That’s it. I’m off! – Graham Walker starts his hitchhike trip… DAY ONE

So thankful to all those who came along to see me off. A wonderfully emotional boost to the start of my journey. Thank you.

Now in terms of hitchhiking, I’ve done a fair few miles in my time.

My very first experience of sticking my thumb out was during my brief but memorable stint in the armed services.

Based at Catterick Barracks on the Yorkshire moors, aged 17 and having just completed my basic training, I was awarded a long weekend off. I decided to hitch the 500  mile round trip to visit family in Bristol.

My inaugural hitch was a huge success and, after nine lifts, I arrived in Bristol some six hours later. The trip also provided a rather steep learning curve. The first thing learned was that whilst I, dressed in uniform, stood on a roundabout ‘mongst random hippies, the cars would avoid those into flower power, love and peace and instead, stop for me; a man trained to kill!? The second was during my journey, just south of Birmingham, I learned that some who pick you up are not motivated by the desire to assist a fellow traveller, no, they have a far different agenda: Jeremy, (lift 7), in a Triumph Herald, sporting faux leather driving gloves and a paisley cravat stopped. (The clues were there).

Jeremy was willing to take me 20 miles. I duly thanked him and off we went. Then, after a few miles, strangely,  Jeremy’s hand, currently on the gearstick, suddenly moved to being on my knee. I was mortified. I demanded he stop. He duly did (the car as well).

Having had, over the following couple of years, a few similar experiences, whenever travelling by thumb and whenever a car stopped and when they ask me where I’m heading, I always reply, in the most masculine sounding voice I can muster, ‘I’M OFF TO SEE MY FIANCEE WHO IS HEAVILY PREGNANT WITH TWINS’.  In the main, it seemed to have worked.

That said, at 17 I was possibly an attractive proposition. At 70, long past my best before date, I figure, in terms of being accosted by a guy wearing leather driving gloves, a cravat and driving a Triumph Herald is pretty remote.

It’s been a few years since my thumb and I spent time on the road but were both looking forward to the trip. Both looking forward to raising funds for Totnes Caring and Bob the Bus and really looking forward to relaying all of the, undoubtedly, positive experiences during the 1500 mile hitchhike to John o’ Groats and back.

I do hope that, during my trip, you are able to boost my fundraising appeal by donating at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/graham-walker-998