Yesterday i lifted with another German guy again from the supermarket near the border towards the 1km distant Gibraltar. Some guy who is selling something there waved us towards him. “It´s not working here, Gibraltarians don´t stop” Me: “Oh well, it is working, i am hitchhiking in the city since 3 days.” I was even more motivated afterwards to get a lift and de facto the next car which passed by stopped and took us with them.

Today same position, same procedure. The guy was there again and when he saw me he started to shout and seemed very happy. When he saw me, he came towards with the words: “Hey man, i need to shake your hand. You´re a fucking legend.”

Der Beitrag Traffic Exists – Hitchhiking Possible; (2) The Disbeliever erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

„We stood ankle-deep in the water and thought it would be low-tide. Then the third wave lasted till our belly-button. Afterwards it was equal and we could go in completely.“

The Foto: Short stop at the holiday apartment to get new trousers. With us, caretaker Horst, who recently erected a wall. “Horst doesn´t know Sundays.” Also a dog which was “on pills”. Had hardenings, please don´t play with him.

Der Beitrag Traffic Exists – Hitchhiking Possible; (1) Gustav and Kuddel erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

The highest mountain of Spain is located in Teneriffa or let´s say it IS Tenerife. I wasn´t aware of that and have been suprised, when i discovered the majestic summit during our passage, two days before we reached the island. Tenerife has different faces between mass tourism, outdoor sports and some abandon and green places which wait for exploration. Green humid north combined with lifeless volcanic landscape in the centre and a 3718m high peak of the El Teide. I liked it.

Statistics

From now on my Hitchhiking in… -series will be provided with some statistics. I am logging my hitchhiking with the log-style we use in our DTSG-Competitions. There will be an extra article soon to explain my logging.

Hitchhiked distance: 360 km

Number of lifts: 19

Average waiting time: 8 min 13 sec

Waiting time total: 2 h 36 min

You can download the log here. Feel invited to play with the statistics.

My Route

Our route was designed for two days. First we hitchhiked in the north and went to Camorga and Igueste to find the end of the road. Please turn over if possible. Later we visited Aquamanza at the edge of El Teides´ high plateau. We set up a tent there and started early in the morning to climb El Teide. Afterwards we did a little detour to the south to go back to Santa Cruz in the end. 270 km hitchhiking in total.

People

Also in Tenerife we met alot of tourists which gladly stopped to take us. Certainly it seems that there are again more spanish people, which are a bit more friendly, than on the mainland. Retrospective it was a bit more difficult to hitchhike in Tenerife than in Lanzarote. Sometimes i had this „Spain-Feeling“ again, when we had to wait a bit longer and no car stopped. All-in-all the hitchhiking was good.

Streets

Compared to Lanzarote, Tenerife has a decent highway with 2-3 lanes which leads around the island. Also here you have again the nice Spanish slip roads, which provide good hitchhiking positions. In bigger cities like Santa Cruz it was a bit difficult to get a lift as there is much traffic and very few space for stopping. Beside that you have beautiful small country roads in the north whitch provide a spectacular view but have less traffic. Anyway i enjoyed the waiting in opulent nature around you. Good time to relax and just be.

Tactics

Basic hitchhiking in Tenerife. The highways can be hitched very good via the slip roads and furthermore Tenerife also has well equipped service areas. It´s pretty decent and not as confusing as in Spain. In the cities we used the „traffic lights-trick“. We could catch most of the lifts directly behind the traffic lights. Just wait till the red light appears and talk to the waiting cars. At least this worked well to get out of the cities.

The mountain road in the north wiggles itself around the tight serpentines, up and down. Here is not much keeping area which can be dangerous with the steep roads. Positioning along the crossroads worked perfectly here. Just wait for confused tourists, they never know where to go, cause the signage is a bit suboptimal in the countryside.

Fotos

I will provide more fotos of streets and hitchhiking from now on, cause this is the purpose of the series „Hitchhiking in…“.

Specifics

The El Teide is with 3718m the biggest summit in Spain. A climb is definitely worth the effort. Who wants to reach the peak has to register before to get a permission. Waiting time when i was thre was about 21 days. If you dont want to register you can climb before 8 am which will make a night camping on the top necessary.

In my personal opinion the north is the most beautiful part of the island. Sepentines, average mountains, rain, cool air and especially end of roads. It is not very often that roads just end somewhere. In the north there are 3-4 of those places and if you are enthusiastic about exploring the end of something you should take that way!

The highway is very good for a fast transit all around the island. Compared to other islands this is definitel worth a comment. You won´t find this very often.

Der Beitrag Hitchhiking in… (4) Tenerife erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

Lanzarote with its maximal spread of 60km counts to the smaller islands of the canaries. The surface is branded by a wide black volcano scenery. I felt really comftable in Lanzarote, as the people are amazingly relaxed and everything seems to be a bit slower.

My Route

One day is enough to cross the whole island, go south, north an back. We went from Puerto del Carmen, where our sailing vessel was, into the nationalpark, took a visit in the South and hitchhiked via Teguise up into the far north. Swimming at the white sand beach and back.

Roads

Around Arrecife exists something similar to a highway with two lanes. Except that you have in Lanzarote mostly normal street, which all are in perfect conditions. They look brand new everywhere. A bit disturbing is the fact, that most of the time there is no extra space beside the road, as they usualy put stones as bounds next to the road. This means, there is no keep are, once you are on the road. I think this is because it is very difficult to build roads into the cold volcanoerruptions and they safe every centimetre possible.

The volume of traffic on the federal highway (the red one) is a bit bigger than on the small roads. But also the small roads are absolutley recommendable for hitchhiking.

People

As i said before, the people on Lanzarote are very relaxed. At least when we got picked up by locals they have been. This happened very much, as the filled with shitloads of tourists, which are enthusiastic to pick up people. Most of the time, one of the first 5 cars stopped for us. Official language on the streets seems to be German, then English and after Spanish. At the end of our tour we didn´t make an effort anymore to speak english, cause anyway everyone spoke German with us, Even the french.

Tactics

In Lanzarote you don´t have to make much, beside standing at the street and smile. Cars stop from themselves. Just go and enjoy moving around.

Specifics

Characteristic for Lanzarote are the white houses with the blue shutter. The island was influenced by the artist César Manrique, who is responsible for the uniform surface. Unfortunately he died in a car accident within the 90s.

Teguise is a wonderful dozy place. Once a week there is a big market, which is not recommendable, even if half of the island talks about it. Lots of crap for sale and more lots of plastic bags everywhere in the street. But afterwards there is some Live-Music in the pubs nearby, which invite you for a bear or some delicious tapas. Definitely one of the nicest cities on this island.

Near El Golfo in the south exist a salt fabric with a nice panorama viewpoint. Its worth to go there, afterwards visit the breakers in El Golfo and see the occean working.

Inland some people try to plant wine. The island has very little rain, but in return alot of wind, which forces the farmers dig little pits for protecting the wine. The wine itself tastes pretty heavy, like Portwine.

Except that you have alot of boring volcano landscape.

Fotos

Der Beitrag Hitchhiking in… (3) Lanzarote erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

Spain has not the best reputation for hitchhiking. And this is totally reasonable. By passing Spain my patience and experience should be put to a serious test. Spain was difficult and hard to cross. However i hitchhiked all the way, although was in between so desperate and frustrated, that i thought about taking a Bus or Train.

My Route

I hitchhiked down all the east-coast from Barcelona to Gibraltar. I declined in Barcelona a lift to Madrid, cause i wanted to take the east route. A big mistake.

People

What i observed in Spain is, that there are very few young people and also women driving cars. Most of the people which passed by, or which i asked at the gas stations have been older couples, or business travellers. Most of them just ignore you at the side of the street. They don´t care about you hitchhiking. But thats just my observation. Definitely not the easiest target group for getting a lift.

Roads

Street-network in Spain is very special. In general i moved on three different kind of streets: Toll-Highways (AP – Autopista), normal free Hichways (Autovista) and Nationalroads (N). The nationalroad have been „okay“ for hitchhiking, biut after Malaga it became one big together-sticking city, which is not recommendable for hitchhiking. Both of the highways are going parallel in several places, which makes hitchhiking difficult, cause u never know where your lift will go.

Tactics

My usual tactic to move from one gas-station to another was screwed up in Spain. What is most similar to a gas station in Germany is the „areal de servicios“ on the AP´s. On the free highway it is very difficult to find the bigger gas stations, as at almost every exit there is a gas station. Some of them are frequented, but most of them are really bad for getting the next lift. On the Ap the hitchhiking on the gas stations works quite well, but most of the cars move on the free highway (except tourists).

I think it is a good tactic for crossing Spain to look up for long-distance-lift even before u enter the country. I crossed Spain 2 times before this trip and i had always one of those long lifts and never any problems like this time.

Actually the infrastructure in Spain is not that bad for hitchhiking, as u have a roundelle on every on ramp for the highway and also a good keeping area. But the waiting times take much longer than anywhere else. In contrast: When i hitchhike onramps in Germany it takes me usually 5-10 min for getting a lift. In Spain it took me 60 min + x to get a lift. And its definitely not reasonable in the circumstances.

Specifics

Funny fact: Even if there is more than enough space to stop, most of the cars just stop in the middle of the street and nobody knows why.

The Costa del Sol has a wonderful coast-road. Especially between Almeria and Malaga i can recommend to follow the Nationalroad.

Funny fact: Auch wenn mehr als genug zum Trampen ist: Viele Spanier halten mitten auf der Straße an und keiner weiß warum. She leads gorgeous through cliff line and is great fun to drive.

What is part of natural image in the south are greenhouses, which gather between the mountains and the coast line near Almeria. They grow the winter vegetables for the european market. It is ugly and fascinating at the same time to watch this scenery. A real gem of capitalistic production-fetish. It felt like 150km of greenhouses, when i passed this area.

Dont forget your sun protection. Even in the late summer. This october we had up to 35° in Malaga and at the onramps you have no sun cover most of the time. Standing 60-120 minutes in the sun without any shadow is not very nice thing.

Fotos

Der Beitrag Hitchhiking in… (2) Spain erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

If you are hitchhiking through tough Spain, Gibraltar is the right place to restore your spoilt hitchhikers soul. Gib is a British enclave which is seperated from Spain. You need an ID to enter this area. The view is marked by a big rock – “The Rock”. Hitchhiking evaluation: Very good.

My Route

After my second day in Gib i almost everytime used hitchhiking for my movement (cause i had some problems with my shoes and couldn´t walk so far. legit). Especially short distances of 500m-3km i hitchhiked. To the supermarket, the beach, on top of the rock, down the rock….everywhere.

Roads

Gibraltar consists of small roads in a mostly urbanized area. The island is pretty small, to go once around you have to go for 11 km. Ways are short. Within the island you have alot of roundabouts, which give good possibilites for positioning. At the supermarket between the border and the airport is a good spot to hitchhike into the city.

If you want to go up the rock, be warned. The road system in the upper city is very confusing and the typical roadmap (at tourist information) of Gib is useless for navigation. It is in “3D” and handdrawn.

People

There is a mixture von English, Gibraltarian, Spanish (mostly for working) and a bunch of other nationalities, that try their luck on the little peninsula. Almost everyone speaks english, which is quite comftable for hitchhiking. The people are laid-back.

Tactics

Basically you can hitchhike at every place in Gibraltar. As fastest and reliable i used positions, where cars would have to stop anyway (junctions, slip roads), so that i would stand directly beside the car. Most of the time the drivers opened their window automaticaly, to ask me whats goin on. You can position yourself without paying attention to the available keep area. Also gas stations work quite well. In general the people like to take hitchhikers and they also do 2-3 min. extra way, to bring you to your destination. Easy going.

Specifics

Unique for the island is, that you have to cross an airfield to get into the city. It is the only airstrip in the world which is used by cars and pedestrians.

Above the rock there i sometimes a big cloud, even if around this is bright sunshine and blue sky. Courious natural phenomen has the name Levante. I thought this might be the reason for the british occupation, cause the cloud gives them a sense of home. The locals have another theory. They used to say, that the british people came with the apes and will only disappear, if the apes do.

Through the rock leads an 50km tunnel system, which was established in the 18th century and used as defensive fortification during World War II. Some of the tunnels are still in use by the royal navi. Unfortunately i couldn t make it to visit those constructions. But i heard it might be a worthy sightseeing trip.

Der Beitrag Hitchhiking in… (1) Gibraltar erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

Hello World

Welcome to my travel log. Two weeks ago I left home to hitchhike around the world. Sometimes I will walk, maybe ride a bike or a horse. I welcome you to join me on my way. On the one hand this blog will serve as a calming plattform for my dear relatives and on the other hand it will be the stone in which I carve all the crazy stories that will definitely come up on my path. This blog is freshly pressed and still under construction. Many things will change in the upcoming months. There are already some ideas on my mind but it will take some time until they are implemented.

The Route

There is no route. And there are all routes. There is no plan and no limit, no temporal restriction. I will travel by land and sea only and most of the time I will be hitchhiking. To be honest I would like to get around our small planet, travel once around the globe. The first basic idea is to hitchhike from Leipzig to Uruguay to visit my dear friend Ralf. Following that I might go to Argentina (to learn horse riding) – southernmost point of South America – North America – Russia – Central Asia – and so on …

Inspiration

In connection with this journey there is a big dream, a very special „Expedition” which will be detailed later on. Maybe you, dear reader, can already grasp what I mean with that. In 12 to 18 months I might be able to tell you more, until then I will be looking for the right thoughts to come to my mind.

My current mission: Hitchhiking from Leipzig to Uruguay

I started eleven days ago in Leipzig and made it without detours to Gibraltar. I will write something about this 104 hours lasting journey later. Right now I am trying to hitchhike through the Atlantic Ocean on sailing boats to somehow get to Brazil. Yesterday was the first time that i asked sailors for a ride. And guess what happened: I got a lift to Madeira. We will leave on Sunday. And I have not the slightest idea about sailing. My first time on a boat, sailing into the open sea. Somehow I expect to get seasick but I don’t know for sure. I am facing my first voyage with a mixture of being afraid and fascinated. Still I have to add: I am afraid, but I don’t fear anything. Why should I?

My first ride and El Capitano

My first captain is Rene. He is in his late sixties and the prototype of a thoroughbred sailor. He is on the sea since forty years, was a professional skipper (many sailors at the harbour don’t even have a sailing license) and spreads a relaxed feeling. When I asked him the day before for a place on board he just replied: „Sure, can take you.” Sailing experience? Cost sharing? Any conditions? Nada. It was very uncomplicated. I slept over it for a night because Madeira is not on my route through the Atlantic Ocean. Usually you go from Gibraltar to the Canary Islands – Capeverdean Islands and to the Caribbean. But concerning hitchhiking in the end the ocean is just like a highway with scheduled traffic. Shouldn’t be a problem to get off Madeira. And finally, I had already been on the boat today helping Rene with some repair work confirming our agreement.

My first ride. 47ft boat named Sun Odysee. You could see from the equipment and its arrangement on the boat that Rene is a professional. A huge amount of technical equipment, alarm systems, internet (1,80€ a minute) and satellite TV, pretty luxurious for a sailing boat. I feel like on a unsinkable high tech Titanic. This man knows all the upgrades he made to the boat. Today he kindly informed me that „on my boat you will find equipment that is unique in this harbour. Everybody is giving the boat strange looks.” I am sure that this will be a really interesting ride especially since he will be able to show and explain me a lot of things. As a rookie I will gladly absorb all that knowledge.

Well, thats it for the first entry. I am happy to see you reading, commenting, ask me anything, leaving greetings behind and have your thoughts reaching out for me. You are welcome to drop by every now and then. I will do my best to make it worthwhile.

Der Beitrag Prologue: My first ride – sailing to Madeira! erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.