Hiking and Hitching

Written by Jack Simpson

Friday, 28 March 2008 12:49

Yup recently on an easy run of the Leven the Pyranha Camo bust, arse! That’s putting in mildly, a big split in the hull thanks to the graveyard. So to cap it off the weather dried up and snow fell. Scotland was beckoning so off I trotted to Braemar and the storm hit the hills full on the equivalent of a good class 4+ rapid. A good sleeping bag kept me warm in the bivi that night. Up a few hills on the Friday but could have easily been in a white box, I moved to Tayside to see family and a few more hills in white out conditions ice axe and crampons! Cheers Faye might have been a different story without them.Any way to get to the point most of these walks were from A to B requiring a lift back to the car. I stood by the road side in appalling conditions with my thumb out waiting for a lift. On the first day 4 cars past before some one stopped. On the second day at least 10 cars passed before the local vet stopped. Why is hitching becoming harder for the honest walker/paddler? I wasn’t dressed to kill/ abduct/ vomit all over the car or its owner! Just a little sweaty and knackered, those who did pick me up, cheers and keep up the good work. I pick up hitchers if there is room. I once got a lift in a brand new top of the range Omega I said “Are you sure?” I was dripping wet. “Yeah sure hop in, it’s only a car” was the reply. This I thought was brilliant, he couldn’t care less! Next time I will wear a top hat and tail coat see if that helps. I might get a lift in an Aston.

Happy Hitching

Watch this space to hear about the boat issue.