I began hitchhiking about seven years ago, mostly due to living in a public transport dry-spot and being too lazy to walk 3km to the train station.Since then, I have hitchhiked all over the world, from the flat plains of Belgium to the steamy jungles of East Timor, with crazy characters ranging from a Byron Bay diamond smuggler to a Nepalese sari salesman. In that time I’ve learned a thing or two, which I would like to share with you here:
1. Visit hitchwiki.org before leaving the house for a comprehensive list of the best places to hitch from in each city, local laws and safety advice.
2. Pack light and keep all your belongings where you can reach them, in case you need to make a quick exit.
3. Know the law. In Australia, laws regarding hitchhiking differ from state to state.
4. Avoid entrance/ exit ramps on freeways, bridges, and other areas that are difficult or dangerous to stop in.
5. Service stations and truck stops are a great place to get a ride, as you can talk to people and build a rapport with them (it also makes it easier to weed out the psychos).
6. Tell people where you’re going. You can even send them the registration number of the vehicle if you like. Remember, if your gut feeling tells you it’s not right, don’t get in.
7. Offer to chip in for petrol. Most people will say it’s not necessary, but it’s polite.
8. Hitchhiking in pairs is a good idea, but any more than two is restrictive because you can’t fit in a truck cabin.
9. Bring peanut butter. There is no food known to man that isn’t enhanced by a healthy swathe of peanut butter.
10. Have fun! Talk to the people that pick you up, see pointless landmarks, do crazy things. Remember dude, it’s the journey, not the destination…
