[LadyShallott]

*Just For Fun Ping*


I know that we had lots of fun on the (should be dead if you are over 30)thread when we looked back on our days of childhood. Have any stories?

[funkywbr]

I hitchhiked about 26K miles during my teens (30 years or more ago). Only been tried to be killed once. Otherwise did it all basically pennyless and was helped out by freaks, hippies, fairies, police, preachers, preppies, truckers, bikers, blacks, whites and drunk driving Grannies.

Those were the days!~}

[annyokie]

I hitchhiked all the time in the early '70's since I didn't have a car (Duh!)

When I look back, I am amazed that I wasn't raped or killed since I was aged 15-17 and looked like Anna Kournikova and dressed like Britney Spears.

The only bad experience I had was an old man in a Cadillac chastising me for wearing too much perfume (Foo-foo juice were his words) and then handing me $10 and telling me to take a cab home and popping me on the top of the head.

[WL-law]

I had many adventures, mostly good and all memorable. I typically started my long cross-country hitchs from the same originating spot -- about 200 yards west of the Harvard Square (Cambridge MA) subway stop, where Mass Ave becomes 2-way traffic. Waiting for my first ride, wondering whether my 'karma' would be good this time -- those were the days.

Had a friend who spent the summer in Alaska, and set out to hitch back to UMASS Amherst. The first car that stopped was heading ALL THE WAY to Amherst -- he made the entire passage in one ride. Amazing.

I, on the other hand, had the experience of hitching eastbound from Chicago and travelling the entire way (between rides and hitching time) under a tremendous rainstorm, as my hitching speed matched EXACTLY the eastward progress of the storm. I was drenched, continuously, for days.

[sinclair]

I have hitchhiked in every state of the union including Alaska and Hawaii and a few countries also. This was due to the fact that for 6 years I was a Merchant Seaman and whenever we put into a port I was interested in I'd draw pay and head out to someplace, anyplace. It was a really interesting way to travel in the late 1960's and early 1970's. I actually spent more time hitching than sailing. Longest single trip was from Boston to L. A. via Montana.

Most interesting person that ever picked me up was a "Carney" with a harelip and a big bag of pot. I probably laughed solid from St. Louis, MO to Hot Springs, AR. He told every harelip joke there ever was and he was doin' it natural, just like they sang on the Dr. Hook "Sloppy Seconds" 8 track he played over and over all the way.

I bet there's a book in there someplace if I'd just sit down and write it.

[2111USMC]

Back when I used to drive a desk for a living, I once picked up a hitchhiker after work in Davenport, Iowa. I told him that I was only going to Bettendorf (this represents only about a 5 mile stretch.) He immediately started acting strangely. I think he may have been on PCP.

To make a short story, I dropped him off at one of the bridges that connects the Iowa side of the Quad Cities to the Illinois side.

About 2-3 days latter, his picture was on the front page of the local newspaper. He had stabbed his ex-girlfriend in a local Illinois city with a knife more than 30 times.

I don't pick up hitchhikers anymore after that.