The Old lady and the beat up pickup truck.

So, a while back, I had just spent a great weekend with my hosts Jamie and Cindy in the mountains when Monday arrived signaling it was time for me to move on to Colorado Springs. After deciding with Jamie’s help that getting dropped off in Franktown would be the way to go we made the short trip there.

We said our goodbyes, I gave my thanks, and he waved as he drove off. I had a quick moment where I wished I could've stayed in the mountains longer, having had so much fun, but I pushed those thoughts aside. Traveling like I'm doing is about moment to moment and next adventure laid ahead of me.

I started to walk down the left side of the road a bit to find a suitable spot to hitch (on the right, of course) when an old green pickup slowed down while passing me. An older lady stuck her head, gave me a quick going over and pulled off to the shoulder.

"Where you are you headed?" She called out as I made my way in a slight jog over to her.
I told her as far to Colorado Springs as I could get...
Talk about fortune, I'd only been in the road for about THREE minutes, but she was going further than Colorado Springs!

We moved some stuff from the passenger seat for me and I threw my pack in the bed.
Her name was Peggy, and as we headed down the road we had the best conversation. I amazed how much you can cover in an hour or so. I talked about my travels, and how much fun I loved my time here having never been out West. It turned out as much as she had traveled here and abroad, she had never been out East and the Midwest. If her health was okay she was planning to make the trip in a few months.

When we neared Colorado Springs, Peggy turns and looks at me, “You know what you would like Mark, Garden of the Gods!” She takes the exit, smiling. As we made our way through and find a place to park, she was giving me an audio tour of the area.

“I know I’m not going to make it walking up there today, so you take as much time as you need. Get some great pictures. I’ll meet you back at the truck.” She said to me, still smiling.

After I took a few photographs we left and finished our way to Colorado Springs. She would have dropped me anywhere I wanted to go, but I just had her drop me off downtown.

“I’m going to miss you.” She said.
“Me too.” I gave her a big hug, as we said a few more things before I got out.

Traveling is an amazing gift you need to give yourself whenver you can. Meeting people on the road, you connect with them on levels you don’t even connect with some people you’ve known for years at work or such.

Whenever anyone ever asked me why I hitchhiked, I never felt my answer was enough. I could never convey just how rewarding it can be when it works out. Now I will tell them about Peggy.


Tip: Depending on where you're at two lane highways a good way to travel. If you have to walk its better as you may hit towns easier, and you may even get picked up as you walk. Just check the state laws to make sure of the legality and such.

Safe travels!