Island Hitchhikers

[Gromit]

At home we NEVER would think about picking up hitchhikers. But when we're on island we do it all the time. Seems totally natural and we're glad to help folks out.

One time we ran into a father and son hiking to Trunk Bay. Clearly the father had forgotton how treacherous (due to speeding trucks etc.) it can be to walk on the road with all the switchbacks on the Northshore as well as the hills. We offered a ride and by the time we dropped him off he was eternally grateful as was his young son!

So question: Who else does this when on island?

Or even better what other things do you do that you would never do at home?

[liamsaunt]

We picked up hitchikers a couple of times on our first trip because we had a grand vitara and room in the car. Now we rent a two-door wrangler and there is no space for anyone else once all our gear is loaded. I never felt totally at ease picking up people anyway, to be honest, so I kind of like it that there's no room anymore.

[DaveS007]

We usually do when we have room. We picked up on three occasions this past trip. One was a kid 10 years old, local, on the middle road and took him to town. He said he does it all the time but more often he ends up walking. The other two were visitors like us.

[Diana2]

When we have room in the Wrangler we pickup STJ hitchhikers. We would never think of doing it anywhere else.

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[JT]

OK, to start with, we always pick up hitchhikers on STJ. Then again, many years ago I hitched all the time,[stateside], including both ways from east coast to west coast, from MD to New England, MD to NY, from MD to DC, from MD to WVA, you get the picture. I've never even heard from anyone who heard from anyone about anybody getting hurt by a hitchhiker on STJ. Some kind of strange interactions maybe, but harmless. HOWEVER! Right after we left a few years ago a couple of guys were hitching back to Cruz Bay from Coral Bay and got the living snot beat out of them with baseball bats after getting picked up in a pickup truck by a couple of St. Thomians. No moral here. Just that it just don't make no sense that common sense don't make no sense no more. And I think you have a better chance of getting your leg bit off by a barracuda, or strangled by an octopus, or winning the Publisher Clearing House Sweepstakes, then getting in trouble picking up hitchhikers on STJ. And they're usually at least, mildly entertaining. Gromit & Flipper, I'm really feeling jealous that y'awl are soon come to the island.

[Teresa_Rae]

So question: Who else does this when on island?

Or even better what other things do you do that you would never do at home?

We've picked up hitchhikers a couple times on STJ. Most of the time we don't have room in the jeep.

As for other things that we'd never do at home, how about spending $8 on a painkiller at the Beach Bar? I wouldn't spend over $5 on that at home.

[Gromit]

TR -- You're killing me! I guess I could say the same about Breyers ice cream (I'd say half a gallon but it's really 1.5 Qt's these days) -- last year it was $8.99 for a container!! But for some reason happy to pay it!!


Another thing I would add that i do different on STJ is I don't worry about how I look in bathing suit!! At home I'd be totally self concious. Down there-- it is what it is!!

[Bug]

We pretty much pick up everyone who puts a hand out to us on STJ. In all the trips and all the people we've given rides to, we've never ended up with anything but a VERY grateful person. We are cautious about what we tell them, i.e. Question: Where you staying? Answer: Chocolate Hole Area. We never give specific villa names. But, we always are more than willing to give them a ride. I figure it's good mojo. When my dream comes true and I move to the island, grow dreads, and have no car ~ some nice peeps will give me a ride

XOXO
Bug

[Gromit]

Yeah, it'll probably be me givin you a ride!

[Bug]

Thanks Gromit!

[RickG]

We pick everyone who is not brandishing a machete.

Cheers, RickG

[bayer40601]

I'm glad to see this thread and will be interested in other responses. When we visited the island last year, I do not recall seeing hitchhikers, but this year I noticed some on 2-3 occasions. I did not pick them up because I did not know what the situation might be. I will at least think about it in the future, depending upon the time of day, the location and personal factors.

[toni]

We've picked up people on two occasions; one guy out by Coral Bay who didn't seem to mind crawling into the open back of the jeep-and informed us our spare was flat when he did so, and a woman walking out by Fish Bay. I don't know if I'd do it if I wasn't with my husband though. It just seemed like the right thing to do at the time.

[BOATSRUS]

Gromit asked: "Or even better what other things do you do that you would never do at home?"

"Nekkid Snorkling"..':shock:'.. Off a boat of course! Sorry, somebody had to lighten up the day..':lol:'