Blazing thumbs

AKA: Hitchhiking 101
AKA: How to score a pimp ride
AKA: Hitchhikers guide to the Gala... oh wait, that's already taken.
AKA:...

Okay, so we hitched approximately 2500 km since I last wrote. Whitehorse to Dawson City (where we volunteered at a 3 day music festival), up to Inuvik (north of the Arctic Circle where it never got dark to visit some family), and then back to Whitehorse in reverse. I thought I'd write a little mini how-to for anybody that wants to hitchhike...

1. Don't usurp rides from those that went before you. I don't care how many times you count the rosary, the hitching Gods will come back and run you down with a Mac truck. This is a pointed comment, due to those bloody Europeans that sniped our ride as we sat for 4 hours on the side of the road before they . No, I don't hate all Europeans. I love most of them. And even I love them. They'll need it where the hitching Gods will be sending them.
2. Do it in the Yukon/sparsely populated places where nice people reside. In Ontario you fight with two things: #1, fear, and #2, the 'gotta get there' attitude. In the Yukon or other sparsely populated places with nice people you fight with two different things, #1, no traffic, and #2 full cars, because anybody who's in BF Nowhere, probably has supplies to last them for an eternity (approximately).
3. Go with a girl. The prettier, the better. Make sure she likes to smile, and has clean clothes. The breathe doesn't matter, by that time you're already in the car.
4. Don't look like a dirty hippy. Although if you do, other dirty hippies will take pity on you and pick you up. However, I now sport a fauxhawk, so I wouldn't know.
5. Don't expect RVs to pick you up. They won't. It's like inviting complete strangers into their homes. Just smile and wave. However, if you're lucky enough to score a ride in the tow vehicle and then impress the ride-givers with your humour and charm (thank goodness for travelling with a funny charming woman), take the ride in the RV that they'll inevitably offer. People are nice. I would upload a pic, but I just don't have time. They even gave us some reading material and fed us, gave us hugs, and sent us on our way.
6. Do it from a roadside stop. I don't care if you have thumbs like the green giant (actually I don't know if there's anything special about his thumbs), you'll have better luck if you try and coral a ride from a busy roadside stop, like a gas bar or a common spot where people stop on a given route. It gives people the extra few minutes they need to decide that you're not completely sketchy. Unless you are, then you should stick to plan A (the thumb technique).
7. Nobody in the middle of a line of cars will ever pick you up. Actually, nobody in a line will ever pick you up. The first car isn't going to pull over and slow down the whole line, the middle cars aren't going to pull over and slow down all cars behind them, and the last car, although it could, has been psychologically damaged by the first x cars in the line and is now thinking "well, THEY didn't pick them up." Just smile and wave. Maybe the last guy in the line will eventually pick you up.

Ya okay, I only have 30 minutes total on the net. So I'll have to cut it off there.

I haven't had much net access (read: any), but life is grand. Tomorrow we get on another bus for 55 hours to southern BC to visit more family. I will have access a little more for a little longer at that juncture, and will be sure to make a more reasonable post with pictures and the like. The Dempster Highway that crosses the Arctic Circle and takes you to Inuvik (NWT) is one of the most beautiful drives in the world. 750 km of dirt 'highway' through the end of time.

Anyway, hitching was an awesome experience. Met some wonderful people who we'll probably keep in touch with, had some interesting conversations, and shared some good laughs.

I have to go find a pillow.