Things I like to read when I can’t go anywhere;

• Pigeon Life by Dave Gunn (A fantastic zine, good as both an introduction to hitchhiking and an in depth discussion of what it is. Deals with hitchhiking over long periods, including tips on where to sleep, how to make money, and where to eat. Also discusses train hopping and recreational homelessness, and has a section by/for female hitchhikers. Only drawback for me personally is that it deals with the USA only, although I’d recommend it if that’s what you’re looking for - he breaks it down by state and gives what sound like really good tips. Nice illustrations and really well set out. Delivery was very quick and he sent me a lovely note with the zine. Buy it!)
• No such thing as a free ride? by Simon and Tom Sykes (A collection of stories from hitchhikers, ranging from the 50’s until the book’s publication year. Really liked this one because it’s anecdotes rather than a guidebook, and they are mostly from Europe - mostly I can only find USA based hitching stories, and usually they are horror/urban legends rather than memories from actual trips. Bought this for £2.50 from the Amnesty International bookshop in Newcastle.)
• Hitchhiker’s guide to Europe 1995 by Katie Wood and Ken Welsh (A bit outdated - this version was published the year I was born, so some of the information is no longer accurate, but most of it is generally still good. Nice because it breaks down each country individually, and gives addresses of particular places to see/sleep/eat, as well as tips for particular areas submitted by readers. Has a good common phrase language section in the back, as well as information about embassies and working in Europe. Bought online from World of Books.)
• Europe: A manual for hitch-hikers by Simon Calder (I like this one because it’s been used! A previous owner drew a map/plan inside the front cover. Unfortunately this was published in 1985, so a lot of the information is defunct now - there is a great list detailing specific public transport to use to get out of specific towns, but I can tell you from looking at the information for my town that all the bus numbers have changed! A lot of the road info is still ok to use though, and it has some good illustrations for the more complicated road networks. Gives clear indication of which European roads are illegal to hitch on, but I’d assume that a lot of these have changed since publication too. Also has some good general hitching phrases in a lot of different languages. Again, picked up for £2 from the marvelous Amnesty International bookshop in Newcastle.)
• Hitch-hiking by Mario Rinvolucri (not pictured, online book - still working my way through this one, but I like it so far, lots of different opinions on why people do/don’t hitch)

In one of the Swedish apartments.

Going for a short last trip before we go into travelling hibernation for winter tomorrow. The days are getting too short to hitch hike any proper distance, so this’ll be the last time until at least february, probably :(

No preplanned destination this time, we’re just going to see where we end up.

It’s rapidly becoming winter where I am. The nights are drawing in, the weather is getting progressively shittier and the leaves are crisping brown and falling from the trees. I don’t like winter. 

So naturally my thoughts are already with next June/July, when I sit my final A level exams. I think my last exam is the 26th, and after that I’m free to do as I please - I will be handing in my week’s notice to work and quitting, packing up and finally getting on the road long term. 

The only problem is that I don’t turn 18 until the 4th of August - while this doesn’t bother me, if I’m hitching with my friend who just turned 18 recently (which is looking pretty likely as she wants to head to Oktoberfest with me in Germany) it could mean all sorts of shit for her if we get into trouble abroad. So, here is my dilemma: do I just head straight into Europe as soon as I finish my exams while I’m still under 18, or do I just hitch around the UK for the month or so until I turn 18 and then go into Europe? I’d love to see the south coast anyway, especially Cornwall and Dorset, but I also really want to see Europe and don’t want to lose any of the summer by having to stay in the UK. What should I do?

A photo I took of a very autumnal looking Saltwell Park.

Saw some hitch hikers on my way to work today.

Take me with you D: 

sonitusuniversum:

i got this swiss army knife in Switzerland, it’s pretty awesome

Starting to collect stuff I’ll need for my future adventures. The backpack I’m definately taking, as well as the roll mat, but I can’t decide whether to use the crappy sleeping bag that is way lighter and easier to carry, or the three season sleeping bag which is heavier and more difficult to lug around. The grey bag holds a tent, which I am also still undecided on, although I’m considering just taking the tarp from it in case of rain, and not the wires and pegs.

One of the things I’ve decided I have to do when I hitch hike around America is get to the Broadway Bridge, in Portland, Oregon.

I really need to read up on the legality of climbing bridges before I go, but I have at least a year to do that.