First Day

I started walking with my backpack weighting 17kg. I found it light. It was a short 10 minutes walking when I reached the first gas station. There were few trucks parked and one that was leaving to the same direction I was going to. I ran until the truck before the trucker speed it up, and asked him a ride. He said he was driving 20km further, but if it already helped he could lift me.

Awesome! I just started my 6 months trip and the first ride I asked I got it. He dropped me off 20km further. There was no gas station, just the road and a city aside the road. I started walking again, when I car pulled over and awaited for me. When I got closer the driver asked me about some industry company along the road. I said it was 10 minutes driving straight. He asked me where I was going and I replied I was heading south. He offered me a ride and I accepted.

“It’s much easier I thought” I was thinking. The driver left me 10 minutes later on the road. Now it was properly road. No cities. No houses. No factories. Just road and trees.

It was 9am. The sun was shining. I started to walk at the same time I tried to hitchhike. I walked for 2 hours before I see the first house along the road. I was fucking thirsty – I had forgotten a bottle of water. Around 11am the sun wasn’t shining anymore, the sun as burning. My backpack was heavy as hell. I went straight to this house which was a road restaurant, exactly. I ordered a 500ml water bottle. I drank in one gulp. I ordered other one to take with myself. The attendant was a boy no more than 17 years old.

The attendant had Mohican with dreadlocks. He asked me if was travelling for business or pleasure. I said pleasure. Then he saw the badges on my backpack and asked me if I had been in all those countries – around 12. I said yes. He asked me if I learn the language of them. I said I learnt English and Spanish. Then he simply started to talk in English with me for 10 minutes. I got surprised, because even at the international airports in Brazil sometimes is difficult to find someone who speaks English and this country kid was talking with me fluently. I left the restaurant and said: this is what I’m talking about. Then I came back walking.

I walked under the burning sun for more 2,5 hours with the heaviest backpack before reaching the other gas station. I didn’t get any ride on the way. Then I realised after 5,5 hours walking that the easiest way to get a ride was talking with the truckers at gas stations.

I was starving and tired. My back was aching. My legs and arms were burnt. My watch showed me 2.30pm. There were few trucks. I talked with the truckers but I didn’t get any ride. So I decide to lie down on the shadow, have my lunch (biscuits my father cooked for me) and apples and take a nap.

I woke up at 5.30. There were 2 trucks. I went straight to talk with them. One trucker said no, the other one made me some questions and said yes. They were brothers, and the trucker who said no said to his brother he couldn’t give a ride. It was forbidden. The trucker didn’t care and told me to climb up. It was the first real ride I got. It was around 2 hours travelling. He dropped me off in a gas station in a city called Cristalina around 8pm, wished me good luck and drove away in a direction I wasn’t going. Then I decided to set up my tent, take a shower at the gas station bathroom and go sleep to wake early and start hitchhiking again.

André - The first of many truckers who helped me up
* He asked my phone number to keep informed about my trip

It was the first place I set up my tent. It was raining at night, so I set up my tent outside the gas station office

To be continued...

Leaving Home

The real reason was definite. Besides writing a book when travelling, to prove to my family, friends and everybody else who doesn’t believe in goodness that it doesn’t matter where you go there’s always someone to help you up even though you don’t have a good looking.

I must say I didn't have a good looking, but I didn't care at all.

 When I said this to my Mom, she said in low voice if she could come with me. I said to her to get herself a backpack and be ready. Then she said out loud to my father that I said that she could come with me. He simply replied: Go, then. Jokes apart, I got my things ready to leave on February 27^th at 6.30am.

I woke up at 6am, took my shower, had my breakfast with my parents and took my backpack to start my journey. My father said good bye into the house and went back to his bedroom. My Mom insisted to give me the first lift until the road. Of course I accepted.

Ok.. I did care a little bit about it, so I had my hair cut before I leave

Into the car, she gave me 300 quid to start the travel. Then I went out, so did my Mom. I put my backpack on my back and my Mom came to give me a hug. A tight and longstanding one. That hug your Mom give you when you are going away for a while. Then she said that my father didn’t come because he was worried and he got emotional. She also said that she would like to do this kind of things, but she didn’t have the opportunity. She concluded I was very brave and wished me good luck and asked me to be careful before give me her blessing. We said good bye to each other and I started walking.

I was walking for 150 metres when I had the feeling that someone was watching me. Have you had this feeling before? Well, I stopped and looked back. Then I saw my mom taking the last picture and putting her camera down before I disappear.  It was a sad moment, but at that time there was nothing I could do. I turned back forwards and started walking again.

At this moment, my adventure started and I was by myself

To be continued...

The Reason

Why will I travel by hitchhike in South America?

This is a question with a long answer. First of all, I would like to write a book. But, what sort of book I would write, I didn’t know. I would like to write something funny, nice, interested, real and also that would give people information. I thought about this for a while. I really would like to write something, but what?

Then thoughts started to come to my mind all the time. Most of them about travelling. All right, then. I already know the subject. Let’s work it out.

Then I remembered that when I was travelling through Europe, it was normal hit the road and ask for a ride instead to get a bus, sometimes a train.

Once I lost a train to visit a friend. The next one would leave the following day, only. I called my friend to tell her the news. I would be late. Then she said, hitchhike then. It’s easier, cheaper and I guarantee you will get here today. I thank her for the option and I chose to take the next train the following day.

Many people I know from Brazil (the country I was born) prefer travelling overseas than in South America, or even in Brazil. Many of them even didn’t much Brazil. Some have been overseas, but didn’t know the estate aside their home. And most of the European people I met, if they haven’t been in South America yet, they would kill to go down there.

Then, the light blinked on my mind. That’s it. I’ll write about travelling through South America by hitchhike. Yes, I know, I know, I Know… too dangerous. I’ll check it out then to be sure.

Then I said to my brother, and also to my parents. I planned the trip to February (After Carnaval, of course) leaving from my parents house. Then I told friends and family. The next step was to visit some friends before leaving Dublin.

I went to visit my family here in Dublin

Then I put my backpack on my back and went to Netherlands to say hello

Then I met a friend which inspired me even more – Annika Aneko

Then back to Belgium once more

Then I flew to Rio de Janeiro to spend the Carnaval with my brother and friends

Then I flew to Brasília after Carnaval time

Then I decided to sew the badges from the countries I have been on my backpack

Then I visited friends (Gabriela sewed the badges)

Then I visited more friends

And some more

Then I asked permission to the general (my father) to go accomplish my mission

Add caption

To be continued...

I just came back...

Hey folks,

What’s going on?

I know I’ve been off. But you all must understand that when you’re travelling or you stay on facebook, blogs, e-mails on the computer or smartphone or you simply meet people, make friendships, have fun and enjoy your life (after all, the life is too short to waste).

I know I promised I would keep you all informed about my trip, but it was just impossible to do it hitchhiking, sleeping in tents and refuges and with low internet access when I had some.

So, now I’m back with time to spend writing and uploading photos to inform you all about my trip through South America.

I just came back…

Regards,

Ronei Rodrigues

Should I stay or should I go?