USVI-On-Line

We always pick up hitchhikers on St. John. But, RickG, we also exclude folks carrying firearms if we can help it.

I was living in Chocolate Hole years ago and for a while, I did not have a car. I would walk out Great Cruz bay road and wait by the dumpsters for a ride.
90% of the people that picked me up were tourists and I made some great connections, and even found a few Real Estate customers.

We picked up a young couple who were toting extremely large backpacks. It was just me and a friend in the car (two ladies), and we felt completely comfortable with it. We didn't get all chatty with them, and nor them with us. I also always take an extra lunch in the cooler to the beach (sandwich, chips, cookie). I figure anyone who wanders over and starts up a conversation when your eating, might be hungry and not have money for food. I believe there's always enough for one more!

My Mother, when she would visit would hitch hike in STJ which I am absolutely sure she had never done anywhere before in her life - this was in the 70's when few of us had cars but she thought it was just a hoot and went to the beach that way every time.

On a solo trip, I picked up a local couple near Maho and took them into Cruz Bay. It was obvious by the tools and lunches they carried, they were just trying to get to work. Besides, I had been talking to no one but a cat for days, so I think maybe I was craving some non-feline conversation. I even dropped her off and took him a few extra miles. At no time did I feel I was doing something unwise. May not have been the smartest thing to do, but I always say that God protects the innocent and the stupid. I think we can all figure out which category I belong to.....

When I was younger and the world seemed safer, I hitchhiked a lot in the U.S, Canada and Europe. There was the odd, weird situation, but generally the experiences were quite positive. When I was driving anywhere in the U.S., I would pretty routinely pickup hitchhikers. Never had a bad experience, but every once in a while I'd pass somebody by, just on instinct. Things have changed, though, and it's been years since I've picked up a hitchhiker. It's one measure of the changes in the country/culture.

But on STJ we pick up most people that we see and are glad to do so. There have been just a few that we've passed by over the years---again, just on instinct. And I've hitchhiked myself a few times on STJ and always had a pleasant experience. I don't think I ever had to wait very long for a ride.

Hubs and I would hitch on Block Island in our younger years as it was common for locals to give you a ride so I have returned the favor on STJ.

Last trip, I picked up a young man at Maho on his way to work at Cinnamon. I was alone (something I would NEVER do at home) but he was about 1/4 of my size and obviously still working off the prior night's fun.