Would you pick up a hitchhiker?
Discussion
As I was joining the M6 earlier, two cheerful looking twenty-something girls were standing on the slip road holding a cardboard sign saying ‘North/Glasgow’.
Made me wonder who picks up hitchhikers these days, and also made me think that with the exception of a few trade-plate drivers, you don’t see that many hitchhikers anymore.
Do any of you pick up hitchhikers?
Because I’m sure someone will ask:
I didn’t stop for them because:
a) I’m antisocial and just like to travel on my own listening to Jazz, LBC and Radio 4.
b) They looked hippy-ish and therefore probably smelled funny.
c) I didn’t have any duck tape or cable ties.
Made me wonder who picks up hitchhikers these days, and also made me think that with the exception of a few trade-plate drivers, you don’t see that many hitchhikers anymore.
Do any of you pick up hitchhikers?
Because I’m sure someone will ask:
I didn’t stop for them because:
a) I’m antisocial and just like to travel on my own listening to Jazz, LBC and Radio 4.
b) They looked hippy-ish and therefore probably smelled funny.
c) I didn’t have any duck tape or cable ties.
Lord Marylebone said:
As I was joining the M6 earlier, two cheerful looking twenty-something girls were standing on the slip road holding a cardboard sign saying ‘North/Glasgow’.
Made me wonder who picks up hitchhikers these days, and also made me think that with the exception of a few trade-plate drivers, you don’t see that many hitchhikers anymore.
Do any of you pick up hitchhikers?
Because I’m sure someone will ask:
I didn’t stop for them because:
a) I’m antisocial and just like to travel on my own listening to Jazz, LBC and Radio 4.
b) They looked hippy-ish and therefore probably smelled funny.
c) I didn’t have any duck tape or cable ties.
... ah the old gypsy trick... I bet they were tied together... Made me wonder who picks up hitchhikers these days, and also made me think that with the exception of a few trade-plate drivers, you don’t see that many hitchhikers anymore.
Do any of you pick up hitchhikers?
Because I’m sure someone will ask:
I didn’t stop for them because:
a) I’m antisocial and just like to travel on my own listening to Jazz, LBC and Radio 4.
b) They looked hippy-ish and therefore probably smelled funny.
c) I didn’t have any duck tape or cable ties.
No. Never.
However, there is a guy I see every day as I drive out of my business park - he's striding out making good time in all weathers, but I know he's going in the same direction as me and it's the most tedious walk imaginable for him to get to wherever he's going - or anything of interest actually.
I could save him 15-20 minutes of his life every night, but it seems a bit weird to pull up and offer out of the blue. I've dreamt up some kind of code where I give a distinctive toot if I'm ready and willing - but this just seems weirder and weirder!
However, there is a guy I see every day as I drive out of my business park - he's striding out making good time in all weathers, but I know he's going in the same direction as me and it's the most tedious walk imaginable for him to get to wherever he's going - or anything of interest actually.
I could save him 15-20 minutes of his life every night, but it seems a bit weird to pull up and offer out of the blue. I've dreamt up some kind of code where I give a distinctive toot if I'm ready and willing - but this just seems weirder and weirder!
The only time I ever picked up a hitch hiker was when doing a regular Reading to Exeter jaunt to see my girlfriend. I did it most weekends. I picked up a relatively smart looking chap just before I got onto the M4. He was going to Bristol, but it's not that far out of the way to drop off the M4 and I was feeling pretty tired so the company would keep me awake.
He chucked the most enormous bag on the back seat, and hopped in the front with me. We got chatting, and he seemed very polite, well spoken, etc. I think we talked about the weather or whatever was current in the news at the time, before I ad to ask him what was in the massive bag.
"None of your f
king business" he replied, quite angrily.
He then went straight back to his normal polite self. It was almost like a switch was flicked. It was a bit unnerving. I was a bit worried about having him in the car with me, so just before Newbury, I asked again.
"None of your fking business" he replied again. Exactly the same, no change to the way he said it the first time.
I fumbled some kind of excuse and came off at Newbury, and left him at the service area there. He didn't seem to mind, thanked me for the lift this far, and that was it. Such an odd experience. The strangest thing was that I didn't realise until I got to Exeter that he had left the bag on the back seat.
He chucked the most enormous bag on the back seat, and hopped in the front with me. We got chatting, and he seemed very polite, well spoken, etc. I think we talked about the weather or whatever was current in the news at the time, before I ad to ask him what was in the massive bag.
"None of your f
king business" he replied, quite angrily.He then went straight back to his normal polite self. It was almost like a switch was flicked. It was a bit unnerving. I was a bit worried about having him in the car with me, so just before Newbury, I asked again.
"None of your f
king business" he replied again. Exactly the same, no change to the way he said it the first time.I fumbled some kind of excuse and came off at Newbury, and left him at the service area there. He didn't seem to mind, thanked me for the lift this far, and that was it. Such an odd experience. The strangest thing was that I didn't realise until I got to Exeter that he had left the bag on the back seat.
louiebaby said:
The only time I ever picked up a hitch hiker was when doing a regular Reading to Exeter jaunt to see my girlfriend. I did it most weekends. I picked up a relatively smart looking chap just before I got onto the M4. He was going to Bristol, but it's not that far out of the way to drop off the M4 and I was feeling pretty tired so the company would keep me awake.
He chucked the most enormous bag on the back seat, and hopped in the front with me. We got chatting, and he seemed very polite, well spoken, etc. I think we talked about the weather or whatever was current in the news at the time, before I ad to ask him what was in the massive bag.
"None of your fking business" he replied, quite angrily.
He then went straight back to his normal polite self. It was almost like a switch was flicked. It was a bit unnerving. I was a bit worried about having him in the car with me, so just before Newbury, I asked again.
"None of your fking business" he replied again. Exactly the same, no change to the way he said it the first time.
I fumbled some kind of excuse and came off at Newbury, and left him at the service area there. He didn't seem to mind, thanked me for the lift this far, and that was it. Such an odd experience. The strangest thing was that I didn't realise until I got to Exeter that he had left the bag on the back seat.
I think I know what the reply will be when u ask what was in the bag then...? He chucked the most enormous bag on the back seat, and hopped in the front with me. We got chatting, and he seemed very polite, well spoken, etc. I think we talked about the weather or whatever was current in the news at the time, before I ad to ask him what was in the massive bag.
"None of your f
king business" he replied, quite angrily.He then went straight back to his normal polite self. It was almost like a switch was flicked. It was a bit unnerving. I was a bit worried about having him in the car with me, so just before Newbury, I asked again.
"None of your f
king business" he replied again. Exactly the same, no change to the way he said it the first time.I fumbled some kind of excuse and came off at Newbury, and left him at the service area there. He didn't seem to mind, thanked me for the lift this far, and that was it. Such an odd experience. The strangest thing was that I didn't realise until I got to Exeter that he had left the bag on the back seat.
louiebaby said:
The only time I ever picked up a hitch hiker was when doing a regular Reading to Exeter jaunt to see my girlfriend. I did it most weekends. I picked up a relatively smart looking chap just before I got onto the M4. He was going to Bristol, but it's not that far out of the way to drop off the M4 and I was feeling pretty tired so the company would keep me awake.
He chucked the most enormous bag on the back seat, and hopped in the front with me. We got chatting, and he seemed very polite, well spoken, etc. I think we talked about the weather or whatever was current in the news at the time, before I ad to ask him what was in the massive bag.
"None of your fking business" he replied, quite angrily.
He then went straight back to his normal polite self. It was almost like a switch was flicked. It was a bit unnerving. I was a bit worried about having him in the car with me, so just before Newbury, I asked again.
"None of your fking business" he replied again. Exactly the same, no change to the way he said it the first time.
I fumbled some kind of excuse and came off at Newbury, and left him at the service area there. He didn't seem to mind, thanked me for the lift this far, and that was it. Such an odd experience. The strangest thing was that I didn't realise until I got to Exeter that he had left the bag on the back seat.
Yep, continue.... or are you going to abandon this thread and let it get to 30 pages, and still never tell us?He chucked the most enormous bag on the back seat, and hopped in the front with me. We got chatting, and he seemed very polite, well spoken, etc. I think we talked about the weather or whatever was current in the news at the time, before I ad to ask him what was in the massive bag.
"None of your f
king business" he replied, quite angrily.He then went straight back to his normal polite self. It was almost like a switch was flicked. It was a bit unnerving. I was a bit worried about having him in the car with me, so just before Newbury, I asked again.
"None of your f
king business" he replied again. Exactly the same, no change to the way he said it the first time.I fumbled some kind of excuse and came off at Newbury, and left him at the service area there. He didn't seem to mind, thanked me for the lift this far, and that was it. Such an odd experience. The strangest thing was that I didn't realise until I got to Exeter that he had left the bag on the back seat.
I drive to and from Italy fairly regularly and, if I'm alone and in a suitable car i.e. not a two seater packed to the gunwales with my own crap (and thus no space for a rucksack), I'll often give someone a lift.
Because hitching is cracked down on quite hard in the countries on my route, hitchers tend to make themselves known in the motorway rest areas, which gives any potential offeror a chance to assess said hitcher in slightly less rushed circumstances than a pull up on the roadside offers.
I must confess that I tend to steer clear of offering a ride to single women for fairly obvious reasons but I'll generally give a lift to any man, or couple, who do(es) not appear to be a stranger to soap, do(es)n't stink of weed and who possess(es) at least rudimentary socials.
I never, ever, give lifts across borders, again for fairly obvious reasons.
It helps keep me alert and gives me a welcome opportunity to practise my Italian, French or rudimentary German while saving some, generally, younger person a few bob on their travel.
Because hitching is cracked down on quite hard in the countries on my route, hitchers tend to make themselves known in the motorway rest areas, which gives any potential offeror a chance to assess said hitcher in slightly less rushed circumstances than a pull up on the roadside offers.
I must confess that I tend to steer clear of offering a ride to single women for fairly obvious reasons but I'll generally give a lift to any man, or couple, who do(es) not appear to be a stranger to soap, do(es)n't stink of weed and who possess(es) at least rudimentary socials.
I never, ever, give lifts across borders, again for fairly obvious reasons.
It helps keep me alert and gives me a welcome opportunity to practise my Italian, French or rudimentary German while saving some, generally, younger person a few bob on their travel.
DanielSan said:
I think I know what the reply will be when u ask what was in the bag then...?
NONE OF YOUR fkING BUSINESS!!!!!!!It's an old one, that. Done the rounds a few times.
I wouldn't pick up hitchhikers though, I prefer to be on my own in the car, and usually I'm not going to where they say on their signs. I've seen a few that hold up their trade plates with the sign too. I presume to show that they're not a murderer, and just want to save their train fare on the run home.
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