Almost three months since I started this, first update.
Hitchhiking. I have traveled a few thousand miles riding with strangers now. It hasn't yet lost its novelty, in fact- I highly recommend it. I've rode packed in an car with more people than seats, in a hippie van, 18wheelers, RVs, the bed of a pickup, police cars, and my favorite- an ambulance. With a couple exceptions, it has been easy to get people to stop. And the people! That is why hitchhiking is my favorite mode of transportation. I've heard tons of interesting stories from tons of interesting characters. Despite what many people think and will tell you, the roads aren't exclusively traveled by rapists/murderers/thieves/crazies.
Couple of the most memorable:
I was walking along a busy four lane looking for the next gas station or intersection, not expecting anyone to stop because everyone was already traveling full speed. After what felt like 30 minutes walking down the road, a big white 'stalker-looking' van in the far lane swerves across all the lanes of traffic and stops on the shoulder. I ran up to the shady looking van, and scoped out the situation. It was a van full of guys from South America, they had just finished their construction job for the week and were on their way home, about 2 hours in the direction I was heading. So, I hopped in the back and we talked as best we could between their broken English and my nonexistent Spanish. When they stopped at a gas station, they came out with lots potato chips and beer and insisted I have some cervezas! After several beers and many miles, I ended up partying with two of the guys that lived together and sleeping on their couch that night.
While going from the New Jersey coast across to Pennsylvania, I somehow ended up going the wrong way and ended up just south of New York and all of that. So heading in the right direction again, hundreds of miles of course, and in the dark now, it didn't take long before the police stopped and questioned me. He turned out to be cool though, after the officer determined 'I wasn't an asshole' he gave me a ride almost an hour down the road cruising at 100mph. Before we went our separate ways, he even told me where the state cops would be and how to avoid them.
Just outside of Philadelphia, I was having trouble getting someone to stop going into downtown. Two tiny Asian women picked me up. They ended up showing me Chinatown, good places to eat, gave me ideas on what to do in the city, and went out of their way to take me where I was heading downtown. Too nice.
Couple of intense rides- a guy picked me up at EIGHT IN THE MORNING one day, and after a couple miles took a pint of whiskey out from under his seat and took a few big swigs. He said he was a 'functioning alcoholic' and on his way to work. He finished the bottle before we got off the interstate like 40 miles later.
I also had a ride with a guy who was more than a little passionate about politics. After he basically said he would kill all the dirty liberals and was preparing for some sort of marshal law situation by buying a stockpile of ammo- I joined him in the rant and 'agreed' with everything he said until we came across the first spot I could get out.
Setting up a home base in Louisiana now, where I can make easier trips West or wherever I want to go while getting everything ready for the journey out of the country.
“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.”
