Grandpa’s Memory Journal, Entry #7 – Hitchin’ a Ride

(This entry was originally posted in Facebook in 2016)

In the late 1960’s hitchhiking became a popular way to get around, particularly for people that had no money (much like hopping a freight train in the 1930’s).

I had done some short trips, from Regina to Weyburn. However, in the summer of 1968 I set out to visit my cousin, David Boyle, who was at his family’s summer home on Lake Windermere, BC.

It was a bus & hitchin’ combo! I successfully hitchhiked to Calgary. I stayed the night with a former minister, Munro Frampton. The next morning, I took the bus to Skookum Inn, the stop nearest Lake Windermere.

After a delightful week of water, sun and mountains (see picture) it was time to reverse the trip.

I deliberately arrived a Skookum Inn ahead of the scheduled bus, and did hitch a ride to Calgary. After another night at the Framptons, I somehow got to the east end of Calgary on Highway #1. There were eleven hitchhikers awaiting rides that morning. However, I was soon on my way.

I arrived at the Maple Creek Junction in Saskatchewan on a hot July afternoon. After waiting 90 minutes, I saw the Greyhound coming up the hill. I ran back to the Bus Stop and rode the rest of the way to Regina in Air Conditioned Comfort!

It was a year and a half later that the song Hitchin’ A Ride by Vanity Fare reached #5 on the charts in the USA. (Grandkids, don’t hitchhike. Once again, “as I say, not at I did!”)

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