Hitchhiking experience.

I always picked up hitchhikers and I have never encountered a problem. Always had some great conversations. Now though, I will be more cautious as who I pick up, mainly because the world is becoming more dangerous so more caution is needed. I have rarely hitchhiked myself as I have always had an automobile, so never needed to.

Sadly it can sometimes be dangerous to hitchhike these days. When I was traveling in Australia when I was 20 to 21 years old there was a backpacker murderer. That made me too scared to go hitchhiking. Twice in my life I have hitchhiked. One time I arrived on a tropical island in French Polynesia. I missed the local bus and would have otherwise had to spend all day at the port. With two English guys I hitchhiked. We rode in the back of a truck. I was wearing sun cream but one of the guys wasn't. We got much sun on the way to the campsite. The other time I was camping on an island in Croatia. I began walking to the national park but it turned out to be much further than the guide book said so. I hitchhiked back from there in a car with four friendly people that were from Hungary. Hitchhiking can be an enjoyable experience but it could turn out to be a dangerous ride.

Like petersum, I hitchhiked everywhere in the 70s. I could write a book about some of rides I caught! Although most of the rides were friendly and inconsequential, I did have a few bad experiences/close calls. Jeez, I'm probably lucky to be alive.

Yes, I used to hitchhike everywhere when I was young. Had to because I didn't have a job or money. A 400 mile trip was nothing then. I got skilled in knowing the times and routes of several trucking companies. But that was back in the seventies! When I got my own cars, I gave a lift to everyone. I gave them a few meals as well because I remembered how hungry I was at times. I don't know what it is like to hitchhike these days. I don't see many hikers on the roads here.