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  #11  
Old August 15th, 2006, 08:09 PM posted to alt.california,rec.travel.usa-canada
Maxwell Edison
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 7
Default America travel pointers

In article , PTravel at
says...

"Maxwell Edison" wrote in message
. ..
In article .com,
Iceman at
says...
ROD wrote:
My little sis is travelling to American in a few weeks with her mates
and
they are doing it on the cheap. Mostly California. Mostly hostels.
Maybe
hitchhiking (sounds a bit dodgy). Maybe backpacking. Eating cheaply. I
want
to ensure she is safe and is careful. Apart from going with her, anyone
have tips for me to share. She won't listen but I can plant a seed of
some sort.

All of that is perfectly fine except for the hitchhiking, which she
should not even consider, period. It just isn't done in the US, so 99%
of normal people would be afraid to pick up a hitchhiker, and you take
your chances with the people who would.


People hitchhike all the time in northern California. If you are in a
group of three or four it is relatively safe. Two young women is less
safe and more than four will not get rides due to lack of room. Advise
your sister to check the condition of the driver. If you smell alcohol,
say "no thanks."


People do not hitchhike all the time in northern California. I don't know
where you live, but here in the Bay Area, it is a dangerous and stupid thing
to do.


I went to Arcata this weekend (to a funeral) and must have passed at
least 50 hitchhikers. We were full, so I didn't pick any up.

The weekend before was Reggae on the River, when hundreds, if not
thousands, hitch a ride to Piercy.

When I was younger I hitchhiked all over California. It is a great way
to meet people. You don't need to be afraid, just careful. Bring good
maps. Bring a book on California hostels. Aim for college towns. The
best campgrounds are state and national parks. State parks have hot
showers.


When I was younger, I hitchhiked all over the country. That was then. This
is now. Hitchhiking is an extremely dangerous thing to do, and illegal
virtually everywhere in the U.S.


It is not "extremely dangerous" and is perfectly legal, except on
freeways where pedestrians are prohibited.

I have even been picked up while hitchhiking by the California Highway
Patrol on Highway 3 in Trinity County and given a ride to my trailhead.


--
"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action." - Johann
Goethe
  #13  
Old August 15th, 2006, 08:35 PM posted to alt.california,rec.travel.usa-canada
ROD
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2
Default America travel pointers

I had no idea that hitchhiking was so bad in California. I will be sure she
doesn't hitchhike. Thank you so much for all your advice and suggestions.
That idea about giving her postcards and a calling card onesuite PIN number
was brilliant. Thanks, I would have never thought about such details. I
bought her a digital camera and a journal, but those ideas are quite
practical. Not sure I can get American stamps here, but it is worth a try.
Does anyone know other than renting an auto the cheapest way to get from
southern California to Northern California. My sis is considering just
getting an open bus tix or train tix. I heard buses are slow. I think this
is why she and her mates came up with hitchhiking.
Cheers, ROD
  #14  
Old August 15th, 2006, 08:36 PM posted to alt.california,rec.travel.usa-canada
Miriam Cohen
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Posts: 11
Default America travel pointers

ROD wrote:
My little sis is travelling to American in a few weeks with her mates and
they are doing it on the cheap. Mostly California. Mostly hostels. Maybe
hitchhiking (sounds a bit dodgy). Maybe backpacking. Eating cheaply. I want
to ensure she is safe and is careful. Apart from going with her, anyone
have tips for me to share. She won't listen but I can plant a seed of some
sort.
Cheers, ROD


I concur with my fellow Californians; under no circumstances should she
hitch hike! Not all people are rapists or serial killers, but
unfortunately you can't tell by looking at someone if they are one or
not, so for young women (if she's traveling without anyone in your
family she can't be just a girl, yes?) it's far better to err on the
side of caution and assume that the drivers who stop are dangerous.
Someone suggested the Greyhound buses and someone else said that there
are scary people there, too, which can be true I suppose, but I believe
that all stations (like airports) have heightened security in the wake
of 9/11 the station in San Diego does. Someone else also suggested you
do some research and that's a really good suggestion.

--
L'Chaim

Miriam

In the beginning
the Word already was.
  #15  
Old August 15th, 2006, 08:57 PM posted to alt.california,rec.travel.usa-canada
Keith Willshaw[_1_]
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Posts: 133
Default America travel pointers


"Maxwell Edison" wrote in message
. ..


It is not "extremely dangerous" and is perfectly legal, except on
freeways where pedestrians are prohibited.


In California perhaps, it certainly isnt in New Jersey, see
New Jersey Statutes 39:4-59

Code 39:4-59 Begging rides prohibited

No person shall stand in a highway for the purpose of or while soliciting a
ride from the operator of any vehicle other than an omnibus or a street car.

New York State has a similar law

Keith


  #17  
Old August 15th, 2006, 09:22 PM posted to alt.california,rec.travel.usa-canada
PeterL
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,471
Default America travel pointers


ROD wrote:
I had no idea that hitchhiking was so bad in California. I will be sure she
doesn't hitchhike. Thank you so much for all your advice and suggestions.
That idea about giving her postcards and a calling card onesuite PIN number
was brilliant. Thanks, I would have never thought about such details. I
bought her a digital camera and a journal, but those ideas are quite
practical. Not sure I can get American stamps here, but it is worth a try.
Does anyone know other than renting an auto the cheapest way to get from
southern California to Northern California. My sis is considering just
getting an open bus tix or train tix. I heard buses are slow. I think this
is why she and her mates came up with hitchhiking.
Cheers, ROD


There is a traveling option called Chinatown buses. It's long distance
bus (e.g. from LA to SF) operated from Chinatown to Chinatown. It's
cheap and convenient. On the web do a search for bus from LA to SF.
There is a company called Lucky Star which we used to go from Boston to
New York, $15 per person one way. Down side is they don't stop in
smaller cities along the way.

As for hitchhiking, no it's not anything like Australia, where people
do hitchhike. Here it is indeed rather dangerous.

  #18  
Old August 15th, 2006, 09:28 PM posted to alt.california,rec.travel.usa-canada
Iceman
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 877
Default America travel pointers

ROD wrote:
I had no idea that hitchhiking was so bad in California. I will be sure she
doesn't hitchhike. Thank you so much for all your advice and suggestions.
That idea about giving her postcards and a calling card onesuite PIN number
was brilliant. Thanks, I would have never thought about such details. I
bought her a digital camera and a journal, but those ideas are quite
practical. Not sure I can get American stamps here, but it is worth a try.
Does anyone know other than renting an auto the cheapest way to get from
southern California to Northern California.


The Greyhound bus. But the train is much more pleasant.

My sis is considering just getting an open bus tix or train tix. I heard buses are
slow.


I wouldn't recommend taking one cross-country, but for short distances
they're okay.

  #19  
Old August 15th, 2006, 11:12 PM posted to alt.california,rec.travel.usa-canada
Miriam Cohen
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 11
Default America travel pointers

Maxwell Edison wrote:
In article WlpEg.69922$MW.5084@trnddc04, ROD at
says...

I had no idea that hitchhiking was so bad in California. I will be sure she
doesn't hitchhike. Thank you so much for all your advice and suggestions.
That idea about giving her postcards and a calling card onesuite PIN number
was brilliant. Thanks, I would have never thought about such details. I
bought her a digital camera and a journal, but those ideas are quite
practical. Not sure I can get American stamps here, but it is worth a try.
Does anyone know other than renting an auto the cheapest way to get from
southern California to Northern California. My sis is considering just
getting an open bus tix or train tix. I heard buses are slow. I think this
is why she and her mates came up with hitchhiking.
Cheers, ROD



By all means take the coastal train on Amtrak.

It's called the "Coast Starlight." You can start as far south as San
Diego and go up the coast to Oakland. Take BART into San Francisco from
there.

Excellent views of coastal California and lots of fun.


Just a little correction here; they can take the Surfliner from San
Diego to LA and then transfer to the one you mentioned. I don't know why
AmTrak does it that way (shrug) but that's what they told me I'd have to
do to go to San Jose.

--
L'Chaim

Miriam

In the beginning
the Word already was.
  #20  
Old August 15th, 2006, 11:33 PM posted to alt.california,rec.travel.usa-canada
Hatunen
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4,483
Default America travel pointers

On 15 Aug 2006 13:28:57 -0700, "Iceman"
wrote:

ROD wrote:
I had no idea that hitchhiking was so bad in California. I will be sure she
doesn't hitchhike. Thank you so much for all your advice and suggestions.
That idea about giving her postcards and a calling card onesuite PIN number
was brilliant. Thanks, I would have never thought about such details. I
bought her a digital camera and a journal, but those ideas are quite
practical. Not sure I can get American stamps here, but it is worth a try.
Does anyone know other than renting an auto the cheapest way to get from
southern California to Northern California.


The Greyhound bus. But the train is much more pleasant.


And a lot more expensive. And trains can be hard to get a ticket
on on short notice.


************* DAVE HATUNEN ) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *
 




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