While we tend to be on the subject of apparent danger lately, I wanted to share a couple of stories and maybe get some feed back on your own experiences. It's an open forum so the banter will definitely end up in the gutter...so to speak., hopefully not. So, today after work, I stopped at a rest-stop and got a coffee for my commute home and as I was leaving to get on the ramp to enter 95 again I see this guy trying to hitch a ride from someone. I stopped. The kid seemed legit and with the bad weather, I felt a little bad for his situation. He did not stare forward, just had this pitiful look like his mission had been failing for some time while I almost was ready to pass him by. He approached the car and I rolled down the window. He asked how far I was going on my route and told him about 30 miles. He at first declined the ride and when I asked where he was headed to, he told me... Nova Scotia. After explaining my route and telling him I needed to stay on I-95, he agreed and got in the car and put the hiking pack in the back seat which made me feel that I didn't make a wrong call. On the way he was explaining that he had dropped out of engineering college and was hitching around the country to see and experience places he's always wanted to go to and that he wasn't ready to settle in to some mundane routine of long hours and the stress of a competitive job. I know that there are some that wouldn't agree, but I think he's got it right. I envied him. Here's this kid is,with youth, health, a back-pack, and bravado and looking to take on the world in a different light. Meh? I used to hitch down to jersey shore with my boarte. Now that was sketchy!
NJTP rest stops... You know there is a grinder app for that schit... Just fvcken with you. In this day, I wouldn't pick up my brother if he was on the side of the road.
Open forum this is not. Wait dude ... U PERSUADED him to ride along with you? Hehehe "open the flood gates" . No sh1t tho, I doubt I'd ever pick up a hitchhiker, **** that, people are weird these days. Now be it 50's and California - no question, probably
Ha sounds weird I know but I'm in MA not NJ even though we get a lot of creeps in both states. (Im not one...swear.) Whats even stranger, he was a SK8r from Conn!
Unfortunately now a days, you can't trust anyone. A buddy of mine bought a conversion van a long time ago. (Not the windowless Wayne van). This van was the luxury fold down bed in the back mood lights, etc. He slapped an "I love polka" sticker on the bumper and this was his "drinking and driving" van. Anyway, one night as a group of us were out and about, he picks up this chick hitch hiking. Offers her a beer and gives her a ride about 15 miles down the road. It was shady as hell and I would have never picked this chick up, but it ended up okay. She had a sob story of boyfriend in jail, yadda yadda. Lame story, but that's it
wayne has spotted the OP the windowless white van of duct tape & doome is rumbling up 95 on an all-night mission of you-know-what
Back in the day on the beach road I'd pick up a dude and give him a ride but not nowadays! As for hitching cross country to "see" what is out there. The "window" is small for good long term decisions. Soul searching and sole searching should be taken seriously.....lol not really! I found my way...finally...I think! With that said DQ, you should never pick up a hitcher on 95 dude....never! I think seeking danger as a young gun is critical to becoming a man... vs a puss boy (sorry but it's true).
DonQ I am with you. If the kid isn't ready, then go spread some seed. He can always come back to engineering. We have one life. We each follow our own conscience. He needs to run with it for the time being. He will end up being a great engineer, when HE is ready.
Back in the '80's I used to hitch hike from south of Buffalo, NY to Syracuse at least once a month. It was quicker than the Greyhound. Got hassled by troopers sometimes, but they always gave me a ride to the next exit. Got picked up by families and individual wierdos, it was an adventure... I always picked up hitchhikers until... (Que Creepy Music) True story... It was a rainy evening. I was driving down a back road between Rome, NY and Syracuse and I saw a guy hitching, wearing a yellow hooded rain slicker. I pulled over, opened the door and he got in the passenger seat. I asked him where he was headed and he just stared straight ahead. I asked him again and he turned to me and just babbled nonsense noises. I asked if he was OK and he just smiled... no ish... lights on nobody in there... Crazy pale blue eyes. I pulled over at the next road and told him this was my turn off. He sat there for a few seconds.. seemed like forever... then opened the door and stood there. I reached over and closed the door and drove off. Last Hitchhiker I ever picked up.
Don Q didn't realise you were a fellow New Englander. I'd be hesitant but sounds like you did the right thing.
Ill never hitch hike unless I am in a dire situation. Freight trains are the real way to travel. If you hop off in a bad spot way out of town you may have to hitch though. But can't beat it. So dangerous but relaxing at the same time. Trains go through mountains and areas where there are no roads or people really. You experience nature so much more then from a road. And the best part is no one knows where you are for the duration...
Gave a ride to a dude one time leaving the beach. He had on khakis and a white button down shirt with dress shoes and it was 100 degrees. Figured he was going to work or had car problems. He gets in and a few minutes I realize he farking reeks.He asks me if I do "that rock" He ask me to drop him off at these skeesey apartments and wait for him. Suuuure. Not. Once gave a couple girls a ride so they could get disco biscuits it was worth it.
Before my license, my buddy and I would hitch everywhere. We would take our bourds from central jersey to the beach. Sometimes it took forever to get a ride. Only one time was I on edge because this guy took a lot of back roads that I was unfamiliar with at the time. Going through the pine barrens was a desolate place. A place where your mind can play tricks on you.(ask Riley.) All of sudden he was ready to let us out in the middle of nowhere. After asking him to get us a little closer to where we were headed. He agreed and after lighting up a joint he calmed down and got us to the bridge. We were relieved and he fixed his jones. I think that was the last time we hitched down to beach. Started taking the train after that but still had to hitch to Islin where the station was which took us to Port Authority in Newark and got us into Point Pleasant. Still with our boards in tow, they looked at us like we where crazy...a nice change of pace.
I remember locking myself out of my car before surfing years ago. I decided I might as well just surf them walk home or something. Pretty sure it was winter too since I remember having my full suit on. Anyways I came back in and there was some dude parked right next to me and just started talking to me. He didn't surf or anything- or else I would have just asked for a ride. But when I mentioned thAt I locked myself out- he offered a ride. I lived about 5 miles away. I remember telling him that I would end up soaking his seat with my wetsuite but he didn't care. At first I thought he was gonna kill me or something- cause he seemed crazy. But then I noticed he had an airline ID badge and asked him if he knew some of my friends who where also pilots, turns out he did and that they where friends too! So I made it home - then remembered I had no keys to get in! Had to break a window- learned to always hide a key outside after that I think he even gave me a ride back.
I've always lived by the thought that when one door opens another closes. People are met for a reason, to help or be helped. I don't think we ever have control of our destinies. So live in the moment. Think with your heart and head, not just one. Like I was saying this kid turned out to be a skater and with a soul for life and the joy it brings to most maybe he will reflect on my 2 bits and will steer him into a different realm of thought in his own life. It's all about connection and common ground to better human kind in my mind.
Yea man, totally out of sircumstance but I didn't hitch hike. Love it here. Beautiful uncrowded surf spots.
