OK so one more.
Merle, this one is for you.
If you want to be a, what do you call them these days, "backpackers"
If you want to wander around Australia for minimal costs, there are a few things you need to get right.
First, Truckles are not supposed to pick you up, But, they will..sometimes.
What you have to understand, they are not there so you can get some sleep while freeloading in there cab.
They do this every day, every week, year after year. So there is a few things you need to get right. Here is a list of do's and dont's.
And just so you know, at last count I have hitched about 27,000km around Australia mostly with Truckies, our finest folks. So, I have a fair idea how to make it work.
Do's and Don't s
- Don't expect a truck to pull up and pick you up unless you are on fire, A triple road train in Australia is over 50m long (176 feet) and can weigh 80 tons, he is not going to stop for you, unless you are a sexy blond in a bikini with big boobs, even then maybe not. I have seen road trains so long you can't believe it, 5 trailers is not uncommon, that might be I dunno, 80 meters, and 100+ tons.
- So approach him at a road or fuel stop.
- Don't approach him at a fuel stop, when he just stopped, he probably has just been driving for 10 hours, he will NOT want to talk to you.
- Wait till he has had his sleep, had a shower, had breakfast and feels human again.
- Do not walk up and say, G day mate, ya going ta to Port Augusta. Seriously, you could be an Ax wielding maniac, would you pick you up?
- Do, use your manners, introduce yourself, say who you are, what your doing, where you going, why your going there, and where you have been. He will probly still say bugger off, but you just improved your chances tenfold.
- If he does give you a lift
- DO NOT GO TO SLEEP IN HIS TRUCK, he is looking for company not a freeloader looking for a kip.
- When he stops, he will go get something to eat.
- Get out, clean his windscreen (properly) wash the bugs off his headlights, grab any rubbish in his truck, earn your keep. Once done, then you eat. He may not say anything, but he will notice.
- If he gets trouble, a flat Tyre, unless your a fellow truck driver your probably going to be useless, but try, offer to help.
Anyway, I have had enough, I wanna hear the song,
Decades ago I hitched the Nullabore to Perth and got a lift in a road train. for 3 days the bloke read penny dreadfulls while driving at 80kph
At Sunset we rounded the corner at Coolgardie, on his home stretch for Perth.
He smiled, put his book away and looked to the shelf and rummaged for a tape. He smiled a smile that lives in my mind forever and played this song.
He was almost home.
Till the day I die I will remember the sunsets light on his face and the Joy in his ritual.
This ones for you Merle