What was the best thing about hitchhiking?
I stood on the highway near the turnoff to Byron Bay, in northern New South Wales.
I’d hitchhiked from Sydney over a few days and needed a lift for the last three kilometers into town.
There was no rush. One shouldn’t hurry through Red Rock National Park. It was early December.
Summer had arrived, and for a 21-year-old used to the cool climate of New Zealand’s South Island, the northern New South Wales summer was a revelation. The water was ten degrees warmer, and the air felt like it was floating.
Two surfers in their late twenties from California picked me up. They were taking their time exploring the Australian coastline.
The car was a 1963 EJ Holden, a three-speed Hydramatic version.
“Oh, the EJ’s clutch is shot,” one of them said.
We weren’t headed anywhere in particular. We started talking, shared a campsite, and later shared some beers.
We enjoyed each other’s company and shared a sense of camaraderie. Rick spun great tales, and I was an eager listener.
We sat around a beach bonfire.
The Australian summer heat was enough to make you thirsty!
They were heading south too, but there was no hurry. That suited me just fine.
“I wouldn’t surf there!” one of them remarked.
We shared the adventure and eventually made it to the Surf Coast of Victoria, south of Apollo Bay.
New Year’s morning. A good time in Wye River.
We had traveled over 2000 kilometers, more than 1300 miles, together.
By mid-January, it was time for me to head back to New Zealand. I picked up a small van, and a week later, they joined me after selling their car in Australia. The van technically had only two seats, but we all squeezed in.
It was the company vehicle of “MacMedia Destruction Company.” We sold it later for $300.
We tried surfing spots on the North Island and played in Nelson Lakes National Park. Then I left to return to university in Christchurch.
“Lake Rotoiti. It’s my backyard now.”
And yes, in the end, I did manage to stand up on the board for a few seconds before getting knocked off by the wave. Body surfing suited me better.
After that, they borrowed my van and toured the South Island, returning it in similar condition.
A three-kilometer ride turned into three months of a fantastic summer experience. It was truly an unforgettable summer and a great ride.