Hitch-hiking?

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Year.Zero

Year.Zero

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Well, coming this July, my friend and I will be hitch-hiking down into the States. We'll perform a "U" southward down the eastern coast, across the southern states, and north up along the western seaboard back into Canada, somewhere around eastern British Columbia (Crow's Nest Pass area).

From then on it'll be about a week-long cross-Canada hitch-hike back to Ontario.

We're already applying for Passports and alternative licenses (the new version are being accepted as border-crossing material) and have begun acquiring the items necessary to make our trip safe(r) and somewhat easier. It's projected to last about 2 months.
But I need to address something:

Which entrance point is best/easiest/safest to get into the States:

Niagra falls through Buffalo, or the Windsor/Detroit border?

Detroit has a pretty bad crime rep, so I was wondering. Also, I haven't been to the Falls in a while. . .

Also, if anyone can think of some of the more obscure items to bring that could help would be very appreciated.

We've already got the basics covered (maps, water bottles, extra shoes, spray-on water repellant (may have to walk in rain), bicycle light flasher things to put on our backpacks if we find ourselves on foot on the highway, possibly a GPS, etc), but we may have overlooked some things.
 
Sounds like alot of fun, you do however, realize that hitch-hiking is illegal though?

So are you considering walking or actually hitch-hiking because if you are walking, Detroit may not be the safest bet. I would probably recommend the Niagara border, it is a more touristy city and probably easier to find help etc...

Also I think it might be funner (is that a word) if you guys just drive the whole time instead of hitch-hiking, it would reduce the time but you could still see all the cool things in the States. Also a car/van/vehicle would serve as shelter in bad weather and sleeping and stuff like that.
 
Ooooh boy.

http://www.codysmart.com/hitchhike/intro.html

Have fun!

PS There are 3 or 4 ferry crossings down the river from the Port Huron customs. They're nothing more than a shack with a guy waving people into the country. We use those when we know the bridge is going to be backed up before you can even seen the lake.

Then again, you can never really predict how much trouble you're going to have. I've been held up at crossings when all my documents were in order and I've been let in no-questions-asked while looking like a beat up alleycat with an expired driver's license for identification.
 
exigeracer
Ooooh boy.

http://www.codysmart.com/hitchhike/intro.html

Have fun!

PS There are 3 or 4 ferry crossings down the river from the Port Huron customs. They're nothing more than a shack with a guy waving people into the country. We use those when we know the bridge is going to be backed up before you can even seen the lake.

Then again, you can never really predict how much trouble you're going to have. I've been held up at crossings when all my documents were in order and I've been let in no-questions-asked while looking like a beat up alleycat with an expired driver's license for identification.
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That is an absolutely amazing read. Thank you for linking that.

Hitch hiking can be a risky thing, but it also gives you stories as you can see in that link...
 
Do not hitchhike in New Orleans. Also, you could probably try hitchhiking in Florida, but NOBODY would pick you up. :lol: Not even nuns on a road trip.
 
If you hitch through South Carolina, stop by Ware Shoals and I'll let you use my computer to post. Just look for a red Fiero GT.:lol:
 
Formula1Driver
Sounds like alot of fun, you do however, realize that hitch-hiking is illegal though?

So are you considering walking or actually hitch-hiking because if you are walking, Detroit may not be the safest bet. I would probably recommend the Niagara border, it is a more touristy city and probably easier to find help etc...

Also I think it might be funner (is that a word) if you guys just drive the whole time instead of hitch-hiking, it would reduce the time but you could still see all the cool things in the States. Also a car/van/vehicle would serve as shelter in bad weather and sleeping and stuff like that.
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We don't have cars. That's the point of hitch-hiking.
 
Year.Zero
I may very well do that if we end up in South Carolina. SC's a pretty big place, though. ;)
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bah. Just wait till you come to the west side. Everything is bigger here than on the east side of the states.
 
why is it when i hear the words "Hitch hiker" i imagine that beer commercial with the guy with an axe holding the bud light?

 
Azuremen
bah. Just wait till you come to the west side. Everything is bigger here than on the east side of the states.
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I know. I went to Montana once. Their "toast" is the equivalent of the Texas Toast brand of toast. Kinda funny. Everyone drives trucks there, too. I know the coastal states are pretty different, in general. . .West Vs. East Vs. "heartland".

They seem to have smarter and less hickish populations in general. Less plains and grassy areas and whatnot which require farmers with low education quotas.

I'd like to see Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, possibly San Fernando, LA (that's a must, but it's a bit chancey), Vegas, and anywhere else that's nifty in the desert. I'd be quite content spending most of my time in the desert. There's something different about it there.
 
Year.Zero
Also, if anyone can think of some of the more obscure items to bring that could help would be very appreciated.

We've already got the basics covered (maps, water bottles, extra shoes, spray-on water repellant (may have to walk in rain), bicycle light flasher things to put on our backpacks if we find ourselves on foot on the highway, possibly a GPS, etc), but we may have overlooked some things.
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You haven't mentioned a gun. I hear guns prevent crime, so you might want to take one of those along too.




Also, a gun might help you acquire a car if your legs get really tired.
 
Year.Zero
We don't have cars. That's the point of hitch-hiking.
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$500 can fix that. I've sold cars for $500 that were totally capable of driving across the country.

I wouldn't even dream of hitchhiking these days. Even in a beater car you are 100 times safer than you are absolutely at the mercy of the world.
 
Duke
$500 can fix that. I've sold cars for $500 that were totally capable of driving across the country.

I wouldn't even dream of hitchhiking these days. Even in a beater car you are 100 times safer than you are absolutely at the mercy of the world.
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Do you want to sell me a car for $500?
 
I never knew ppl still hitch hiked? How much money are you going to bring along? Might need a lot for 2 months. What if it gets stolen?
 
Hitch-Hiking is mondo illegal, and I'm sure a trip through Michigan would get you picked up by the cops... But we're a lovely state!

I would sell you my Jetta, but thats $2000.
 
Year.Zero
Do you want to sell me a car for $500?
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I don't have one at the moment, but they are all over. Shop carefully. Look up the BABE rally and see if anybody has a contender for sale.
 
YSSMAN
Hitch-Hiking is mondo illegal, and I'm sure a trip through Michigan would get you picked up by the cops... But we're a lovely state!

I would sell you my Jetta, but thats $2000.
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One of my favorite roadsigns ever is actually right near the aforementioned Port Huron customs on the Michigan side reading "State Penitentiary area - DO NOT pick up hitch-hikers"
 
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/tor/car/548172335.html - make him an offer
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/tor/car/548182452.html - you could bunk in back
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/tor/car/547953726.html - $5 in change for gas money
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/mss/car/547852032.html - if it's made 250,000km it ain't gonna get much worse any time soon
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/tor/car/547051401.html - passed emissions!
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/tor/car/547395005.html - he says it will pass emissions!

There you go. I bet you could get some of these folks down closer to $500. The great thing about a $500 car is that minimum insurance will be peanuts as well. And if it expires, you just leave it.
 
Bubble Bunny
I never knew ppl still hitch hiked? How much money are you going to bring along? Might need a lot for 2 months. What if it gets stolen?
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We're not actually planning on paying for much other than food.

YSSMAN
Hitch-Hiking is mondo illegal, and I'm sure a trip through Michigan would get you picked up by the cops... But we're a lovely state!

I would sell you my Jetta, but thats $2000.
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exigeracer
One of my favorite roadsigns ever is actually right near the aforementioned Port Huron customs on the Michigan side reading "State Penitentiary area - DO NOT pick up hitch-hikers"
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So . . . Buffalo it is!

Duke
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/tor/car/548172335.html - make him an offer
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/tor/car/548182452.html - you could bunk in back
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/tor/car/547953726.html - $5 in change for gas money
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/mss/car/547852032.html - if it's made 250,000km it ain't gonna get much worse any time soon
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/tor/car/547051401.html - passed emissions!
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/tor/car/547395005.html - he says it will pass emissions!

There you go. I bet you could get some of these folks down closer to $500. The great thing about a $500 car is that minimum insurance will be peanuts as well. And if it expires, you just leave it.
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Thanks for suggestions, but I'm really not in the market for a car.

In the event we do make it across the border, if we hitch-hike on the highway, will a Highway Patrol officer take us into town? That's practically a free ride even if it means a night in jail.
 
Being from Canada they probably would think that you are smuggling drugs and throw you in jail, if they see you hitch-hiking on the highway they will definately stop and question you, seeing as it is their job.
 
Formula1Driver
Being from Canada they probably would think that you are smuggling drugs and throw you in jail, if they see you hitch-hiking on the highway they will definately stop and question you, seeing as it is their job.
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They probably won't, seeing as they won't know we're Canadian until they stop us.

And border patrol probably wouldn't either, because who else from Canada is going to be entering America at the America/Canada border?

Really now.
 
No what I was saying is that if you are hitch-hiking down a highway it might seem kind of suspicious. Seeing as hitch-hiking is illegal most places, a cop would stop to question you. Once questioning you and learning that you are from Canada, the stereotypical American cop would assume these Canadians are smuggling drugs or have something to do with dope.
 
Formula1Driver
No what I was saying is that if you are hitch-hiking down a highway it might seem kind of suspicious. Seeing as hitch-hiking is illegal most places, a cop would stop to question you. Once questioning you and learning that you are from Canada, the stereotypical American cop would assume these Canadians are smuggling drugs or have something to do with dope.
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That's basically asinine.
 
:) I didn't mean to sound stupid, that other post was supposed to be a joke but I guess it didn't really work out.

EDIT: Actually both my previous posts were supposed to be jokes.
 
Year.Zero, is this a joke? This seems so unrealistic I just can't believe it.

If a cop sees you walking down the highway he's going to stop you and question you sternly, and once he finds out you're hitch-hiking from Canada...I have no idea what will happen.

Americans aren't nice. Good luck finding anyone to pick you up. Better take some comfortable shoes.

If you don't plan on spending any money you'd better have an assload of it with you because you might just find out you need it to buy a plane ticket home from San Diego.

Also, I think you should come in through Detroit. If you make it through there without being shot, it's only a short walk to Vine Street here in Cincy. Those guys might have a bone to pick with you.

But overall, I don't even think you'll be able to cross the border on foot. It seems to me like you're going to have to find clever ways around our laws to be able to complete this trip. It's a great idea, but it's also the worst idea I've ever heard.
 
Keef
But overall, I don't even think you'll be able to cross the border on foot.
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Into Michigan, no. They stopped my friend who wanted to ride his bike into Canada. They made him take a bus...
 

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