far as the "mystery person" aspect, I didn't seriously consider it a viable option right now. Guess I'll have to re-consider it again!

"Sketchy weirdo" - so that means I shouldn't tell them I'm a fan of MST3K (Gumby in "Robot Rumpus") (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M4_XZ3FLHw)? :o: "Isn't that the show with those robot things talking through the movie? I hate that show." :D

Large Marge? :) You know I really ought to rent that movie - I've never seen it but so many of my buddies have and there are so many cultural references to it that I feel I'm missing out!

[FunkyHiFi]

Just skimmed quickly through those CL listings and have already seen a bunch of people going where I want to go. :eek: Even I can afford twenty bucks for gas. I've really been out of the loop with this stuff!

[trailerprincess]

I should charge for my brilliant suggestions.

But don't blame me if they still end up being killer weirdos.

[FunkyHiFi]

^ I'll just think positive and believe they'll be a former Boy or Girl Scout, provide brilliantly witty and intelligent conversation, buy me a steak fajita dinner on the way to our destination and own a comfy Cadillac Deville w/great sound system to stretch out in. :)

[Adam]

I've thought about joining the couch surfing website before but this thread has made me. Its free to join - good. They want a minimum donation of about $22 to be verified - oh.

I might start of blog weirdos I invite into my home. I don't actually have a couch yet however.

[Burnout18]

The time for hitch-hiking has come and gone.

RIP hitch-hiking

[checkyourprez]

just be ready to blow a lot of dick and you'll get to where you want in no time.

[hpdrifter]

I could see checking out craigslist. That's probably slightly safer than standing on the side of the road with your thumb out.

It can probably work out well, I've never tried it. I used to feel pretty good about using craigslist until the home invasion round these parts recently where a family lost their husband/father. I mean, I guess it's not really advisable to try to sell a diamond ring for $1000 on craigslist and invite people to your home to purchase it but still.

[FunkyHiFi]

Well y'all succeeded in scaring the crap out of me, so any form of riding-with-a-stranger is out.

Maybe I could do what that MC 900Ft Jesus guy did on that episode of Beavis/Butthead.....nah. ;)

Need to check bus ticket prices now. Other than a backed-up toilet those seem pretty safe....just hope Keanu Reeves doesn't ride the same bus I'm on!

[Adam]

sleep well (http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/470342)

I think you can find horror stories for any mode of transport is just that hitch hiking is the most dangerous but you no doubt find 1000s of peeps (if you looked) that have done it successfully. I wouldn't and I don't think many others would here.

Trains are the best mode of transport though, you get to see so much of the country and when I was in the states I regretted not getting an amtrak tourist ticket and spending time on them, travelling overland (ie not by air) is the best and even better that trains avoid the roads - you get to see what you wouldn't see using car or coach.