When did you last see a hitchhiker?
Discussion
Mods - not sure if this should be in general gassing or the lounge, so feel free to move if you feel it appropriate)
As per title - other than delivery drivers carrying trade plates, when did you last see a hitchhiker?
In my late teens that was pretty much how I moved around the country. And I’m not *that* old (relatively).
As per title - other than delivery drivers carrying trade plates, when did you last see a hitchhiker?
In my late teens that was pretty much how I moved around the country. And I’m not *that* old (relatively).
I do it occasionally to get back to my car at the end of a days hillwalking if my route isn't naturally circular.
Certainly here in Northern Scotland it's easy and generally someone stops pretty quickly. Having a girl with you definitely helps too haha.
I stop whenever I spot anyone too, livens up an otherwise boring journey.
Certainly here in Northern Scotland it's easy and generally someone stops pretty quickly. Having a girl with you definitely helps too haha.
I stop whenever I spot anyone too, livens up an otherwise boring journey.
Used to see loads in the1960's, not seen one for twenty years I don't think.
Final straw was when I picked a bloke up( who looked like Clint Eastwood in a cowboy movie with stubble. chewing on a matchstick,) on the M5 slip road at Cheltenham in my Triumph Spitfire in the early seventies heading North. I was coming off at Knutsford services near Manchester on the M6.....during the entire journey (Three hours) he didn't say a word...the atmosphere was frosty to say the least, despite me trying to engage him in conversation. When he got out at the services all he said was "I thought you could have taken me up to Lancaster".
Never been as relieved in my life...
Final straw was when I picked a bloke up( who looked like Clint Eastwood in a cowboy movie with stubble. chewing on a matchstick,) on the M5 slip road at Cheltenham in my Triumph Spitfire in the early seventies heading North. I was coming off at Knutsford services near Manchester on the M6.....during the entire journey (Three hours) he didn't say a word...the atmosphere was frosty to say the least, despite me trying to engage him in conversation. When he got out at the services all he said was "I thought you could have taken me up to Lancaster".
Never been as relieved in my life...
I was thinking just yesterday how you never see them anymore.
Last one I saw was the 1st September 2019, I'd just picked up a brand new car and was mincing my way home with the roof down and saw an ageing hippy sort of woman 5 minutes later coming onto the M4 at Swindon. I took her to Bristol.
Turned out she knew my parents from back in the 70s and 80s!
Last one I saw was the 1st September 2019, I'd just picked up a brand new car and was mincing my way home with the roof down and saw an ageing hippy sort of woman 5 minutes later coming onto the M4 at Swindon. I took her to Bristol.
Turned out she knew my parents from back in the 70s and 80s!
Fairly often in my suburb of Reading,
There's a bloke with some substance abuse/mental health issues who thumbs a lift (usually when steaming) out to one of the outlying villages where he is/was living rough under canvass. Apparently he prefers living out that way as he comes to no harm at night. If you drive past and don't give him a lift he usually reciprocates with flicking the V's or giving the w***er sign.
Quite how he expects to increase his chances of a lift by doing that I'm not sure, but a couple of people on the local Facebook page have said that they have done and he is "a nice chap, albeit rather pissed".
There's a bloke with some substance abuse/mental health issues who thumbs a lift (usually when steaming) out to one of the outlying villages where he is/was living rough under canvass. Apparently he prefers living out that way as he comes to no harm at night. If you drive past and don't give him a lift he usually reciprocates with flicking the V's or giving the w***er sign.
Quite how he expects to increase his chances of a lift by doing that I'm not sure, but a couple of people on the local Facebook page have said that they have done and he is "a nice chap, albeit rather pissed".
S100HP said:
richhead said:
Last time i picked up a hitch hiker, he said to me " arent you worried about picking up an axe murderer?"
I replied " I dont think the chances of having two axe murder's in one car are slim"
If you're going to post it, at least get it right!I replied " I dont think the chances of having two axe murder's in one car are slim"
I was in the Royal Navy in the 70`s and used to go home from Portsmouth or Chatham to Norwich and if i couldnt get a free rail warrant (4 per year) i used to thumb it, to Norwich and back. The trick was to wear full uniform and wait, it wouldnt take long before I would get a lift, maybe have to change half way or even do three of four stints in one journey, but sometimes i could do it quicker than the train.
Used to meet some interesting people on the journey too
Used to meet some interesting people on the journey too
parabolica said:
Pretty common in the touristy routes up in Scotland; plenty of times I've been heading towards the Cairngorms to head south to Perth/Edinburgh and you'll see quite a few backpackers walking along the side of the road with their thumb out looking for a lift.
Highlands, similar.A year or two ago I picked up a German couple. Going to a campsite, maybe another 2 miles. I took 'em all the way as it's only a stone's throw past my house. I asked them why they were hitching when so so near. The lass said "my feet are broken". I don't know if that's a literal translation of a German colloquialism or just the modest vocabulary of a tourist.
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