Mike recently posted an incredible story on his blog, outlining our experiences hitchhiking so far. As soon as I read it, I got chills. Mike has a way with words and he wrote an extremely accurate portrayal of our adventures hitching. Hitchhiking gets a bad rap in the U.S. (sometimes, for good reason), but in Iceland, it’s not a big deal. People are mostly gracious and often, even eager to pick up hitchhikers.
Whether it’s your first time hitching or not, Mike graciously shared his tips for getting rides abroad. Check out his first ever guest post on Driftyland!
Hello, I’m Mike. Two weeks ago, Melissa and I stuck our thumbs our and hitchhiked for the first time (you can read about our experiences hitchhiking in Iceland on my blog). Here’s a few tips on how to hitch-hike in Iceland (and, perhaps, other countries as well). Stay safe out there, and have fun.
Bring food, water, and cold/wet-weather clothing
You simply never know where you’ll end up, and for how long. You might end up waiting a few days for a ride in the middle of nowhere. That sucks, but it’s worse if you’re starving or hypothermic – and Iceland can go from balmy to bitter in twenty minutes.
Be presentable.
I’m not sure how well you’d do wearing a suit and tie, but shaving, putting on a clean outfit, and appearing organized and kempt implies you’re a decent, good-smelling fellow to have in the car.
Take the busses, or walk, to the edge of the city, or further.
The reasoning here boils down to this- the further along your intended route you are when you start, the more likely it is that those passing you are headed for your destination, and not just up the street to get groceries. It also allows more room for people to enter the highway outside the city before passing you – people who you’d miss if you were closer to town. City busses are cheap and can get you into the outskirts of town.
Pick a good spot, or walk as you thumb.
If you’re an impossibly long way from your destination or just don’t feel like walking, try to find a spot where a driver could easily pull over to let you in. Then, stand in front of it, so they can pull in behind you – I’ve never had a driver decide to pick me up quickly enough to stop in front of me. If you like, you can walk towards your destination as you thumb.
I hypothesize that walking makes you appear more capable and improves that first impression drivers make of you in the instant in which they must decide whether to pick you up or not. But even if that’s not true, it certainly makes the time go faster. Be sure to be a safe distance from the road, and when cars pass, it’s good to turn around and make eye contact (and smile or look pleasant) so they can see who they’d be picking up (or not, if you’re really ugly).
If you don’t have camping gear, get dropped off near towns, guesthouses, or at the very least, gas stations
Having a tent and sleeping bag is never a bad idea. That way, almost anywhere you get dropped off could comfortably be your destination for the evening. But if you don’t plan on roughing it, don’t strand yourself. You could be waiting all night. Note that there are often guesthouses outside of cities.
If someone’s going your direction, take the ride (unless, of course, they seem sketch)
Know where you’re going, and what’s along the way. If someone can take you even 20 minutes away, that’s progress, and being further along in your route is always good, as it filters passerby down to only those who can take you where you need to go (see tip 3).
Be gracious and likeable
When picked up, express deep gratitude- after all, a stranger has elected to share their time and money with you, and often with solely altruistic motivation. If they are curious or talkative, talk! I now have kind acquaintances in Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, and of course, Iceland, and I’ve only been hitching for a week.
Trust your gut
Iceland is an incredibly safe country. Melissa and I have never felt any anxiety getting into the cars that have stopped for us. But stay aware and alert, and pay attention to your intuition. If you feel unsure of a ride, firmly opt out. Don’t worry about offending someone.
Want more Mike? Check out his blog.