Love, love, love this story! And I love those encounters with strangers— people you know only briefly but sometimes deeply. I live in a van and travel solo so have opportunity for such rendezvous.
Ah, Ruth, that brought tears of memory to my eyes. I hitched so much when I was young, up and down Europe and across the UK. As you say, it brought so many great memories. I get that I'm a man, it was easier for me, but all the same, there were no mobile phones, no contact with the world, nobody knew where you were. I liked it that way, but my poor mother ... I haven't hitched for a long time, haven't had the need, but would do it without hesitation. I also have a rule to always pick up hitchhikers. The last person I picked up was a German electrician, strangely dressed, who had been doing a traditional post-apprenticeship ibt of travelling in traditional clothing. He was great, I bought him food and left him at the services. I note that here in France when the festival season starts there are young people hitching around the country - soon I'll have given my next lift. And who knows, maybe I'll hitch down south next year.
Great idea! I too hitched a lot 30 or so years ago. I went to uni in Bangor and there were very few buses, if you went to a party. Thry eoukd be out on the mountains or quarries. If you wanted to go home it was either walk or hitch. I once hitched to Portugal and back in 98 I think. France was actually fine for lifts, it was Spain where no one eoukd pick you up. In Portugal we got in invited to BBQs but it was all meat, no salad or bread and my boyfriend was vegetarian! I love how you describe the excitement of hitching and glad to hear your recent experience went well, I very rarely see people hitching now and its a shame.
Love this Ruth - what an intrepid adventurer you are! The only time I ever hitchhiked was as a student in Leeds when in my first term there was a bus strike and so lots of people were doing it. Walking along Kirkstall Road with my thumb out a lorry slowed down to pick me up but was so busy looking into his mirror at me that he ploughed into a stationary car and sent it spinning into a wall on the other side of the road!
Everyone was ok but it was a somewhat traumatic one and only event for me.
I love your courage and stories of kindness and your accompanying line drawings. Looking forward to more tales of adventures 💜
Ruth, that is so inspiring! You are quite a woman. I hardly did any hitching even as a youngster. If I needed to now, yes I would, at least locally. And I often give lifts - it feels like a privilege to offer them.
Such a great read. What amazing adventures you have had and still have. Loved reading this about you.
Love, love, love this story! And I love those encounters with strangers— people you know only briefly but sometimes deeply. I live in a van and travel solo so have opportunity for such rendezvous.
To more connections and adventures!
Love it, it’s inspired me to try again ( just don’t tell my kids ! They think I’m nuts as it is)
Gorgeous!! So inspiring. I've never hitchhiked, too scared. Love to hear that people were kind.
Ah, Ruth, that brought tears of memory to my eyes. I hitched so much when I was young, up and down Europe and across the UK. As you say, it brought so many great memories. I get that I'm a man, it was easier for me, but all the same, there were no mobile phones, no contact with the world, nobody knew where you were. I liked it that way, but my poor mother ... I haven't hitched for a long time, haven't had the need, but would do it without hesitation. I also have a rule to always pick up hitchhikers. The last person I picked up was a German electrician, strangely dressed, who had been doing a traditional post-apprenticeship ibt of travelling in traditional clothing. He was great, I bought him food and left him at the services. I note that here in France when the festival season starts there are young people hitching around the country - soon I'll have given my next lift. And who knows, maybe I'll hitch down south next year.
Great idea! I too hitched a lot 30 or so years ago. I went to uni in Bangor and there were very few buses, if you went to a party. Thry eoukd be out on the mountains or quarries. If you wanted to go home it was either walk or hitch. I once hitched to Portugal and back in 98 I think. France was actually fine for lifts, it was Spain where no one eoukd pick you up. In Portugal we got in invited to BBQs but it was all meat, no salad or bread and my boyfriend was vegetarian! I love how you describe the excitement of hitching and glad to hear your recent experience went well, I very rarely see people hitching now and its a shame.
Love this Ruth - what an intrepid adventurer you are! The only time I ever hitchhiked was as a student in Leeds when in my first term there was a bus strike and so lots of people were doing it. Walking along Kirkstall Road with my thumb out a lorry slowed down to pick me up but was so busy looking into his mirror at me that he ploughed into a stationary car and sent it spinning into a wall on the other side of the road!
Everyone was ok but it was a somewhat traumatic one and only event for me.
I love your courage and stories of kindness and your accompanying line drawings. Looking forward to more tales of adventures 💜
Ruth, that is so inspiring! You are quite a woman. I hardly did any hitching even as a youngster. If I needed to now, yes I would, at least locally. And I often give lifts - it feels like a privilege to offer them.
What a joyful piece on courage, chance and kindness. Keep sticking that thumb out!