"Unexpected Walkabout" Part II

How An Older American Female Backpacker Unwittingly Finds Herself Hitchhiking In Arthur’s Pass, (South Island) New Zealand

A solo woman traveler wearing rain gear and a backpack stands in the middle of a rural road in the rain

*This is Part II of "Unexpected Walkabout." If you haven't read Part I, you can read it by clicking here.

Bless Garth, he was respectful when he gave me guidance on how to hitch a ride from Arthur’s Pass to Christchurch. He didn’t roll his eyes. He spoke in kindness to me as an older woman.

Garth must have had nice parents.

“I’ll need a sign, right?” I ventured, trying to sound as if I knew something, anything. I’m glad he has no idea how far out of my depth I am.

“Yes, you will. Our small grocery market across the road will probably have empty cardboard boxes you can tear up for a big enough sign.”

“Ok, thanks. And they would probably have a marker for printing ‘Christchurch’ on the sign?” I asked, to his head nod. Neither my Bachelors nor Masters degrees had covered hitching a ride.

And so began my first foray into hitchhiking. Gulp!

✨ 👉 I had no idea who would stop… or how wrong I would be about them.

What happened next surprised me… come along for the rest of the journey (it's FREE) → [READ ON SUBSTACK]

*For the full and most up-to-date version of this story, please visit my Substack.

**Photo Credits: stock photos