Hitchikers on the playa?
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Casanova
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Hitchikers on the playa?
So i was amazed to see all the hitchikers on the side of the road after burning man and thought that they all probably hitchiked there?.. I wouldn't do this at the chance of not finding a ride, but wanted to do this for fun across the States.. I was just wondering how do you think they survive that week with only a backpack on their backs?..And comments, suggestions, or advice?.. Thanks.
They wear clothing also... not just a backpack, LOL
I recall the news reporting these awful stories;
About 15 years ago a guy hitch hiked from East I-80 and was raped repeatedly by a trucker who was "kind enough" to pick him up and give him a ride, yikes, he killed the trucker in the Reno area to escape and was never charged. Probably justifiable homicide.
Anoher guy tried hitchhiking across the country about 10 years ago? and was brutally murdered in Colorado or was it Vermont? Yikes.
Google hitch hiking+safey LMFAO
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I've never tried these but here's some safer, happier methods of travel IMHO
Try a green Tortoise bus, cheap enough, and safe-ish, there are other vagabond type bus lines, I forget their names
Try a "Hippie Taxi" they drive anywhere there is gas money, food, showers and use lap tops and unsecured wireless connections and craigslist to search out the next destination, basically they post like crazy and head wherever the food, gas money or showers are located and an invitaton of course.
I don't think Hitching across the USA is safe any longer; don't you want to live to return to BM 2011, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18..................................?
I recall the news reporting these awful stories;
About 15 years ago a guy hitch hiked from East I-80 and was raped repeatedly by a trucker who was "kind enough" to pick him up and give him a ride, yikes, he killed the trucker in the Reno area to escape and was never charged. Probably justifiable homicide.
Anoher guy tried hitchhiking across the country about 10 years ago? and was brutally murdered in Colorado or was it Vermont? Yikes.
Google hitch hiking+safey LMFAO
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've never tried these but here's some safer, happier methods of travel IMHO
Try a green Tortoise bus, cheap enough, and safe-ish, there are other vagabond type bus lines, I forget their names
Try a "Hippie Taxi" they drive anywhere there is gas money, food, showers and use lap tops and unsecured wireless connections and craigslist to search out the next destination, basically they post like crazy and head wherever the food, gas money or showers are located and an invitaton of course.
I don't think Hitching across the USA is safe any longer; don't you want to live to return to BM 2011, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18..................................?
I'm the MAN in a truck, burner who is stuck, you're in luck! I'll whip out my BIG tow chain and not charge you, not even one lousy buck!
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pizzamancer
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Well... Statistically, that makes hitch hiking a lot more safe than flying in an airplane.moonrise wrote:
About 15 years ago a guy hitch hiked from East I-80 and was raped repeatedly by a trucker who was "kind enough" to pick him up and give him a ride, yikes, he killed the trucker in the Reno area to escape and was never charged. Probably justifiable homicide.
Anoher guy tried hitchhiking across the country about 10 years ago? and was brutally murdered in Colorado or was it Vermont? Yikes.
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unjonharley
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Hopping freight trains is much more fun and you don't have to deal with so many yuppies.
I've hitchiked alot too. In my opinion, it's just frustrating. I guess some people think it's polite to throw things at you as they pass by.
Whatever you do, don't do it alone. Strength in numbers.
If you hop trains, get yourself an updated Rand McNally map of the railways.
I have an old crew-change guide that I'm sure is way out dated. I bet you could find a newer one online somewhere. I has the basic schedules of all the train routes and where they usually stop to switch crews. Avoid train yards in BIG cities, alot of not so fun stories I've heard. Never get on a moving train.....know where they stop and where they go.
Just be safe and smart.
I've hitchiked alot too. In my opinion, it's just frustrating. I guess some people think it's polite to throw things at you as they pass by.
Whatever you do, don't do it alone. Strength in numbers.
If you hop trains, get yourself an updated Rand McNally map of the railways.
I have an old crew-change guide that I'm sure is way out dated. I bet you could find a newer one online somewhere. I has the basic schedules of all the train routes and where they usually stop to switch crews. Avoid train yards in BIG cities, alot of not so fun stories I've heard. Never get on a moving train.....know where they stop and where they go.
Just be safe and smart.
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geospyder
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That's how my grandfather died - hopping a train in Colorado in 1915. It was icy, he slipped, went under and the train took off his legs. The newspaper account says "...in effect he bled to death." Duhhh!¡Niers! wrote:Hopping freight trains is much more fun and you don't have to deal with so many yuppies.
I've hitchiked alot too. In my opinion, it's just frustrating. I guess some people think it's polite to throw things at you as they pass by.
Whatever you do, don't do it alone. Strength in numbers.
If you hop trains, get yourself an updated Rand McNally map of the railways.
I have an old crew-change guide that I'm sure is way out dated. I bet you could find a newer one online somewhere. I has the basic schedules of all the train routes and where they usually stop to switch crews. Avoid train yards in BIG cities, alot of not so fun stories I've heard. Never get on a moving train.....know where they stop and where they go.
Just be safe and smart.
You know it's going to be a bad day when you jump out of bed and miss the floor.
I used to hitchhike when I was a teen/early 20s. Usually it went well. Most people were willing to give me a ride if they were going in the same direction. But all it takes is one bad experience to scare you off of it.
I was hitching home from the train station because while it was only a 3-4 mile walk that I usually enjoyed, it was below zero temps that night. Nobody was picking me up like usual. Then a car drive by, hit the brakes and backed up a bit to meet me. Good, right? Nope. The driver got out of the car which in hindsight is a bit weird. He met me near the trunk and was asking where I was headed. Told him where and he said he was going that way too.
Then it got bad. During the short conversation I saw 3 other guys get out of the car. Hmmm. Making room for me? They were all young, big guys and seemed a little drunk. I was/am over 6' tall and can usually hold my own. Out of nowhere one of the guys cracks me in the head from behind with a bat or something. I hit the ground immediately, stunned and in a lot of pain. Then all of them joined in kicking, punching, clubbing me. I tried to kick them away and was doing my best to throw punches from on my back on the ground. It was useless. There was too many of them and they wanted blood.
Sometime during this I got knocked out. Next thing I remember is waking up with blood all over my face, pain everywhere and really cold. Those motherfuckers beat me and left me on the side of the road in the snow. Even better was that they stole my backpack, took my wallet, took my jacket and even stole my fucking shoes.
I was miles from home on a road that gets little to no traffic aside from when trains stop at the station. I took the last train of the night so nobody was going to be on the road. I had to walk home beaten and bloody in below zero weather with no shoes. I ripped up the shirt I had over my tshirt to wrap around my feel to give some protection and warmth in addition to my socks.
Needless to say I never tried hitching after that. It was a very scary and painful incident that I did not want to temp repeating.
Moral of the story: Don't hitchhike. There are too many sickos out there. And you never know when it's your turn.
I was hitching home from the train station because while it was only a 3-4 mile walk that I usually enjoyed, it was below zero temps that night. Nobody was picking me up like usual. Then a car drive by, hit the brakes and backed up a bit to meet me. Good, right? Nope. The driver got out of the car which in hindsight is a bit weird. He met me near the trunk and was asking where I was headed. Told him where and he said he was going that way too.
Then it got bad. During the short conversation I saw 3 other guys get out of the car. Hmmm. Making room for me? They were all young, big guys and seemed a little drunk. I was/am over 6' tall and can usually hold my own. Out of nowhere one of the guys cracks me in the head from behind with a bat or something. I hit the ground immediately, stunned and in a lot of pain. Then all of them joined in kicking, punching, clubbing me. I tried to kick them away and was doing my best to throw punches from on my back on the ground. It was useless. There was too many of them and they wanted blood.
Sometime during this I got knocked out. Next thing I remember is waking up with blood all over my face, pain everywhere and really cold. Those motherfuckers beat me and left me on the side of the road in the snow. Even better was that they stole my backpack, took my wallet, took my jacket and even stole my fucking shoes.
I was miles from home on a road that gets little to no traffic aside from when trains stop at the station. I took the last train of the night so nobody was going to be on the road. I had to walk home beaten and bloody in below zero weather with no shoes. I ripped up the shirt I had over my tshirt to wrap around my feel to give some protection and warmth in addition to my socks.
Needless to say I never tried hitching after that. It was a very scary and painful incident that I did not want to temp repeating.
Moral of the story: Don't hitchhike. There are too many sickos out there. And you never know when it's your turn.
It's pointless to walk when it's past time to run.
Ted Bundy and getting beat up by a bunch of @$$holes! I'm glad I never have tried hitchhiking!-
Eric
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Re: hitchhiking from Burning Man: you're pretty likely to get someone nice (though I've had some horror stories from people about getting rides from Burners who should not have been driving).
Most of the people you see doing that had rides in that they couldn't take back for a variety of reasons: they needed to leave early or wanted to stay longer; they got in a fight with their ride; they had only agreed to a ride in; etc etc. Very few hitchhike to the event- that whole "self reliance" for food & water thing. Not saying no-one hitchhikes in, just that it's rare.
As for going cross country that way...... just have a will ready.
Most of the people you see doing that had rides in that they couldn't take back for a variety of reasons: they needed to leave early or wanted to stay longer; they got in a fight with their ride; they had only agreed to a ride in; etc etc. Very few hitchhike to the event- that whole "self reliance" for food & water thing. Not saying no-one hitchhikes in, just that it's rare.
As for going cross country that way...... just have a will ready.
It's a camping trip in the desert, not the redemption of the fallen world - Cryptofishist
Eric ShutterSlut
Former Ass't Editor & columnist, BRC Weekly
Eric ShutterSlut
Former Ass't Editor & columnist, BRC Weekly
Wow.....that sucks.
Yeah, I have no desire to hitch anymore. I have a truck now and don't mind driving myself. Plus....I'm not as young and careless as I used to be, I gots too many things to be thankful for.
It's crazy how many crazy, nutty assholes are out there.
geospyder----notice that I stressed to NEVER get on a moving train. NEVER!
If you don't know where a train is going, don't get on it either. Plus stay away from the boxcars. It seems cool just like in the movies.....but those big doors lock automatically from the outside. Sometimes they close on their own from the train braking and such. When a boxcar is empty, that means it's not being used and they sometimes just unhook them and leave them in the middle of nowhere for weeks perhaps. If someone is stuck in there and that happens.....dead. A slow death at that.
If I was single and had nothing going on in my life.....I'd probably do it again. But being safe on a freight train requires more than just common sense and a free spirit. You really need to know what you are doing. Period.
Yeah, I have no desire to hitch anymore. I have a truck now and don't mind driving myself. Plus....I'm not as young and careless as I used to be, I gots too many things to be thankful for.
It's crazy how many crazy, nutty assholes are out there.
geospyder----notice that I stressed to NEVER get on a moving train. NEVER!
If you don't know where a train is going, don't get on it either. Plus stay away from the boxcars. It seems cool just like in the movies.....but those big doors lock automatically from the outside. Sometimes they close on their own from the train braking and such. When a boxcar is empty, that means it's not being used and they sometimes just unhook them and leave them in the middle of nowhere for weeks perhaps. If someone is stuck in there and that happens.....dead. A slow death at that.
If I was single and had nothing going on in my life.....I'd probably do it again. But being safe on a freight train requires more than just common sense and a free spirit. You really need to know what you are doing. Period.
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theCryptofishist
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knowmad
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12 BWS BDV/DPB - Location: Puget Sound
I have done quite abit of hitching in my day. And I pick up people too. both of them involve risk, but then agian so does hotubbing while drinking, epressing your own opinions and interactions with the police.
a few things to think about.
A) Fear leads either to irrational action, or inaction. both not so good.
B) Not all that wander are lost.
C) Karma.
We are in a wild and crazy universe. there are things like unconditional love, and Myelomeningocele. and in my experience it is as pointless as nippeless tits to try to derive the whys.
Having once hitched from Miami to Seattle I saw the best of my country, and some of the worst of our people. From Stunning sunrises on the plains, to Twisters in the rear view mirror. I met up with generous pot-smugglers, and racist cops. I was sexually-prosed/attacked, and warmly welcomed. Some people were talkative, others not. and nature itself was my friend as well as my enemy. I had two near death experiances on that 28 day trip (hypothermia, and the klu-klux-klan).
so if you hitch, be ready for it. or in the words of old man Hunter "Buy the ticket, take the ride."
a few things to think about.
A) Fear leads either to irrational action, or inaction. both not so good.
B) Not all that wander are lost.
C) Karma.
We are in a wild and crazy universe. there are things like unconditional love, and Myelomeningocele. and in my experience it is as pointless as nippeless tits to try to derive the whys.
Having once hitched from Miami to Seattle I saw the best of my country, and some of the worst of our people. From Stunning sunrises on the plains, to Twisters in the rear view mirror. I met up with generous pot-smugglers, and racist cops. I was sexually-prosed/attacked, and warmly welcomed. Some people were talkative, others not. and nature itself was my friend as well as my enemy. I had two near death experiances on that 28 day trip (hypothermia, and the klu-klux-klan).
so if you hitch, be ready for it. or in the words of old man Hunter "Buy the ticket, take the ride."
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Oh yeah, this year I was totally twerping out at the fence. ~Lonesombri
...........................................Oh yeah, this year I was totally twerping out at the fence. ~Lonesombri
Stick it out there!
When I was a kid in the 70's I hitchhiked all over the U.S. Not running away from anything just a burning curiousity about the world beyond Bumfuck, Georgia. In spite of being a very shy and dumber than a box of rocks [well very naive anyway] female 15 yr. old nothing all that terrible happened to me. Met wonderful people, scary people, a few predatory assholes. Many fantastic adventures!
I don't think that people are willing to stop for hitchhikers as much anymore and yes by putting yourself out there you run a risk that could probably be eliminated by staying home and limiting your social interaction to facebook. It helps to be young, really tough and annoyingly optomistic too. Maybe some giant thumbs like Sissy Hankshaw!
[quote]Not for everyone but it works for me![/quote]
I don't think that people are willing to stop for hitchhikers as much anymore and yes by putting yourself out there you run a risk that could probably be eliminated by staying home and limiting your social interaction to facebook. It helps to be young, really tough and annoyingly optomistic too. Maybe some giant thumbs like Sissy Hankshaw!
[quote]Not for everyone but it works for me![/quote]
Heh, from Bumfuck to Cornville.
Flying out of Reno last year, I spent hours in the airport waiting as delay after delay piled up. The woman next to me had been there visiting her son in prison (I want to say she was from...Oklahoma?).
A few years ago he up and decided to go west, young man, and attend Burning Man. He murdered the guy who gave him a ride back to Reno and has been in jail in Reno since.
The kind of story I would've pshawed, if somebody else posted it, but it happened for reals.
With all the ride-sharing sites/info, and sites like Couchsurfing, pseudo-hitching shouldn't be much of a problem.
Flying out of Reno last year, I spent hours in the airport waiting as delay after delay piled up. The woman next to me had been there visiting her son in prison (I want to say she was from...Oklahoma?).
A few years ago he up and decided to go west, young man, and attend Burning Man. He murdered the guy who gave him a ride back to Reno and has been in jail in Reno since.
The kind of story I would've pshawed, if somebody else posted it, but it happened for reals.
With all the ride-sharing sites/info, and sites like Couchsurfing, pseudo-hitching shouldn't be much of a problem.
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mudpuppy000
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Holy shit! glad you pointed THAT out cfm. I want to be able to offer a ride(s) to and from BM 2011, i'm gonna need to look into the ride share at airport and rethink picking up thumber(s) on the way out. i can probably offer a ride out to known peep(s), I like breathing air.C.f.M. wrote: A few years ago he up and decided to go west, young man, and attend Burning Man. He murdered the guy who gave him a ride back to Reno and has been in jail in Reno since.
The kind of story I would've pshawed, if somebody else posted it, but it happened for reals.
With all the ride-sharing sites/info, and sites like Couchsurfing, pseudo-hitching shouldn't be much of a problem.
casanova, sail boats...my dentist sails to hawaii from stockton! follows the jet streams, no compass usage, LOL, & totally drunk, fun crowd, his group does it all the time, LOL
sailboats, bus trips (and hippie taxis DO exist, the ones who told me were at reno decomp, they would work odd jobs & street perform along the way to anywhere, probably had a few bucks in an atm too) these sound more realistic. pseudo-hitching, LOL, cfm = a womans instincts are usually best, i think your post may have just saved my life!
gracias(btw, we do hitch in ski towns but even that has some stories, 99% good n a few bad)
I'm the MAN in a truck, burner who is stuck, you're in luck! I'll whip out my BIG tow chain and not charge you, not even one lousy buck!
