| Have you tried hitchhiking? It's fun, and the adventure is | | | | the Galaxy, nor are they garbed in executive suits with |
| its own reward, but you have to know how to play it | | | | fat wallets tucked somewhere. |
| safe. You can't flaunt your worldly goods, including your | | | | But is hitchhiking still safe? Yes and no. Before you |
| loaded money clip or wallets, in case there are greedy | | | | thumb your way to the next state, do a little |
| eyes around. These tips will help you smarten up | | | | investigation. Some states like New Jersey made |
| before your raise a thumb. | | | | hitchhiking illegal, and if you're not careful, you'll land in |
| Life on the Road | | | | jail. |
| Jack Kerouac, American writer, redefined hitchhiking in | | | | Tips for Safe Hitchhiking |
| his celebrated novel On the Road (1957). The novel | | | | Truckers have put in a word of advice to those who |
| chronicled friendships forged, hardships experienced, | | | | would like to experience the thrill of hitchhiking. |
| and joys discovered - all on a foray across the US | | | | According to them, go where truckers have their |
| continent on empty wallets. | | | | stops. You are most likely to get a ride there, but don't |
| Hitchhiking is not a new phenomenon. It has its roots | | | | push it if the person makes you feel suspicious when |
| snaking back to the pioneer days. According to urban | | | | you reach out for one of your wallets in your attached |
| legend, two riders would share a horse. The first rider | | | | case masquerading as a backpack. |
| rides ahead, hitches the horse to a tree or bush, and | | | | Have a companion when hitchhiking. Aside from |
| waits patiently for the second rider to reach the spot | | | | keeping you company to while the hours waiting for a |
| to unhitch the horse and ride a few stretches, while | | | | ride, you'll feel safe with a friend with you. The two of |
| the first rider would walk until he reached the spot | | | | you shouldn't doze off when you're on a ride with a |
| where the horse was hitched to take over. Thus, the | | | | stranger. And if the stranger offers you food, eat with |
| expression hitch and hike. | | | | him in a public place, and never leave your food |
| Hitchhiking is alive and kicking in the age of the wild wild | | | | unattended - the same advice goes for your things. |
| west. Each year, thousands of students enlist for the | | | | Always have several emergency numbers tucked in |
| hitch to Prague or Morocco to drum up funds to | | | | your wallets, your bag's pockets, and in the seat |
| improve and support education in Africa. Hitchhiking | | | | pockets of your pants. You will never know when and |
| has also joined the ranks of spelunking and mountain | | | | how you'll need these numbers. |
| climbing in the adventure department. They could have | | | | If you can, don't wear any pieces of jewelry. Wear the |
| empty or bulging wallets, but they know better than to | | | | cheapest watch that you have because expensive |
| show it off. | | | | items can titillate the insatiable greed of robbers on the |
| Hitchhikers are mostly young people eager to take on | | | | highway. |
| the world via free rides. You'd know them by their | | | | As for your wallets, keep it out of reach from beady |
| backpacks, college football T-shirts, faded jeans, and | | | | eyes. It is better to be safe than sorry later. But once |
| sneakers. No, they don't don their dressing gowns like | | | | you have enjoyed hitchhiking, you'll be eager for more. |
| Arthur Dent in the sci-fi movie The Hitchhikers Guide to | | | | Thumbs up? |