Russian hitchhiking as sign of new times

In 1968 Valery Grushin, an aicraft institute student, saved two children from drowning but perished himself. Yearly ever since in Samara region Grushin bard song contests are held. People get there at a certain time of the year, namely first weekend of July, stay there for some days, listen to music, find friends, fall in love or become disappointed in it all – in a word, they live their lives in a compressed format.

From the very start the cheapest way (major audience being students) to get there was to stop a car on a highway, then if needed – another one and so on. That is how the idea of such traveling appeared.

Today hitchhiking can be regarded either as sports or as means of extreme getaway for those who are tired of everyday routine. Association As in any enterprise, there are ideologists and professionals in hitchhiking. They’ve traveled all over the country and beyond its bounds; they can keep up the conversation on any topic, they are dressed in specific clothes so that a driver can see them even in dark time and they know for sure that no resort or vacation tour can surpass the feeling of freedom they obtain on the highway. And they always share the information they have by means of books, meetings or Internet. Special sites in Internet provide with data on different cities from the angle of a hitchhiker: where to stay (a cheap motel or hospice), where to eat, people to contact in case of emergency, places to visit. There are maps of regions with advice what road to choose or omit. One should also remember about ferryboats and bridges that are regulated according to time-tables or caprice of the person in charge. Forums offer various topics for discussion – secrets of “catching” a car, hitchhiker competitions within a region or at a country level, omens to believe and follow, new routes to discover.

Technique

When you’ve chosen your route, think of region numbers on the car you need. It is worthwhile to stop a car that heads for the place that is close to yours; though you may spend quite a while waiting for such car, it is worth it. When showing with your hand and pose that you need a lift, look at the drivers face with positive attitude. Self-assurance that you will finally stop a car is very important, for not a single car will stop if you are embarrassed to ask for such a service. If you cannot stop a car for a long time – walk several meters ahead. Probably, you were close to outpost or crossroad or light signal – anything that is usually more important for a driver than someone asking for a lift. If you travel in warm time – take a sleeping bag along. When it gets dark, find some place that looks like a shelter to you and try to sleep: hitchhiking at night is rather unavailing, because drivers are tired and stop to take a nap. This “dead hour” lasts from 1 a.m. to 4-5 a.m. In the morning you’ll get you lift way easier.

An inscribe

When you come to another city and don’t want to stay somewhere for money (or sleep in the street though it’s warm enough), you look for an “inscribe” – allowance to stay at somebody’s place. One can find an inscribe through friend or by Internet in special forums and communities or simply by coming up to people in the streets. Normally you have to offer something for this service – your good mood, gift of telling stories, singing or promise to render similar service in your town. Or simply to guarantee your honest and positive attitude to hosts. If a person who got an inscribe deliberately causes any sort of damage to the host (steals something and disappears) – it will sooner or later become known to the hitchhiking community, mostly by means of Internet, so that the trespasser can harm no one else.

Danger

First of all, drivers of the cars you get in. It is always safer to choose a car with one driver, so that you stay face to face and at least in quality you are equal. It is easier for a girl (than for a boy) to stop, “catch” a car; but it is far more dangerous: half the drives expect her to render sexual service. You’ve got to employ all your wit, patience and confidence to convince the person holding the wheel that you travel and don’t earn money selling your body. The best way to achieve it – cast aside even thoughts about sex on highway. Second, prostitutes (dangerous for girls) – may take other females for rivals, unbelievable as it might seem. That is why you never get off the car close to a motel or café – a hundred meters ahead is a safer place to catch the next car. Third, sex hunting men, driving by and recognizing girls as prostitutes. It all leaves rather an unpleasant feeling of vulnerability and harsh reality; but as they say, if you are ready for it – you’re half armed and prepared.

Discover

Humans Still, the best you get from hitchhiking is socializing notwithstanding all negative emotions the trip is bound to bring. In everyday life you will never hear the stories and meet the people you hear and see on the road. Drivers give a lift to people voting on the side of the road to find a good company for an hour or two, till their roads coincide. People tell you about their families, places they’ve been to, books they read, things they’ve lost and found, ask for advice, listen to you – chat about anything as far as it is interesting and new. They might feed you, support you with money or even “an inscribe”, arrange at the gas station a lift for you to the next point of your trip – become your new family for a while. And leave you with a warm feeling of believe in people. You’ve always hoped that there are more nice guys than bad ones; it is really so.