how long do travelers last?

[Matt Derrick]

And yeah Matt I want you to say something here. I forget you're old haha

::finger::::finger::::finger::

In an ATTEMPT to get this thread back on topic, AGAIN...

@Matt Derrick , I know you've been traveling for awhile; what's your take on this?

I know I've heard more than a few epic traveling stories from ya...

i saw an awesome patch/tshirt (can't remember which) on tumblr once that had a cartoon train hopping kid on it and said in text around it, "just because you hopped a train once six years ago, doesn't mean you've been hopping trains for six years," and that kinda sums it up for me. yes, i first started traveling in 1998, even rode my first train that year, but i don't tell people i've been riding trains for 20 years. Sure, I put in some serious mileage over about 7 of those years (2001-2008) but there was always breaks in between of several months at a time. sometimes it would be as little as a week, and sometimes it would be as much as six months (especially during college).

someone that says they've been traveling for however many years straight is fibbing a little. no one spends 24/7 on a train, or even hitchhiking, or even via any other kind of travel. there's always going to be the slow periods between travels, it's just a part of traveling and its not avoidable. this is why i almost always put a bit of a disclaimer on my experience by saying i've been traveling "off-and-on" for about 18 years now (wow that feels weird to say, I AM OLD!)

 

[Notmyname]

@Matt Derrick you're in an RV now correct? Do you think that's a permanent thing? Ever gonna hop or hitch again? Rubber tramping really seems to be a common "final stage". It's been my retirement plan for as long as I can remember. But I don't wanna have my own vehicle until I'm too worn out to get around any other way. (Not to imply that's why you or anyone else does it)

 

[autumn]

i saw an awesome patch/tshirt (can't remember which) on tumblr once that had a cartoon train hopping kid on it and said in text around it, "just because you hopped a train once six years ago, doesn't mean you've been hopping trains for six years," and that kinda sums it up for me. yes, i first started traveling in 1998, even rode my first train that year, but i don't tell people i've been riding trains for 20 years. Sure, I put in some serious mileage over about 7 of those years (2001-2008) but there was always breaks in between of several months at a time. sometimes it would be as little as a week, and sometimes it would be as much as six months (especially during college).

someone that says they've been traveling for however many years straight is fibbing a little. no one spends 24/7 on a train, or even hitchhiking, or even via any other kind of travel. there's always going to be the slow periods between travels, it's just a part of traveling and its not avoidable. this is why i almost always put a bit of a disclaimer on my experience by saying i've been traveling "off-and-on" for about 18 years now (wow that feels weird to say, I AM OLD!)

I guess people in our community tend not to, on average, live as long as the gen pop, so you're veritably paleolithic.

That's pretty much my take on it as well. You don't travel for years at a time, just months at most. Everyone ends up stopping periodically. I'd consider a "full time" traveler to just be someone that isn't really looking to stop and spend years somewhere. As for the original question, my anecdotal observation is that most people tend to either stop young or get a van/RV. People that have a few decades on @Matt Derrick that are still hopping trains are rare.

I mean I'm only 23 and I burned out after 5 years, now I've got an RV.

 

[Matt Derrick]

guess people in our community tend not to, on average, live as long as the gen pop, so you're veritably paleolithic

That's hilarious. Yeah I'm used to being the 'older guy' in a group but I can still pass for about 27 most of the time

@Matt Derrick you're in an RV now correct? Do you think that's a permanent thing? Ever gonna hop or hitch again? Rubber tramping really seems to be a common "final stage". It's been my retirement plan for as long as I can remember. But I don't wanna have my own vehicle until I'm too worn out to get around any other way. (Not to imply that's why you or anyone else does it)

I won't say I'll never do a certain form of travel again, you just never know when the opportunity will arise. For now tho I'm just done *seeking* those opportunities.

I've been either flying, busing, or driving everywhere for the past few years now and I think that will be my main mode of transport until I go overseas. Then Ill give hitchhiking another go cause I hate hitching in America the people here are such scared little wuss especially.

Would love to hop another train but it would have to be a really exotic route to hold my interest. Like going across Australia or like going through the deserts of the middle east like that one guy did that we have an article here on. This is because I hopped trains for long enough that I did honestly start getting bored of it.

 

[AaronOnTheRoad]

Been traveling a week now, I actually like it besides all the Fucking walking we gotta do. Fucking feet hurt man

 

[Notmyname]

Been traveling a week now, I actually like it besides all the Fucking walking we gotta do. Fucking feet hurt man

For me and a lot of other people I've met, your pack is wayyyy to heavy in the beginning. Once you realize this and start shedding useless shit, walking will be easier. Within the first 4 months, I dropped prolly 15 to 20 lbs outta my pack. You'll gain more skills along the way and need less gear. Everything is harder in the beginning

 

[AaronOnTheRoad]

For me and a lot of other people I've met, your pack is wayyyy to heavy in the beginning. Once you realize this and start shedding useless shit, walking will be easier. Within the first 4 months, I dropped prolly 15 to 20 lbs outta my pack. You'll gain more skills along the way and need less gear. Everything is harder in the beginning

Exactly what I did already,but about to shed some more. We are right in Terre houet? Think that's how you spell it. About 70 miles outside of Indy. Spent two days looking for a dog, 500 doller reward.

 

[AlwaysLost]

Been traveling a week now, I actually like it besides all the Fucking walking we gotta do. Fucking feet hurt man

I gotta get me a segway...

 

[AaronOnTheRoad]

There are tiny buses here, 1.75

 

[AlwaysLost]

What is a tiny bus?

 

[AaronOnTheRoad]

It's like the handicap bus

 

[Hillbilly Castro]

veritably paleolithic

sidenote: paleolithic life expectancies were actually pretty damn high if you survived past age eight. Infant mortality was higher, often because pre-agricultural folks practiced infanticide. (which was a pretty good idea tbh)

until I go overseas. Then Ill give hitchhiking another go cause I hate hitching in America the people here are such scared little wuss especially.

Word, this is my feeling too. Hitchhiking for a few years in America is a true baptism by fire. I still won't drive, but I am switching to bikes and motorized bikes for the time being precisely because I fucking burned out hitchhiking. Which reminds me that the longevity of a traveler depends on their mode. Sailors, truckers, and RVers are all travelers as well, and they manage to travel for year and years with their rigs. The travel life expectancy of a pure hitchhiker would be ridiculously low in contrast. If we want to keep moving, we'd do well to be smart about how we're moving and what every mile takes out of us.

For me and a lot of other people I've met, your pack is wayyyy to heavy in the beginning. Once you realize this and start shedding useless shit, walking will be easier. Within the first 4 months, I dropped prolly 15 to 20 lbs outta my pack. You'll gain more skills along the way and need less gear. Everything is harder in the beginning

Haha this! All you really need is a blanket, a foam pad, a tarp, a pot and a set of clothes. When I first left all my shit was like 30 pounds WITHOUT food, now I'm down to maybe 8. I did just get robbed lol so that lightens the load a bit. I'm to the point where I want my whole setup to be worth less than $50 and under ten pounds. Blanket and clothes too cold? go south right? haha

 

[Odin]

Haha this! All you really need is a blanket, a foam pad, a tarp, a pot and a set of clothes. When I first left all my shit was like 30 pounds WITHOUT food, now I'm down to maybe 8. I did just get robbed lol so that lightens the load a bit. I'm to the point where I want my whole setup to be worth less than $50 and under ten pounds. Blanket and clothes too cold? go south right? haha

gotta start young otherwise the learning curve is steep.

 

[Notmyname]

sidenote: paleolithic life expectancies were actually pretty damn high if you survived past age eight. Infant mortality was higher, often because pre-agricultural folks practiced infanticide. (which was a pretty good idea tbh)



Word, this is my feeling too. Hitchhiking for a few years in America is a true baptism by fire. I still won't drive, but I am switching to bikes and motorized bikes for the time being precisely because I fucking burned out hitchhiking. Which reminds me that the longevity of a traveler depends on their mode. Sailors, truckers, and RVers are all travelers as well, and they manage to travel for year and years with their rigs. The travel life expectancy of a pure hitchhiker would be ridiculously low in contrast. If we want to keep moving, we'd do well to be smart about how we're moving and what every mile takes out of us.



Haha this! All you really need is a blanket, a foam pad, a tarp, a pot and a set of clothes. When I first left all my shit was like 30 pounds WITHOUT food, now I'm down to maybe 8. I did just get robbed lol so that lightens the load a bit. I'm to the point where I want my whole setup to be worth less than $50 and under ten pounds. Blanket and clothes too cold? go south right? haha

When I hit the hiline I'm aiming sub 30 lbs with pupchow. When I first started I was pushing 50 lbs I think. I was carrying shit like heavy duty metal tent stakes. I didn't even have a fucking tent, just thought they might help with my tarp setup. I ditched them and started sharpening sticks. Then I pretty much stopped setting up the tarp

 

[AlwaysLost]

It's like the handicap bus

Ahh right I've ridden the short bus before.

 

[ironman]

funny how easily provoked.. i wasnt even trying. just speakin gods honest opinion w/o zeroing in on anybody. may need to toughen that hide a little more, massachutes.

24 years on road mostly working different construction . Maybe 45 States I take several months off for bike touring but then also catch work

 

[Odin]

24 years on road mostly working different construction . Maybe 45 States I take several months off for bike touring but then also catch work

sounds like you can arrive at an interview knowing some of your shit... good.

 

[Beegod Santana]

I'd say the vast majority of people do it for 3-6 months. However, there certainly are people who do this full time into old age. They're few and far between but they're out there. I guess it kinda depends on your definition but I spent 5 years working festivals in the spring-fall and then would travel aimlessly in the winters. Sure, when I found a good busking town with some life in it I'd hang out for a week to a month, but it wasn't like I was growing roots anywhere.

 

[anterrabae]

24 years on road mostly working different construction . Maybe 45 States I take several months off for bike touring but then also catch work

24 Years is a long time, dude. Bet you've made some good friends, in places. Is it easy finding good companies that supply you with tools or do you stash your work gear away in a pack (or truck??). Also, is any of that time spent riding freight anymore? or I guess with skilled trade the pay could be enough that riding transit even flying kinda preferable to hitching and the like. Cheers to that.

In regards to labor I find, sometimes its complete hell and other times I tell myself I could totally stay indefinately. Met some rad people out there in the work force. But the itch to pick up and go gets to feeling like an addiction at points.. a devil on my back, I swear.

 

[ironman]

24 Years is a long time, dude. Bet you've made some good friends, in places. Is it easy finding good companies that supply you with tools or do you stash your work gear away in a pack (or truck??). Also, is any of that time spent riding freight anymore? or I guess with skilled trade the pay could be enough that riding transit even flying kinda preferable to hitching and the like. Cheers to that.

In regards to labor I find, sometimes its complete hell and other times I tell myself I could totally stay indefinately. Met some rad people out there in the work force. But the itch to pick up and go gets to feeling like an addiction at points.. a devil on my back, I swear.

I keep a vehicle . I been doing it so long I am known with lot big construction company so I can get around when I want to leave I just make few calls someone offer me job in another state . Having made lot of friends in the workforce helps I just work hard follow the rules and be decent to others.when I have my fill and pokets are full I park at friend house get on my bicycle and ride for many months living how I can .I always have strong trade to fall back into when I want to fatten up
If I run low on money I look for labor jobs wherever I am