TR-Advent calendar #7

Ho,ho,ho- here we go! Christmas time is coming and before we hitchhike home for Christmas (haha…) we want to present you the first Advent calendar on tramprennen.org! Every day until Christmas (or even longer) we want to present one story about the first time we used the best way to travel: hitchhiking! Have fun with the stories! And you are more than welcome to add your own experience! Just send it to gro.nennerpmartnull@ofni! Whoop,Whoop!

#7: Ronny

Riled up by a bunch of backpacker movies, I was always thrilled to travel solely by my thumb streched out. But I could never conquered myself, who know’s why, although there was always the possibility to do it. Let’s say lazyness always ate up my want to travel, my passion for adventure, but this should be changed soon.

After finishing school I always dreamed to just leave the common surrounding. Maybe as romantic as in the movie „Into the wild“ – alone! What about Scotland? Yeah man – Scotland, alone, tent, backpack and a little time. I booked plane and busses, retrospectively actually the most boring possibilities to get along.

I planned to hike the Isle of skye from North to South and letting things happen as they do. So let’s get the adventures started.

On the third day on the island I already finished one quarter of the tour, but slowly my food and water resources got empty. „Damn! I have to get to the next bigger city soon!“ – According to some people I met on the way there should be a bus connecting all of the smaller villages and cities – theoretically. However, on my way to catch it I met John (cool dude!). We talked a bit about travelling in general and Scotland in specific. He told me that he spent already few weeks hitchhiking on the island and that’s super easygoing. Not fully convinced, I finally left to catch the bus.

A few hours later, one kilometer ahead of the bus stop I just saw the last bus of the day pelting. „Shit! No food, no bus – what‘s left? Okay I give it a try! Hitchhiking!“ Easier said than done.

First try: Thumb raised! I stood at the bus stop and waited. – Wrong side. Oops, Great Britain, right, left-hand driving.

Second try: Thumb raised! First car was coming, a campervan. Little shy but eager I looked at the driver. He smiled, passed by. „ Hmmm, okay! Not that easy.“ Some minutes later … car by car is passing by: people are smiling, waving, or looking completely surprised. But, all at once, like self-evident, a red car stopped. It was an older man, shrimper, car packed with metal stuff. „Can I get you a lift?“ – „Really? Yes, of course!“

Let’s go, get in. Maybe it’s the only chance today. The guy told me a lot about his island, the people, the weather and a bunch of other fantastic stories. Time flew by, I was back to civilisation, I made another acquaintance and got hooked on hitchhiking. „Why shouldn’t I travel like that always?“

I made headway, my resources were refilled and I was ready for the next kilometers.While sun was burning and rain was pelting I trudged for some days over green hills and through too deep puddles. I got to know many nice new people. Step by step I converged to the lower part of the island.

Finally, I arrived at the southern tip. My tour was over . I was full of impressions and a little uneasy feeling about having to leave. Again I stood in the middle of nowhere, wet to the skin and I had to get back to the city.

Thumbs up! Jonathan was stopping. He was a business man driving a ‚Lexus‘ with a black leather bag and wearing a coat and tie. „Heya, need a lift?“ With stupid prejudices stuck in my head I got into the car: „ A person like this in such an expensive is going to give me a lift? – Eeh okay!“ During the next hour told me a bunch of great hitchhiking stories in his past. We talked about movies and playing bagpipes. Finally he dropped me and slipped 10 pounds into my hand, which I should spend on some beers „ Damn it!“. He left with the words: „Most about life you learn, when you‘re doin‘ nothing.“

I think I haven’t met a person, that impressed me like him, for a very long time. Thank you for this unique experience!