"The rule of Thumb"

I believed from the beginning that there is more to the world that what I see.Its hidden from me, just around the corner.Always intrigued to see it beyond the next hill, on the end of the road, in next street; to find out something ,someone but nothing or no one in particular. Just looking.

I did not decide to hitch hike from Marseille with a particular plan. I didn't have one and didn't want to make one. No date , no time, and no particular immediate destination.With only some basic clothing,a sleeping bag ,some chocolates in my bag ,an english- french dictionary, a note book and a pen ; I went to the nearest highway exit of the city.

A day ago, I was hauled by the police back in the city while trying to take lift on the Autoroute 6. Cars are not allowed to stop on the autoroutes. So I chose a safer starting point within the city. Few french hikers were already in business on the crossing , so I had reached the right place. One of them, Michael , whom I met again in Lyon again,taught me few useful tricks of the trade.

1. Write the name of the destination on a piece of paper visible enough for the oncoming traffic.
2. Choose a traffic light or a toll passage instead of open roads.
3. Never wait on the curve. Can be dangerous.

After talking for a while ,and making some of city name posters, I chose a corner of the round-about to start my trip. For few minutes, I soaked in the environment. Bright morning sunshine, people hurrying to wherever, sea of cars, traffic police cars, shops in business. Suddenly a shyness overcame me that as soon as I raise my hand the whole chugging machinery would be disrupted. Its different in India where I feel the other persons obligation to help me out. But in France, where I barely understood the language and have a cultural disconnect, I felt hesitant.

However, my excitement far outweighed any inhibition. So I had to raise my thumb and become "the Hitchhiker". I reflected a bit. Raising my thumb would mean signing the charter of the clan of hitchikers. I also made up the charter.