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Rules
of thumb for Stick to the busiest route. The most direct route is not always best, if it's a smaller road. You should try to stick to the Interstate as much as you can. On the Interstate you are more likely to get long rides. Stay close to exits with fast food restaurants and gas stations.Gas stations always draw people in off the highway and you can use their bathroom to fill up your water bottles. You don't want to get dropped off where you can't get food and water. Nothing's worse than being stuck in the middle of nowhere when your water runs out. You are likely to spend all day waiting for a ride, so try to get dropped off near services, and not on an empty on-ramp. In most states, walking on the highway is illegal, but often you can get a ride before the state troopers throw you off. You will usually get a warning from the trooper before getting a ticket. So weigh the risks, it's usually worth the risk to get a ride. Be careful and don't get hit. At night you should never walk on the side of the highway. Sitting on an off-ramp with a sign is a better bet. Pick out a spot where cars can easily pull over and pick you up. Make your sign simple and written in bold, large letters. If you are going a short way, the name of your destination will do fine, but if you are going cross country, for instance, put the name of a city along your route. Try to get dropped off on the far end of a town. This way all the rides you get will be leaving town and not just going a few exits down the freeway. When you hitchhike you want to look threadbare, but not dirty. Strangers are going to let you into their car, and you won't make it far if you stink. You want to have some gear, but not too much. If you have no gear people think you just escaped from some mental institution or worse, and if you have tons of gear people don't want to hassle with loading it all, or won't have room for it all. You always need a map, in addition to warm clothes and a sleeping bag. You'll also need a flashlight and a fat marker for making signs. Carry some emergency food and a canteen. Truck stops are a good place to get rides. Make a sign saying which way you're going. Some truck stops don't allow hitchhikers but some don't mind, as long as you don't harass the drivers. Truck stops are great for long rides and truckers usually have some food in their cabs. Be careful and selective about who you get in a car with. Go with your gut instinct. Don't be afraid to turn down a ride if you get a creepy feeling from someone. Most people pick up a rider to pass the miles. Don't just crawl in and go to sleep. That's a quick way to get dropped off early. Try to entertain and enjoy meeting the people you would have otherwise never met, that's part of the fun of this kind of traveling. Take your time. Don't be in a hurry. If you have a deadline you should have taken a bus. |