Many Steep Steps

Blue Mountains, NSW, AU

The last time we went on a hike with Dan a new phrase was seared into our joint lexicon to represent a task of monumentally herculean proportions and nigh unbearable pain: Kiwi Moderate.

So the take away catch phrase for our next joint adventure through the blue mountains?

Many steep steps.

After hours of scrambling up and down mountainsides while seeing some amazing vistas we figured out that it appeared the trail we were on was not a loop.

Translation – we would have to go back the way we came in order to get to our hostel.

It was at this point Tiffany and Greg agreed that it was time to have another genuine Australian Backpacker experience:

hitchhiking.

(…oh wait mom, it gets better!)

(DISCLAMER: look, if you’re gonna hitchhike we obviously can’t guarantee a thing.  Lots of people have good experiences, other people have horrible ones.  Some people have died.  Just FYI.)

Now perhaps you don’t know a lot about hitchhiking in Australia so just in case, let’s frame this for you.  First off, people, its freaking Australia.

Imagine the continental United States.  OK, now turn it into a vast barren desert and fill it with a bunch of critters of all sizes and shapes that can and will kill you just for looking at them funny.  (‘roos are psycho knife wielders who will gladly spill your intestinal track for you but more on that later.)

Still with us?  Cool.

Ok now take away 90% of the population of the US (along with your potential rides…) and blamo, there you have your hitchhiking environment.

Do you see a car anywhere?

Oh wait, we forgot and how could we because everyone loves to tell the travellers about this one: Australia’s most prolific serial killer?  Hitchhiker murderer.  Yeah.

Made a horror movie about it and everything.

(see mom, how cool is that!)

There have been other incidents as well.  Feel free to google.

There were 4 of us that needed a lift, we only needed a 30 minute lift to the nearest town, and we found our ride in broad daylight in a very public and populated parking lot of a national park which is also a well-trafficked tourist area.

So we took the underhand pitch on this life achievement.  Still counts!

Life Achievement Unlocked: Hitchhiked Australia!

In New Zealand when we had to get back from a hike there were no cars to hitchhike with…or roads.  The only thing that greeted us when we stepped out of the hut was the rain and our flooded trail.

 

About the authors

Greg and Tiffany are traveling around the world on sailing yachts and keep a video blog of their (mis)adventures.  If sailing to Tahiti on a 44 ft sailboat, 3-day delays for wine tastings, getting pooped on by seagulls, opening coconuts with dull machetes, sailing past tornadoes and ukulele Christmas carols are for you, then check them out at www.CoastGuardCouple.com!

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