Another inspiring installment, Nico. One slight disagreement. You write that the driver and thumber's only connection is that they are crossing paths. Actually, the connection is that each is risk taker, at least at that moment. Each is willing to take that chance on that stranger in such a confined, intimate way. It doesn't necessarily define a risk taker, though. There are others who take great risks who would never hitch or give a ride. It's just a common thread of those who do.
Thanks for this. It reminded me of my hitchhiking days as a college student back in the 70's. I'm afraid if I stuck my thumb out now my family would put me in an institution, but I may just risk it to enjoy the freedom of the open road.
Hey Nico, I absolutely love your work! I would suggest you are not a writer, you are an acute human observer who translates what you see into mental images. Very well indeed.
It's not often you see the phrase "sorry I've just farted" in conventional travelogues - but you managed it, as part of a wonderfully engaging mini-story. Top work - I am forwarding it to all my friends ...
As an urban wanderer, I relate to so much of what you write here. It’s such a joy and adventure to set out into the world and open yourself up to the serendipity of chance encounters. The world would surely be a better place if we all spent more time doing this.
I came into the comments to suggest, in a tiresomely strident and self-important kind of way, that you absolutely should be writing a book about all this, but of course you beat me to it because I'm an idiot and you know exactly what you're doing. So I will amend my comment to this: I'm delighted to hear it. Also, if you turn it into the next "Microadventures", I think you'll do well: https://alastairhumphreys.com/blog/microadventures/
I second the Al-Jazeera columnist. Real education begins when you leave the institution.
"Perhaps most powerful of all, though, is its ability to open you up to strangers."
Love this. I just wrote a piece that connects hitchhiking and Substack culture as it relates to philoxenia.
It's about an adventure I went on after finding out I was fathering boy-girl twins. Surprise!!! I took off for awhile, but came back to watch my wife's belly grow :)
Ewwww, such a very bad idea in this day and age…the ever-increasing amount of stranger abductions, kidnappings, rapes and murder of strangers…and even more disturbing, the increasing amount of cases of dismemberment…There are literally 100s of video police interrogations at Youtube of humans who have trapped, raped, murdered and dismembered strangers in the past 5 years — admittedly, very few have been hitch-hiking related, but that’s because most people have the sense to avoid taking the risk.
Another inspiring installment, Nico. One slight disagreement. You write that the driver and thumber's only connection is that they are crossing paths. Actually, the connection is that each is risk taker, at least at that moment. Each is willing to take that chance on that stranger in such a confined, intimate way. It doesn't necessarily define a risk taker, though. There are others who take great risks who would never hitch or give a ride. It's just a common thread of those who do.
Down the road... Mark
Thanks Mark, you a very good point too
Thanks for this. It reminded me of my hitchhiking days as a college student back in the 70's. I'm afraid if I stuck my thumb out now my family would put me in an institution, but I may just risk it to enjoy the freedom of the open road.
Ah you never know, maybe your family would get involved too!
Hey Nico, I absolutely love your work! I would suggest you are not a writer, you are an acute human observer who translates what you see into mental images. Very well indeed.
It's not often you see the phrase "sorry I've just farted" in conventional travelogues - but you managed it, as part of a wonderfully engaging mini-story. Top work - I am forwarding it to all my friends ...
Hi Jeremy, thank you very much for the kind comment! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it :)
As an urban wanderer, I relate to so much of what you write here. It’s such a joy and adventure to set out into the world and open yourself up to the serendipity of chance encounters. The world would surely be a better place if we all spent more time doing this.
Thank you Caroline!
I came into the comments to suggest, in a tiresomely strident and self-important kind of way, that you absolutely should be writing a book about all this, but of course you beat me to it because I'm an idiot and you know exactly what you're doing. So I will amend my comment to this: I'm delighted to hear it. Also, if you turn it into the next "Microadventures", I think you'll do well: https://alastairhumphreys.com/blog/microadventures/
Thanks Mike and thanks for the support! I’ll certainly check out Microadventures that looks brilliant. All the best!
Well put: "It is like a drug, but more long lasting". For a related take on hitching, see this.
https://danwake.substack.com/p/what-if-st-peter-was-a-hitchhiker
Thanks Dan and great piece - thanks for sharing
I second the Al-Jazeera columnist. Real education begins when you leave the institution.
"Perhaps most powerful of all, though, is its ability to open you up to strangers."
Love this. I just wrote a piece that connects hitchhiking and Substack culture as it relates to philoxenia.
It's about an adventure I went on after finding out I was fathering boy-girl twins. Surprise!!! I took off for awhile, but came back to watch my wife's belly grow :)
I hope it gives you a smile.
https://open.substack.com/pub/darby687/p/my-first-hitchhike-true-story
Ewwww, such a very bad idea in this day and age…the ever-increasing amount of stranger abductions, kidnappings, rapes and murder of strangers…and even more disturbing, the increasing amount of cases of dismemberment…There are literally 100s of video police interrogations at Youtube of humans who have trapped, raped, murdered and dismembered strangers in the past 5 years — admittedly, very few have been hitch-hiking related, but that’s because most people have the sense to avoid taking the risk.