Would you ...

[Babylon]

Many years ago when I was a student, I hitched round Europe a couple of times. I had a Union Flag on my rucksack, always looked clean and tidy and was usually with a young lady(!) One thing I learned very quickly was that GB plated drivers NEVER stopped to give us a lift. We never waited very long and I took in most if France, Italy, Sicily Greece etc over two trips.

+1

I hitched a lot in the '90s, usually on my own, and generally had good success. Had racist Frenchmen, Scottish farmers, entertaining British lorry drivers, exploded a can of beer over the back seats of some executive's BMW (when hitching with a girl I'd borrowed for the weekend for a quick jaunt from London to Scotland on the Saturday and back on the Sunday). I once fell into company with a young East German technician hitching from Dublin back to Leipzig, and we got picked up by a complete divot who it turned out hated other Englishmen, didn't believe I wasn't actually English (which I'm not) and finally shouted at me to get out on the hard shoulder of the M5 in freezing December weather! I expect the East German got home in time for Christmas!

When I later lived in the West Country and had to do frequent trips to the South-East, I'd often give lifts to youngsters waiting at the junction of the North Devon Link Road and the M5 who needed to get to Bristol or London. One girl I particularly remember was a recovering heroin addict and a very interesting conversationalist.

The only time I stopped but didn't pick-up, was for a trio of young lads. Two were okay, but I just didn't like the look of the third guy and frankly didn't want him sitting behind me for the next four hours, so I apologised for raising their expectations and wished them luck.

Then I got married and my SWMBO at the time put a stop to it.

PS If anyone needs a lift from the Hamble to Ichenor, we'll be carrying the flood on Saturday afternoon...

 

[Babylon]

Having watched the movie dead cam the answer has to be 'no'.

The world's a sadder place for it.

We've been asked a couple of times if we're going to Turkey (when we're in Agios Nikolaos, Crete) and so have several other boats there. We've always said no, mainly because we weren't heading to Turkey that year, but it also worries me a little about the attitude my insurers and the authorities would take if one of these hitch-hikers was involved in a serious accident aboard, or worse, died. How could I explain that someone I don't know and have never met before is crew and not a charter customer?

I wouldn't worry so much.

I'm also an ex-hitcher, in fact I'll occasionally hitch from where my boat ends up back to my car if public transport isn't good.

Hitched all through Europe, round Australia, Mid east, Africa etc. Only way to do it when you're young.

Also hitched / worked passage across Atlantic, Red Sea, Med, Indian Ocean..

These days I'm always happy to see hitchers and will go out of my way to help them out.

I also like to take people out on my boat (no expenses required) and would gladly pick up sea hitchers if I've got enough space. Probably buy 'em a pint at the end too.

Pass it on!

Well said. The world's a happier place!

 

[Felixcat]

I was at Beaumaris pier waiting for a friend when a lady asked if I did trips round Puffin Island. I was tempted to say yes.

 

[SamanthaTabs]

Yes, simply follow gut instinct - if there's something about someone that makes you feel uneasy you're probably right, not worth the hassle. Crewing for someone several years ago we were 2 crew down prior to an Atlantic crossing, found crew with a day to spare and it worked perfectly. Likewise we took 2 hitch hiking girls from Minorca to Pollenca last year, lovely people and we're still in contact.

Actually I'd possibly rather take a risk with select strangers than some intolerable family members and friends who seemed ok whilst land bound
Hmm, the first and third words were unnecessary...

 

[clyst]

The world's a sadder place for it.



I wouldn't worry so much.



Well said. The world's a happier place!

why is it sad because someone won't give a complete stranger a lift in this day and age when knife crime is rampant and it seems females are only too keen to make all sorts of unfounded accusations.

 

[Topcat47]

why is it sad because someone won't give a complete stranger a lift in this day and age when knife crime is rampant and it seems females are only too keen to make all sorts of unfounded accusations.

Just read your own post. Sounds pretty sad to me.

 

[Babylon]

why is it sad because someone won't give a complete stranger a lift in this day and age when knife crime is rampant and it seems females are only too keen to make all sorts of unfounded accusations.

Too many people in your world live behind locked doors watching too much TV - and have lost the faculty of being able to assess people or situations without distorted fear and paranoia getting in the way:

A man taking a photo of his child having a swimming lesson is automatically a paedo.

A man hitching to get from A to B is automatically a psycho.

A man spending any amount of time with a woman outside of public view is automatically at risk of false allegations.

I think you need to get out more.

 

[SamanthaTabs]

+1, in keeping with the initial op question I prefer to keep faith in my assessment of people and give a chance than be in constant fear of who knows what.

Now, what I really want to know is what's the other end of a pudding?

 

[andymcp]

Of course I'd give them a lift as long as they had a passport and it appeared genuine. Best way to travel, hitching. No schedule, no idea who you'll meet, no idea how your journey will pan out - I find that the most fabulously relaxing way to get around. Miss it terribly now I'm in the rat race.

 

[Babylon]

+1, in keeping with the initial op question I prefer to keep faith in my assessment of people and give a chance than be in constant fear of who knows what.

Now, what I really want to know is what's the other end of a pudding?

I'm afraid you'll have to ask Jack Aubrey that question - the problem is that he's been dead for almost two centuries!

 

[Woodlouse]

I'm afraid you'll have to ask Jack Aubrey that question - the problem is that he's been dead for almost two centuries!

Hate to break this to you but technically he was never alive.

 

[clyst]

Too many people in your world live behind locked doors watching too much TV - and have lost the faculty of being able to assess people or situations without distorted fear and paranoia getting in the way:

A man taking a photo of his child having a swimming lesson is automatically a paedo.

A man hitching to get from A to B is automatically a psycho.

A man spending any amount of time with a woman outside of public view is automatically at risk of false allegations.

I think you need to get out more.

What a load of utter bollox you write.

 

[DownWest]

Hitching in the 60s was fun. Did the France and Spain trip. No lifts from UK cars. Was careful to allow space for people to stop if they were willing to pick up. No nutters, lots of fun people from all classes. "Can you drive? If so, I need to get to Barcelona" (Big Citroen with the trick clutch) He had been on a hunting trip and the lump under my feet was a wild boar.. Lifts dried up on the return as some hitchers had murdered a couple. Must have been 100 of us outside of Cahors, we took the train.
Later,I was getting our company yacht ready for a transat. Couple of dutch guys asked if they could crew. I talked to our skipper and they went. Worked out fine.
Last time I had an unknown crew it didn't work so well. But he admitted later that he wasn't OK and waiting a kidney transplant.

While I was in Portugal, I gave up latterly, as the blokes asked for money and the girls were hookers. In earlier years, a lot of entertaining lifts.

One guy I know gave a lift to some people from Canaries to Spain. Huge problem as they carried drugs. Not much, but the Spanish put them all in clink.

 

[HinewaisMan]

We picked up a young pair of German hitch-hikers in Phuket and dropped them off in Aden.

But that's not the story I'm telling here!

While stuck in Tipperary Marina in Darwin waiting for 5 broken ribs to heal, I used to enjoy the odd amber nectar down at the Dynah Beach yacht club - which is basically a large shed with no walls.

Sitting with a group of friends one night, a young Welsh lad came over and joined us. Lovely guy, traveling the world by himself, had done a fair bit of sailing out of Milfold, Cork Week etc..

One of my mates mentioned he was heading off to Bali in the next few days....

"Oh Wow", says our new Welsh friend, "Any chance of hitching a ride with you?"

"Yeah! No worries Mate!"

"Magic - er, any chance you could take my bike.........."

 

[Babylon]

Hate to break this to you but technically he was never alive.

This is devastating news. I've got as far as volume sixteen, and now you tell me it all a fiction?!

 

[SamanthaTabs]

Ignoramus so googled it and intending to make floating islands tomorrow (kinda in keeping).

Pleased that the cynics are in the minority on the op topic, it is not utter rubbish to have faith in people and use instinct - where the hell would humanity be without it? Digressing, love the bike caption and could easily see us doing that

 

[VO5]

Sitting on the boat this afternoon, a young couple came up asd asked if we could give them a lift to the UK..

As it happens we are not going in that direction for a while so I said no...
They seem veery pleasant, but one wonders? ae they strapped for cash and simply nitchiking or is there a. ore sinist explanation

So I wonder would you?


PS. we are in N Brittany so it is a possible one hop across the channel ...

The prudent response (unfortunately) is no.
You never know what people you don't really know will get up to.
A friend of mine who lived in Surrey bought a beautiful Merc with navy blue leather seats, and decided to take his wife away for a break during a bank holiday weekend in their new car.
On the A30, on their way, they saw a young couple on the side of the road thumbing a lift.
They looked a decent young couple, neatly dressed, clean, etc.,
My friend's wife begged him to stop and give them a lift as they were heading in the same direction.
So he reluctantly turned round and picked them up and they seemed quite nice.
So he stopped at a pub and invited them to lunch.
Throughout the lunch they were talkative, funny, and pleasant company.
My friend went to settle his bill at the bar.
When he returned, to his surprise, his wife was sitting alone at the table.
She explained they had gone to the loo.
So they waited....and neither returned.
So they decided to go back to the car and wait for them in the car.
What a shock !
The rear leather seats had been slashed to bits !
They immediately made a report to the police with their description.
The police was very unhelpful, and admonished them for having picked up strangers.
Based on this experience, I learnt not to give lifts to strangers...in a car...let alone on a boat.
Sad, but true.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

.... They looked a decent young couple, neatly dressed, clean, etc., ....

Thats the bit that would have my hair on end. Psychos are nearly always particular about their neatness - it's a control thing.

 

[Babylon]

Thats the bit that would have my hair on end. Psychos are nearly always particular about their neatness - it's a control thing.

Before I get back to filing my bank statements in proper order, I think I'll just iron a couple of shirts and polish my shoes - and my kitchen knives do need re-sharpening...

 

[Dave99]

Yacht crew do this all the time. Just remember you are liable for the crew's welfare whlist they are onboard, so check your insurance. As mentioned already, onward travel is important cos once they are onboard you fall under marine laws which means they are entitled to repatriation.