How can you spend $5 on a weekend trip to Fraser Island, $45 on a weeklong trip to Cairns and make 20 new friends in the process? HITCHHIKE!

I know what most of you are thinking and even my ears ring with the words of my mother. “Hitchhiking equals a torturous death.” My original understanding of hitchhiking has evolved from a “free ride to the grave” to something quite different as a result of experiences and a sort of ideological reconciliation.

It all started when I arrived in Sydney on my first trip to Australia. I needed to get to Bond University in Gold Coast, AU and with no bus, train or plane reservations; I decided my thumb could be a plausible option.

Walking thought the brightly-lit airport terminal I asked some bloke to borrow his Sharpie marker, got down on the ground and began to scroll ‘BRISBANE / GOLD COAST’ on a piece of cardboard I managed to scrounge. With a tinge of pessimism he said, “Good luck mate,” as he chuckled and walked off. I was a bit put-off but reckoned, “I already have a sign, Why not?”

I caught a train to the edge of Sydney and the journey began. There I stood on the side of the road, sign shaking and a nervous smile plastered on my face. After standing there about 20 minutes I began putting this trip into perspective.

It was like trying to hitch from my hometown of Milwaukee to the Rockies of Colorado. Right then it hit me . . . that person would never make it to Colorado. With my moral down, moments from giving up to find a bus or train; I heard a beeping up the road. In a wary, ecstatic rush I scooped up my backpack and ran towards the car. As I approached - to my amazement - I didn’t see a toothless bumpkin, but rather an attractive 25 year old woman opening up the boot. (I found out later that Vanessa was a bridal wear model.)

“Where are you headed?” I was able to sputter out between gasps to catch my breath. With a smile she said, “It’s your lucky day: Gold Coast.” In the car was another beautiful young woman, rather than the macho boyfriend I had expected. And so it was . . . my lucky day.

Up to the Gold Coast we headed, the three of us. Twelve hours later we arrived to the Gold Cost at around 11:30 pm and Vanessa enquired, did I have a place to stay?

“Sure, I’m just headed to Bond University.” However, stating that it was a ridiculous time to check into a new place, she said, “I have plenty of room at my apartment.” But not wanting to impose, especially after I had already gotten a ride up the coast, I said, I would be fine. However, she just wouldn’t have it . . . so reluctantly I accepted.

The next morning I was greeted to a breakfast of bacon, eggs, freshly squeezed orange juice and even a piece of home-made banana bread. HITCHHIKING . . . I was hooked.

Since that first ride I have hitched over 6,000 miles with over 100 different people. Hitching is a great way to meet friendly individuals who are able to empathize with a person standing on the side of the road. This sort of compassion often stems from the person having been in a similar spot themselves. It is precisely this process that results in the good, kind, friendly and genuine nature that I have experienced with most individuals that I have been picked up by.

The sieve of hitchhiking allows you to meet a certain kind of person. Now keep in mind the diversity of people who pick up hitchhikers is as varied as the vehicles they drive. Hippies, truck drivers, old, young, travelers, locals, women, men, grandmothers, women with children, Europeans, Americans, Asians, single women, those in love, those with hearts broken, friendly, lonely, quiet, talkative, and everything else in between. And the aforementioned are just some that I have experienced. Try as we might it is impossible to stereotype this population.

If you believe in the old expression that, “It is not the final destination but the journey that matters,” then hitchhiking has much to offer. It is incredible the number of different perspectives that you encounter even on a short trip. Some are upbeat and rose colored and others dark and clouded in a haze (literally).

No matter whom the person greeting you when you hop into the passenger side, hitchhiking provides a great lesson in remaining open to other perspectives . . . especially those radically different from your own. Just remember you might be in a car with them for a long time!

The open, honesty that occurs between a driver and hitcher rivals that of my best friends and I. For example, within the space of a 15 minute ride I found out that one guy had recently been broken up with, entered drug rehab, cut himself badly a few weeks prior, has been on workers compensation, surfs, has recently found Christ, believes in Karma and thinks he will win his girlfriend back. At the end of the ride we parted ways and he left me with his cell phone number saying we should get together over coffee sometime.

Not only do you get a flavor of the country through its people, you are force to slow down and see things not always in the guide book. It is amazing the amount of information and topics covered on a trip of a couple thousand miles: the sugar industry, global politics, sex (you guessed it; truck drivers), Australian business, history, love, war, psychology, eastern philosophy and a whole range of other topics.

If these vague generalizations are not enough evidence of the positive aspects of hitching I’ll share with you some specific examples from my own travels.

Hitching to Tongariro National Park in New Zealand a South African woman drove me 36 miles out of her way to the front gate of the park. She supplied me with a sandwich and homemade fudge.

Going to Byron Bay a girl headed only a few miles down the road drove me the entire hour down the coast.

While in Brisbane an old man heading only a couple miles drove me to my final destination 120 miles away.

While hitching on Christmas day a young guy invited me to have Christmas dinner with his family.

One afternoon on the road a young mother and father invited me to their home for dinner and to stay the night. The next afternoon I watched their children and they drove me back to the highway with a packed lunch in hand.

The world is not as frightening as we think! Hitching is not the monster our imagination makes it. Be cautious . . . but think about taking the best ride in town.

Fun Facts About My Hitching Experience!

1) NO. OF TIMES OFFERED MARIJUANA: 3
2) NO. OF COMPULSIVE LIARS: 2
3) NO. OF STALKERS WHO STAYED IN FEQUENT CONTACT AFTER THE RIDE: 1
4) LONGEST RIDE: 610 MILES
5) FEMALE TO MALE RATIO OF DRIVERS: 1:2.5
6) HIGHEST SPEED REACHED: 108 MPH
7) LONGEST TIME WATING FOR A LIFT: 3 HOURS
8) SHORTEST TIME SPENT WATING FOR A LIFT : 15 SECONDS
9) NUMBER OF FREE MEALS: 14
10) NUMBER OF SWEAR WORDS UTTERED BY TRUCKERS: COUNTLESS