Hitch Hiking around the US.

When I was 17 I hitchiked around the US. I started in San Diego, made my way out through Texas, into Arkansas, where all my stuff was stolen. When I got to Johnson City TN, I stayed a week with my good friend Karl's mother. From there, I traveled up the NJ expressway, skipping around NYC, and stayed another week with another friend Alan Hicks in Manchester NH. After a few days hanging out with him at his school for a few days, I hit the road again, traveling through upstate NY, and over to Jerry, a friend I knew through working at summer camp in Pontiac Michigan. On the way up the state I ended up missing a turn and getting very lost in Detroit late at night. Two older black men accompanied me walking several miles back to the freeway. When I finally got into Pontiac just before dawn, I caught a ride with three guys who then tried to mug me. I got the door open and lept out of the car at about 35mph as they were gunning the engine. From Jerry's house I headed up to I-80, but it was too cold, so I dropped back down to I-70. In Wyoming I caught a ride on a freight train. The engineer let me sleep in one of the seats and sent someone back to wake me before rolling into the Salt Lake City train yards. He told me that the police like to beat people who hop onto trains there. From there, I hitched rides up to Boise ID, and stayed with friends of my parrents, George and Marsha. Afte a few days there, I made my way down through 4-corners, Death Valley, and back home again. The whole trip took just over a month. I matured quite a bit on that trek, and never again felt that I had to rely on anyone else for anything. I'm never scared to be alone or in strange places, and I know that almost all people in this world mean only the best for you in just about any circumstance.