Getting Around (Part 2)

   Back to hitchhiking again. We've really only looked at the basic outline so far; there's still plenty to discuss before we move past hitchhiking. This post is mostly going to be disorganized rambling, just to cover some basic tips and alternatives.
   Working from where we left off, once your ride pulls over, what now? Grab your stuff, and walk up to the passenger side door. Ask them how far they're headed, and see if they'd be willing to drop you off on the far side of the last large town on their way.
   Another concern is where to get dropped off. Unless you can get a ride the whole way to your destination, you'll want dropped at another location that would be good to hitch from. Obviously, you want to find a spot on the other side of town (south side if you're headed south). Look for a ramp that's a likely stop for long range traffic; preferably an exit with gas stations/truck stops, fast food restaurants, and/or motels.
   In some areas, short rides might not be worth it. In states that don't allow you to walk the interstate/highways, a ride to a smaller town a couple miles down the road will just get you stranded. If that's the case, your best bet is to politely decline. In states where you can walk along the interstates/highways, it's probably worth accepting.
   If you happen to be in a state where you can walk along the interstates, then that's going to be an even better place to hitch from than the ramps, since all of the traffic headed your way will be passing you. In that case, find a long, straight stretch and stand on the shoulder/berm where you'll be visible from a relatively long distance (they'll be driving a lot faster than the traffic on the ramps.) You might as well stay within a half-hours hike of a convenience store or gas station for food and drink, unless you know there's more ahead of you or you've packed enough for a while (running out of water sucks).
   Truck stops are another option. Along with being able to refill your water bottle/jug, eat, and even shower or do laundry, you can also catch a ride out of truck stops. Truck stops and gas stations are pretty much the only option after it gets dark. Try to find one by an on-ramp, with plenty of vehicles coming and going. There are a few ways to get a ride out. You can ask drivers directly (asking truckers at the pumps tends to work). You can also just grab something to eat/drink, and sit outside with your pack and sign visible nearby. Either way, if you get in the way too much, or customers complain, you will probably be told to leave the property. Some truck stops are more likely to kick you out than others (TA is notoriously intolerant of hitchhikers, even if you're not trying to hitch from their property), while some places are very friendly towards hitchhikers. Sometimes it's company policy; other times it comes down to how the employees/managers react.
   If you do get told to leave a truck stop, you can still go back to the on-ramp, or try to get a ride from the lot exit that the trucks use to leave the truck stop (basically the same way you would hitch from a ramp).
   While interstates are usually the easiest way to go, especially long distances, state and U.S. routes are another option. In fact, interstates and US routes often run similar paths (US-1/I-95 on the East Coast, US-101/I-5 on the West Coast). US and state routes are generally slower, due to lower speed limits and more short range traffic, but they also tend to have better scenery and go through smaller towns. Until the interstates were built, the old US routes were the hitchhiking path of choice for hippies, beatniks, and hobos for most of the 20th century (fun fact: the first coast-to-coast Interstate highway, I-80, was finished in 1986, but the whole network wasn't completed until 1992).