Today, everyone knows what a hitchhiking is. It’s a specific kind of travel when you get to the place you need on a car without paying anything. This way of traveling is mainly for people, who are prone to adventures. In addition, hitchhiking helps avoid road expenses, meet new people, listen to interesting stories, and gain new experience. If you and your loved one decided to try something fresh, we’ll tell you how to hitchhike.
A guide to hitchhiking
Most people are scared of hitchhiking. They hide behind dozens of excuses: it’s scary, dangerous, unreliable, uncomfortable, and so on. In fact, it’s very easy. Therefore, cast away doubts and fears, and begin planning a journey. So, where do you start?
First, determine the route. This is the most crucial stage since a properly planned trip is the key to its successful completion. Look at what roads you’ll be passing along the way; which ones are large and which are small. If you’re traveling across Europe, take autobahns into account, since it’s forbidden to stop cars on them. So is it legal to hitchhike, then? Yes, but each country has certain restrictions, and you should familiarize yourself with them before going on a trip. Count the distance to plan how many miles you’ll be traveling every day. Remember that the shortest route isn’t always the fastest. Bad roads and weak traffic will make get you stuck in one place for several hours. While on the bigger road, you can catch a car in minutes.
Hitchhiking is total improvisation. It doesn’t always work out the way you planned. But having spent time studying the road, you can re-plan the route and easily navigate it in any unforeseen situation.
What to take with you
Once the route is planned, and the roads are studied, think about what to take with you on the road. You should take as little as possible! It’s better if all your stuff fits in a small backpack. Firstly, you’ll have to carry everything on yourself, and secondly, not all drivers pick up travelers with huge bags. Here’s a list of what you need to take with you:
– Documents and money;
– A first aid kit (bandage, hydrogen peroxide, aspirin, antibiotics, and, of course, some diarrhea pills);
– Soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, that kind of thing;
– Water and non-perishable products (chocolate, dried fruits, nuts, biscuits);
– A flashlight;
– A map;
– A raincoat.
If you’re going on a long trip with camping, add a sleeping bag, tent, and something soft (in case of unexpected hitchhike sex), matches or a gas burner, utensils, long-term storage products (porridges, vermicelli, canned goods).
Where to catch the car and how to hitchhike safely?
Catching a car is really easy. A stretched hand with a thumb up and a smile on your face are all you need. Seeing such travelers on the roadside, drivers see that they’re hitchhiking. It’s better to catch a car outside the city and not to hitchhike near police posts.
Often, there are some obstacles on the roads that make drivers slow down: police stations, difficult sections of the road, intersections, railway crossings, etc. It’s best to stop the car next to them. Drivers will slow down, and you’ll have more chances that at least one of them picks you up.
When the car finally stops, ask the driver where they’re heading to. If you’re going in one direction, specify if the driver is ready to give you a ride for free. If the answer’s positive, and the driver doesn’t arouse suspicions, you’re free to go. If, for some reason, you don’t like the driver or the company in the car, politely apologize and say that you’re heading to another city.
Is it safe to hitchhike? Pretty much, especially if you’re traveling together with your partner. The main thing here is to listen to your sixth sense. Looking for a fellow adventurer? Check out gorgeous Russian meetwives online.
