I began hitchhiking when I was around 16- or 17-year-old. I was at a summer camp’s reunion at someone’s place in Nummela, and wanted to try how hitchhiking works.

It was a 24 km ride home, along a straight highway. I got the ride near the Citymarket in Nummela and left near Ikea in Espoo. A beginning that eventually led into me identifying as a hitchhiker :)

  • Snoopy@tarte.nuage-libre.frEnglish
    1·
    17 days ago

    My first hitchhiking ride was when i lived in the countryside for the first time. At my 30s, i didn’t have any drive permit. Usually i move with my bike, train and bus.

    For me, usually people are nice but that was also the scariest experience. Travelling with unknown people isn’t my forte :)

    • Tuukka R@piefed.eeOPMEnglish
      2·
      17 days ago

      Hehe, the main reason I like travelling by hitchhiking is precisely the unknown people. They often have stories to tell I’d never hear elsewhere. On how bees are grown or on how over-wide transport is escorted properly. (Or: How to behave if the fuel truck I’m on crashes and catches fire. Including knowing that I’m legally not allowed to be on that truck when it’s loaded. As it was 🤣)
      Or about selling insurances. Or importing crankshafts for boat engines. (yes, I really did meet a person specialized on that!)

      Of course, I’ve heard almost everything a truck driver might tell about their profession, and each thing at least five times already, so that part is a bit boring. But, the trucks do have their own feeling that is very nice!

      And then there’s the whole thing of getting invited to people’s homes. And that can be very interesting in foreign culture areas! I would know much less about the life in Kazakhstan if my driver hadn’t invited me to their home and fed me traditional Kazakh food!