What you need to know for hitchhiking? ten main rules!

Around the world, the backpackers movement is expanding – people who prefer travel independently, bypassing tour operators, and with minimal budget. For them the trip hitchhiking is a common thing, perhaps even the norm of life. This way of conquering space has a lot of advantages: besides cheapness, you meet people, learn countries in their authentic and not combed for tourists form. It’s really Journey-adventure in its original sense. Cons traveling to the bus stop is that you completely fall out of familiar comfort environment and all responsibility for life and health lie only on yourself, you are not guaranteed a night under the roof and dinner at the appointed hour. If the road beckons you, you should know the basics such a travel format.

Main rules of hitchhiking

Hitchhiking in Russia may seem like you commonplace, but to learn better in the familiar social environment. In our There are several informal hobby clubs in the country. hitchhiking. To enter one of them, go for example, to the village of Izhitsy, Valdai district, Novgorod region. Meetings, the so-called elbe, are held there twice a year. So, what is needed for hitchhiking? In addition to equipment – tents, clothes and various useful things on the road, it is worth knowing some rules.

1. You must have a goal

Hitchhiking without money is purposeful movement. Otherwise, it turns into wandering without purpose and meaning. To the same village Izhitsy leads the highway M10. Buy a road map Russia, learn the names of key localities, find places where you can spend the night and eat. Having mastered the simple route, you can go, for example, by hitchhiking to Europe from Russia.

2. Consider the rules of the road

Hitchhiking around the world will be more successful if you know the basics of the rules of the road. Almost impossible catch the car on the high-speed sections of the freeways, and on the bridges and overpasses the stop is prohibited by traffic rules. And if you go hitchhiking in Europe and Russia, then you need to follow the rules of walking along the road highways.

3. Consider local customs.

In Europe, a sign that you want to be picked up on the road is a raised hand with a fist clenched and raised thumb up However, in some countries of Southeast Asia such a gesture is considered indecent and offensive. There is better to have carrying a card with the name of the locality where you want get there.

4. Rogues do not like anywhere

If you go hitchhiking in Russia, This does not mean that you can look like a dirty ragged. To untidy Vagrants everywhere are treated badly. Someone just feel sorry for dirty salon car, others begin at their sight to fear for their lives. So try to look civilized. For this, keep with you thread and needle, bar of soap, comb.

5. Third extra

The idea that a big company to travel is more fun and safer, very attractive and not devoid of meaning. But here to find passing transport will be much more difficult for you. Cabins even trunk trucks are designed for a maximum of three people. AND purely subjectively, three people are already perceived as a threat. European drivers will be 100% going around the company from three young men. But in Thailand or Vietnam, where to the rules The traffic rules are more frivolous, even five can without problems plant in an open pickup body. By the way, some people in general prefer to travel alone and basically anyone with do not take them.

6. Road going by walking

When hitchhiking, you have no one to count on except yourself. the most. Be active in the search for transport. Much more often pay attention to those who go and ask for a ride. Sit in the shade – it means you don’t need it anywhere. Stand at the pillar – maybe you’re on the road working. Anyway, even slowly walking, you will be closer to the goal than if you were standing all day waiting hitchhikers

7. Calculate your strength

On average by passing cars you can drive about a day seven hundred kilometers, but not only begin, but end where there is a roof for overnight stay and bodily food. It will be embarrassing if you sit in the cabin trunk truck all day and in the middle of the night it turns out that you are somewhere in the middle of the forest, and the driver cannot share with you a berth, nor the reserves of provisions. If you want to take with a tent, then in the warm season you can make a close to roads.

8. Personal contact is the key to success.

Try to establish contact with the driver at a distance. Tongue facial expressions and gestures are international. If you managed to interest or to attract the attention of someone, he will have less reason to refuse from further communication with you. In general, “share a smile your … “. Do not climb into the cabin silently and with a gloomy look. First, it is not polite. Secondly, after greeting and appreciating the situation, you You can quickly decide whether you should get into such a company. It is better to refuse at the slightest doubt than to get stuck in the story. But and in this case, apologize.

9. Around a lot of interesting things.

Advantages of traveling by auto-multiples. One of them is the opportunity to see what is not in any tourist Avenue, or what is not mentioned on any of the sites. Even if you are hopelessly (seemingly) stuck in a little-known village Kukuyev, this does not mean that there is nothing interesting from the word “at all”. Ruins of a manor’s manor, church, museum in rural areas school, unexpectedly beautiful view of the surroundings, monuments of military fame – all these living witnesses will tell you much more about Homeland than official pompous editions.

10. Radiate optimism.

The journey of this format is closest to its original meaning. This is really an adventure. Difficulties and even minor troubles can trap you at every turn. Stay up and perceive everything that happens with humor. After all, you set off for it. A wide smile and a positive attitude will help you in solving most problems.

After gaining experience on short routes even around the world autostop journey will seem to you something impossible. Uncharted paths and paths await you. Dare!