Hi guys, it's Britt. I don't know if I should be sharing this. But here it is:
I love hitchhiking. Don't tell my mom.
Now, just to be clear, I'm not talking about car pooling or ride shares. I'm speaking of standing on the side of the road, shouldering your backpack, perhaps holding onto a cardboard sign with your destination written on it, while, with the other hand you stick out your thumb.
It's terrifying. It's exhilarating. It's pretty stupid.
Every hitchhiker needs a buddy. And for years, mine was the righteous, Benjamin Thompson. Ben and I had many hitchhiking adventures. Can I tell you my favorite story?
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Benjamin Robert Thompson Esq. |
This is roughly the conversation that followed:
Ben: "I've always wanted to hitch a ride on a train."
Britt: "Yeah. That would be totally amazing."
Ben:(gesturing toward the moving train) "There's one now."
In the next few moments, Ben and I jogged alongside the train and climbed on. What followed was a three-hour journey through the mountains crouched on the platform between two rail cars, and hanging on for dear life. When the train finally stopped, Ben and I scrambled off and looked around. We had no idea where we were or how we were going to get back home. So naturally, we found the nearest road and stuck out our thumbs.
Living in a city, I don't get much chance to hitchhike anymore. And there are definitely fears that come up when you're in your thirties that you never felt when you were in your twenties. I'm not swearing I'll hitchhike again, but I'm not promising I won't, either.
So share your tale of the last time you thumbed a ride, or tell me why I'm crazy.
Have an inspired weekend dear adventurers, and I'll see you back here on Monday for a new story.
My memory of the train incident goes something like this...
ReplyDeleteDuring our walk, I had probably told you of a recent episode at the hotel -- two young kids came into the lobby one morning around 5am looking for a room. They were COVERED head to toe in black soot; they'd been riding the rails down from Golden. Inspired by the tale, we got all caught up in the idea of doing it ourselves and as we descended the hill to the railyard, we made a pact: when we got down there, if we saw a moving train, we'd hop on; if not, we'd keep walking. :)
Good times. But let's not forget our other epic trek down to Cranbrook -- thawing your feet with the blow dryer in a McDonalds bathroom, and getting a lift back north the next day with a lone 80-yr old woman going on a ski trip. What on Earth was her name??
: bt
No hitchin' stories, but your story reminded me of this song. A classic by Michel Pagliaro
ReplyDelete"Lovin' you Ain't Easy"
Hitch any ride you want to
Do anything you wanna do
Just keep ridin' your way
Take anyone you want to
Long as I can hear from you
Just be mine in your way
Lovin' you ain t so easy
Would never try to please me
But I've got time any old way
I've got time anyway
But you know what you won't you do it
And nobody, nobody knows, but it's you, oh, wo, wo, oh
Oh baby why do I
Keep a talkin to you
Keep a talkin to-
Check him out on youtube. Love the song!
It's what I love about you the most, your fearlessness, it also makes me want to slap you and hold you close.
ReplyDelete