August 12th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,England
A big event happened today in the 14degrees Journey – I hitch hiked for the first time, ever. The plan is to hitchhike down to La Rochelle, France, and hang about there for a while trying to find someone to let me come aboard their yacht as crew. Any yacht will do, so long as it’s going across the Atlantic.
Htichiking today was easy. Holding a cardboard sign indicating where I wanted to go, I got to Portsmouth in three rides. Had a few cars pretend to stop and just as I was picking up my pack drive off, but apart from that people were very nice.
The plan was to try to hitch a rice onto a truck so that I could get from Portsmouth to St. Malo in France for free across the Channel. I had tips that this was doable, but I didn’t have the guts to stand right outside the terminal entrance with my thumb out (photo below). After much umming and ahhing, I finally shelled out 28 Euros for a ticket on LD Lines ferry to La Havre. Not too bad considering I bought the ticket at 9pm and the boat was leaving at 10:30pm.
I slept for most of the night on the open deck because inside was stuffy and hot.
France eh? I don't think they speak Japanese, Chinese or Russian so it will be back to sign language again – unless you can find an English speaker. Will be interested in your impressions.
Don't even attempt to speak French if you can't do it properly! The French can be quite arrogant about their language. Mind you, that was my experience in Paris, so it is probably different in other places of France.
@ Aunty Jenny – The French people that I have met have really appreciated my efforts to learn their language. Very patient and helpful.
I gather that It's the Parisians who are the ones who don't like it if you can't speak French. Everywhere else in France is fine.
What's with the hitching business? Where's the skateboard?
