The Long Hitch Home

This book arrived on my door step and I had no idea who had sent it. It took 2 guesses. It was from my friend Kate in Australia. She loves travel. Friends of hers gave her the book when they met the author selling his book on Portabello Rd.

This is a memoir written by a British man in his early 30's.  He details his ~4 month trip hitchhiking from Tasmania back to Britain. This dude is very adventurous. He told great stories and I admire his resourcefulness and commitment to travel. He met lots of local people and understands a great deal about the politics of places I had never heard of and rarely think about. Fascinating how the US is truly everywhere .. especially when there are natural resources to be had.

I appreciated his political view point. I was surprised when he referred to Tony Blair as a war criminal but he's spent lots of time in places where imperialist American and British interests have wrecked people's lives.

One thing that gave me pause is that I will never be able to do what he did. It is not possible for a woman to hitch hike alone throughout the world and not be harmed. Just not possible. There are many things I choose not to do (ie climb Mt Everest) but I don't think a lot about things I am excluded from doing. Most people in the world do not have the luxury to travel like this author even if they are male.. they are limited in other ways.

In any case, I enjoyed this book and passed it on the a very adventurous neighbor.