I Picked Up a Hitch-Hiker! –You Won’t Believe What Happened!

My plan had been to grab a quick cup of Coffee at Starbucks Sunday morning, and then head home to pack up and have a nice horse ride in the sunshine!

But, as I stopped at the corner to get on the freeway, I noticed a young lady hitch-hiking... She was loaded with a giant backpack as well as a small one...I had to wonder where on earth she was heading, and was hitch-hiking even legal nowadays?? And in the few seconds that I had been contemplating these things, I found myself pulling over for her.

She was ecstatic! And when I got out of the car to help her load her gear, she had tears in her eyes and was thanking me profusely.  She had apparently accepted a ride with someone from Seattle and was trying to get to Spokane and eventually Boston MA! But the man got on I-82 and took her to Tri-Cities where she was stuck and couldn't get a ride. She had spent the night sleeping outside in frigid temps!

She told me her name was Lucie and I found her to be intelligent and well educated. (well, intelligent with the exception of thinking it's safe to hitch-hike to Boston!) She said she is an under grad, and is going for her Phd. in International Relations. She spoke fluid French and also Spanish. She had traveled extensively in Europe but currently resided in Boston and was trying to get home.

She wanted me to drop her at the truck stop where she thought she could get a ride to Spokane and then stay on the interstates and eventually make it to Boston!

But there was no way I felt okay bout her doing that! She was NOT looking for a hand out in anyway! Just a ride. I had to beg her to let me take her to lunch! After about an hour and a half of talking to her I finally convinced her to allow me to buy her a plane ticket to Boston.  But when I went to book it she didn't have a government issued ID and they wouldn't let her on a plane!  So I called the train station and tried to book her a ticket on the train. And, same thing! All she had was a student ID.

I then took her to the bus station, but it was closed. She then pleaded with me to believe in the 'good of mankind' and trust that she would be safe and fine hitch-hiking all the way to Boston! She reminds me a bit of myself in that way, as I tend to be a little too trusting, but not when it's a young girl traveling alone! I was just NOT feeling okay about it.!

I begged her to just stay with me till the following day and I'd buy her a ticket on the BUS. But, she said she loved the adventure and really wanted to do the trip by hitch and to just drop her at the truck stop.

At this point, I began to feel like an over-bearing mother and realized that I have to allow any and all of this to be her choice. But, I was worried sick.

I took her to the truck stop and there I left her with my phone number, a little money and a full tummy. (We had Mexican food)

I don't know why she didn't have valid drivers license on her. She said she had one as well as a passport,  but since she wasn't driving she'd left it in Boston.

I don't know if she was truthful about her identity or why she was hitch hiking to Boston. I don't know if any of what she told me was the truth or not.

But, I genuinely liked her and found her to be very kind, respectful, appreciative and easy to be around.

I hope and pray she makes it safely and I hear from her again someday!