Hello mighty readers! I know you'd love to hitchhike, but how about the downsides? Check this out!

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Hitchhiking, ahhhhhh hitchhiking. All those cool photos and stories, right? For those who see, it's all perfect and beautiful. And it is. Sometimes.

To be honest I like to hitchhike for the funny challenge (and because I'm a miserable broken backpacker Hah!)

I think "Will I be able to hitchhike this place? How long will it take?". Usually it works just fine, however, when it doesn't...

I believe you've read my post on all the cool things that happens when you hitchhike AND you've though:

- Hmmmmm that sounds like a good idea!

But how do I do that? You are thinking. I also have that answear.

If you haven't checked all that yet... GO THERE AND READ YOU MONSTER! Just kidding! Links down below if you'd like to check.

TRAVEL: 5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD HITCHHIKE

TRAVEL: HOW TO HITCHHIKE LIKE A BOSS

Now I know that you are fully motivated to go out there to hitchhike around the world and beyond, it'll be great I assure you. That way I'll kindly bring some of the downsides of the adventure, so you can be prepared when they happen, sparing a lot of frustration further on the road - I've learned the hard way, dang it!

Enjoy!

1. YOU'LL EVENTUALLY GET WET

Yes! It not a matter of 'if it happens', it's a matter of 'when will it happen'. And it happens quite a lot to be honest. And yes, it'll pretty much ruin your chances of gettingt a ride if you indeed get wet. It's so terrible that I don't even have pictures of myself in such situation.

The funny thing is that rain usually comes when you are in the middle of nowhere and there's no cover nearby. My best advises here are:

Find cover as fast as possible, you can try a ride again later when rain stops. (i.e. sometimes rain was so intense that I gave up, I set my tent by the side of the road and went to sleep.)
Use an umbrella, I know that backpackers don't carry an umbrella, but it may work.
Give up on life and walk on the rain. Even though I've done this method, I don't advise doing so.
Hide below shelter and try to hitchhike from there. (i.e. bus stops, creepy tunnels below the road, outdoors... anything, use your creativity).

2. YOU'LL GET STUCK SOMEWHERE

This is the worst of them all if you are traveling without money to spend on transportation. You'll be by the side of the road, below a hot sun, seeing all those beautiful buses passing by. You'll dream about the air conditioning.

But no! You had to be like me, a broken traveler, therefore your only hope is for a miraculous savior to stop. But sometimes the angel won't come. Sun starts to set, your hope is vanished and you'll realise you are stuck.

My personal waiting time is 4+2 hours. Until hour 4 I'm still in the positivism zone; the next 2 hours I start thinking about something to do (either walk a little or look for another place); after 6 hours waiting I'll start looking for a place to set my tent.

So remember:

ALL the elements will be fighting you, you'll be standing there for hours below sun, rain, snow, wind.
Sometimes it just doesn't work! And you'll have to sleep by the road.
Don't panic! Find funny things to do or simply walk.

3. YOU'LL FIND CREEPY DRIVERS

This is also a matter of time to happen, remember you are hitchhiking, that itself puts you against many risks. If your guts sense something, they are probably right. It's not because the car has stopped that you'll have to accept the ride. Be prepared for ANYTHING.

I've never refused a ride however, some of them were pretty strange. Like the one where the driver had all the attributes and stereotype of a drug dealer. He wasn't. But when he stopped I've had to think 2-3 times if I would accept. Why did I? Because he had two kids with him.

Don't accept a ride if you sense something, invent some excuse and refuse it.
Be defensive if a driver starts being creepy.
Carry a pepper spray, just in case.

4. YOU'LL RIDE WITH MANIACS ON THE WHEEL

Sometimes this is really cool, you'll get faster to where you need to be. Other times you'll call Jesus and ask for mercy.

You'll never know how the person drivers until you are inside the car in movement. And dude! It's the worst feeling, ever, to be in a car with a bad driver or a driver that drives as fast as the speed of light. You'll feel so defenceless.

I've taken a ride once with a guy, where his average speed was around 160 km/h in a sinuous road. Another time me and friends took a ride in a pickup's rear box, and the maniac was speeding like The Flash... one accident there would send us all to the moon.

If you are not comfortable, ask to get off.
Call Jesus and ask for mercy.

5. IT MAY TAKE FOREVER TO GET TO WHERE YOU WANT

You are a traveler, you have all the time to enjoy life! If you are still concerned about time, be warned. It'll take a lot to move in most of the cases.

At some places you'll find only short rides further on the road, accept them if you feel you'll benefit from it.

My personal waiting record was 2 nights. In total it took me 3-4 days to move a handful of kilometers.

Be patient, enjoy life!

This were the cons of hitchhiking. Now that you've read about the benefits of hitchhiking, you've learned some tips on how to do it the best and most effective way, and you also learned some of the downsides of it. What are you waiting for!

All you need now is a backpack full of essential items, your thumb and courage. It's not difficult, it's actually pretty fun.

After many kilometers you'll be so prepared and full of stories that, even the downsides, won't be negative anymore. You'll be able to see positivity in everything.

Would you ever hitchhike? Have you ever hitchhiked? Comment down below your bad and sketchy moments, I love hearing from you.

If you liked this post, please, consider leaving your upvote for a hot coffee.

~Love ya all,

Disclaimer: The author of this post is a convict broken backpacker, who has travelled more than 10.000 km hitchhiking. Following him may cause severe problems of wanderlust and inquietud. You've been warned.

The gifs here presented were collected on the web and showed different sources when trying to give credits. If you spot any irregularity, please, inform me and I shall remove.