This article on the BBC news website describes a reporter’s drive through Pakistan, where he talks about the state of the country and the people he gives lifts to on his journey.
It reminds me of something that I read about once, which I would love to try one day. In Mustn’t Grumble, the story of a trip round his native England by the wonderfully grumpy Joe Bennett, the author briefly mentions a holiday he and a friend took many years previously.
In a nutshell, they picked up hitch-hikers and then took them wherever they wanted.
When I first read it, I couldn’t help thinking what a magnificent idea it was. The refreshing uncertainty of hitting the open road knowing that your destination is in the hands of strangers you’ve yet to meet, is liberating and exciting. Like Thelma and Louise, but hopefully without the suicide.
And the probable alarm felt by hitch-hikers as they realise you’re going wherever they are, leading to pleasant surprise and gratitude when they discover you’re not actually an axe-murderer, appeals to my love of cheeky “hit and run” kindness as a joinee.
All I need is a car. And some holidays that aren’t going to be spent chasing mullets.
The list of places to visit and things to do when the mission is finished grows ever longer…
Tuesday November 27 2007 at 11:14 am |
I think you might struggle to make a holiday around this these days – there seem to be considerably fewer hitch-hikers around now than in previous times, whether due to concerns about axe-murderers or increased access to other forms of transport, or some other factor (people organising lifts via online forums before they leave?), I’m not sure. You might end up spending your days cruising around looking for hitchhikers to pick up.
You could, though, always sign up to one of the forums and offer lifts that way – though that would remove (or at least considerably reduce) the feeling of heading off into the unknown, I suppose.
Tuesday November 27 2007 at 11:17 am |
Thanks for the idea Neil – however, the feeling of heading off into the unknown is the very reason I’m interested in doing it!
Admittedly though, you do see a lot less hitch-hikers around these days. Maybe that will make the challenge all the more rewarding if it works…