Hitchhiking Down-Under

By mikeszymanski On January 7, 2007 · 11 Comments

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How can you spend $5 on a weekend trip to Fraser Island, $45 on a weeklong trip to Cairns and make 20 new friends in the process? HITCHHIKE!

I know what most of you are thinking and even my ears ring with the words of my mother. “Hitchhiking equals a torturous death.” My original understanding of hitchhiking has evolved from a “free ride to the grave” to something quite different as a result of experiences and a sort of ideological reconciliation.

It all started when I arrived in Sydney on my first trip to Australia. I needed to get to Bond University in Gold Coast, AU and with no bus, train or plane reservations; I decided my thumb could be a plausible option.

Walking thought the brightly-lit airport terminal I asked some bloke to borrow his Sharpie marker, got down on the ground and began to scroll ‘BRISBANE / GOLD COAST’ on a piece of cardboard I managed to scrounge. With a tinge of pessimism he said, “Good luck mate,” as he chuckled and walked off. I was a bit put-off but reckoned, “I already have a sign, Why not?”

I caught a train to the edge of Sydney and the journey began. There I stood on the side of the road, sign shaking and a nervous smile plastered on my face. After standing there about 20 minutes I began putting this trip into perspective.

It was like trying to hitch from my hometown of Milwaukee to the Rockies of Colorado. Right then it hit me . . . that person would never make it to Colorado. With my moral down, moments from giving up to find a bus or train; I heard a beeping up the road. In a wary, ecstatic rush I scooped up my backpack and ran towards the car. As I approached – to my amazement – I didn’t see a toothless bumpkin, but rather an attractive 25 year old woman opening up the boot. (I found out later that Vanessa was a bridal wear model.)

“Where are you headed?” I was able to sputter out between gasps to catch my breath. With a smile she said, “It’s your lucky day: Gold Coast.” In the car was another beautiful young woman, rather than the macho boyfriend I had expected. And so it was . . . my lucky day.

Up to the Gold Coast we headed, the three of us. Twelve hours later we arrived to the Gold Cost at around 11:30 pm and Vanessa enquired, did I have a place to stay?

“Sure, I’m just headed to Bond University.” However, stating that it was a ridiculous time to check into a new place, she said, “I have plenty of room at my apartment.” But not wanting to impose, especially after I had already gotten a ride up the coast, I said, I would be fine. However, she just wouldn’t have it . . . so reluctantly I accepted.

The next morning I was greeted to a breakfast of bacon, eggs, freshly squeezed orange juice and even a piece of home-made banana bread. HITCHHIKING . . . I was hooked.

Since that first ride I have hitched over 6,000 miles with over 100 different people. Hitching is a great way to meet friendly individuals who are able to empathize with a person standing on the side of the road. This sort of compassion often stems from the person having been in a similar spot themselves. It is precisely this process that results in the good, kind, friendly and genuine nature that I have experienced with most individuals that I have been picked up by.

The sieve of hitchhiking allows you to meet a certain kind of person. Now keep in mind the diversity of people who pick up hitchhikers is as varied as the vehicles they drive. Hippies, truck drivers, old, young, travelers, locals, women, men, grandmothers, women with children, Europeans, Americans, Asians, single women, those in love, those with hearts broken, friendly, lonely, quiet, talkative, and everything else in between. And the aforementioned are just some that I have experienced. Try as we might it is impossible to stereotype this population.

If you believe in the old expression that, “It is not the final destination but the journey that matters,” then hitchhiking has much to offer. It is incredible the number of different perspectives that you encounter even on a short trip. Some are upbeat and rose colored and others dark and clouded in a haze (literally).

No matter whom the person greeting you when you hop into the passenger side, hitchhiking provides a great lesson in remaining open to other perspectives . . . especially those radically different from your own. Just remember you might be in a car with them for a long time!

The open, honesty that occurs between a driver and hitcher rivals that of my best friends and I. For example, within the space of a 15 minute ride I found out that one guy had recently been broken up with, entered drug rehab, cut himself badly a few weeks prior, has been on workers compensation, surfs, has recently found Christ, believes in Karma and thinks he will win his girlfriend back. At the end of the ride we parted ways and he left me with his cell phone number saying we should get together over coffee sometime.

Not only do you get a flavor of the country through its people, you are force to slow down and see things not always in the guide book. It is amazing the amount of information and topics covered on a trip of a couple thousand miles: the sugar industry, global politics, sex (you guessed it; truck drivers), Australian business, history, love, war, psychology, eastern philosophy and a whole range of other topics.

If these vague generalizations are not enough evidence of the positive aspects of hitching I’ll share with you some specific examples from my own travels.

Hitching to Tongariro National Park in New Zealand a South African woman drove me 36 miles out of her way to the front gate of the park. She supplied me with a sandwich and homemade fudge.

Going to Byron Bay a girl headed only a few miles down the road drove me the entire hour down the coast.

While in Brisbane an old man heading only a couple miles drove me to my final destination 120 miles away.

While hitching on Christmas day a young guy invited me to have Christmas dinner with his family.

One afternoon on the road a young mother and father invited me to their home for dinner and to stay the night. The next afternoon I watched their children and they drove me back to the highway with a packed lunch in hand.

The world is not as frightening as we think! Hitching is not the monster our imagination makes it. Be cautious . . . but think about taking the best ride in town.

Fun Facts About My Hitching Experience!

1) NO. OF TIMES OFFERED MARIJUANA: 3
2) NO. OF COMPULSIVE LIARS: 2
3) NO. OF STALKERS WHO STAYED IN FEQUENT CONTACT AFTER THE RIDE: 1
4) LONGEST RIDE: 610 MILES
5) FEMALE TO MALE RATIO OF DRIVERS: 1:2.5
6) HIGHEST SPEED REACHED: 108 MPH
7) LONGEST TIME WATING FOR A LIFT: 3 HOURS
SHORTEST TIME SPENT WATING FOR A LIFT : 15 SECONDS
9) NUMBER OF FREE MEALS: 14
10) NUMBER OF SWEAR WORDS UTTERED BY TRUCKERS: COUNTLESS

11 responses to Hitchhiking Down-Under

Katie Salamatov said on December 14, 2011

Hi Mike! I kind of randomly stumbled upon your blog whilst researching all things concerning travel abroad – and although it seems you haven’t been on here for over 3 years – figured I’d show my appreciation. .
I thoroughly enjoyed your blog! Growing up in the suburbs of Nor Cal and having very limited contact with them (or more accurately none at all) I have always regarded hitchhikers with a sort of wary curiosity. They fascinate me and frighten me just a little at the same time, seeming to belong to some other time and a long forgotten way of life..
And although the idea of picking someone up has definitely crossed my mind (in those two or three times that I’ve actually seen someone on the side of the road here, haha) the irrational fear of hitchhikers as deranged criminals looking for their next naive victim (probably placed into my head by the imaginative storytellers of Hollywood…;]) always won out over my curiosity.
Luckily, I came across your blog and now my opinion on the subject has definitely improved somewhat. In fact, if I happen to run into one (not literally! lol), I will most likely stop and provide the hitchhiker with a ride.
Unless, of course, it is dark, raining heavily, and I am driving in the middle of nowhere alone. ;P

And when (not if) I make it to Australia/New Zealand – I am definitely going to wave my own thumb in the air…
Tori Pintar said on July 26, 2008

Really brilliant article. Liked your ideas and your photos!

Another good point in favor of hitch hiking is that nowadays you hop on gum tree and mill about for a ride share and most of the time you really know nothing about the person whose offered a ride to you, yet because it is actually planned out it has the appearance of being safer. Hitching is pretty much the same thing just on the spot. We do have to be willing to put ourselves out there while being cautious, I think though the experiences that happen from the random encounters with people who offer you rides, food, a place to stay, whatever are really what make traveling so unique. They’re off just so interesting and no travel agent could make an itinerary half as memorable.

On another note, I’ve never really hitched because I am female and am usually traveling on my own. I too would be more likely to do it Australia or New Zealand than in America. I’ve found I’m actually a lot less afraid of foreign places than I am my own country. Why is that? I don’t think it’s because I’m more aware of the dangers in my home country than I am abroad, instead it has more to do with faith in people. I guess just being American has made me a lot more cynical and doubting towards Americans. I find that sad.

Carlo Goldoni says, “A wise traveler never despises his own country.” While I definitely don’t despise the U.S. not even close my high opinion of it has definitely dwindled in recent months. That is mostly to do with being tired of the poor opinion of Americans abroad but I find now that I’m back in most discussions about the failings of American life I find myself comparing it to how the same thing is better in a different country. In the end all places are flawed, I’m just more familiar with the American failings, but also all places have their recommendations as well.
catherine workman said on April 4, 2007

i was laughing outloud- thanks had a couple great hitchhiking experiences in alaska… my favorite was getting picked up by a local fisherman in juneau, jostling around in the truckbed with a bunch of salmon while late to catch an early morning seaplane to admiralty island.

thanks for the perspective and the reminder that our mind’s preconceptions are often scarier than life’s realities-
Mike Szymanski said on February 10, 2007

Thanks for your comment . . . I think that it is very true that our society (and maybe ourselves too) create these monsters, and deciding to take the risk and defy convention is a difficult one to make, it’s scary . . . especially when deciding things bigger than whether or not to hitch.

I think that one of the biggest and scariest decisions that someone can make is to live outside of themselves . . . reject our thriving culture of ME and decide to dedicate themselves to something much greater . . . the whole, really in a sense giving themselves to the world.

I’m still working on that . . .
Andrea Harris said on February 1, 2007

hey there =)
i loved this! especially because the statement at the very end can be modified for any number of things. just take out the “hitching” and insert whatever monster not just our imagination, but the discourse of society has created.

The world is not as frightening as we think! ( ) is not the monster our imagination makes it. Be cautious . . . but think about taking the best ride in town.

its interesting to think about these monsters and what their place in social organization is.(sure, they may have become ‘practical’ concerns, but whats under that…) i mean, if they (for instance, the creation of “the other”)are created, there must be a reason for their creation. and the creator, being one of us knows that a small number of people will rebel against it…and to them, the reward- the best ride in town. sounds well worth it to me.

cheers!

ps. the pictures are great
Mike Szymanski said on January 11, 2007

Toby, I agree . . . I was really suprised that single women would pick me up. I think there are a lot more consideration needed when it comes staying safe on the road as a woman. And after the way that I heard some of my rides talk about women, in utterly discusting ways, I would advise caution.

However, that said, the most sucessful hitchhickers that I met were two 6 foot tall, blonde, Duch, Bombshells in New Zealand . . . they actually had two cars pull over at the same time and argue about who got there first to give them a ride.

No such luck for me . . .
Andrew Blair said on January 9, 2007

I spent 8 months in AUstralia and one of my best experiences was catching a ride with an Israeli cat that I traveled around Fraser Island with. Brings back great memories. Cheers and enjoy the next hitch.
Toby Bielawski said on January 8, 2007

Great hitching story — and I like the tally at the end, also (fortunately only one post-ride stalker)! I, too, haven’t done much hitchhiking — though I have done a little “niche-hiking,” like after rafting, for example, where you wave a life jacket at passing cars, and people who have some connection with the river scene understand what it means….
Now, even though Mike is cute, I have to say that the any of the single women drivers who picked him up are also pretty badass! Because it does take some extra guts to be involved with hitching as a female, either on the rider/driver side.
Thanks for including all the great pix with your blog!
Stuart Poole said on January 8, 2007

GREAT FORUM TOPIC-

I haven’t done too much hitch hiking in my days, although my latest excursion came back in September when some friends and I hitched from a concert in Golden Gate Park (SF) back to town (About a 15 minute ride).

The guy was spectacularly nice to pick up 3 mildly drunk people, and he even offered us the rest of his onion-laden pita bread sandwich before telling us that his wife recently left him. (as you mentioned: people are very honest with strangers). And although you never know what to say to someone in that situation, the awkward silence dissipated, and we chatted it up for the remainder of the trip.

(this is a relatively tame hitch hiking story, but I am sure some matador folks have some absurd tales..)
Mike Szymanski said on January 7, 2007

Thaks for the comments, I appreciate it. I’ve only really hichhiked a couple times in the US. While I was living in Vermont one summer I would inflate a large tire tube and hitch a couple miles up the river and float back into town. But that is all for my US experience. For some reason I feel safer or more apt to get a ride in Australia and New Zealand.

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE A HITCHING EXPERIENCE TO SHARE?
Stuart Poole said on January 7, 2007

This may be my favorite blog I’ve read. Your hitchhiking prowess is extremely badass. do you hitchhike in the states ever??