User:Stove
About Me
Born in Philadelphia, PA and quickly shipped off to Norwell, MA, USA; Educated in Rochester, NY, and landed in Burlington, VT.
Along the way to where I am, I've managed to pick up a degree in Electronic Engineering, a minor in (and fascination with) psychology, and a smattering of jobs ranging from Semiconductor Designer to Paintball Referee. I've learned to enjoy life, whatever the circumstance.
Some of my more infamous nicknames include: MacGuyver (I get this at least once a year), Knife (I've always got one), and of course Stove, from the 8/8/8 Hitch-gathering.
Current Plans
Spent the summer living in Haines, AK (A WONDERFUL PLACE!). Gonna hitch down to my buddy's wedding in Arizona, then cross the country a few times, and end up living in/around NYC for the Christmas holiday. Afterwards...well, if I can rub two dimes together hard enough, I'm Argentina-bound...
Experience
I started hitch-hiking March of 2008. There was a small boat-hitching experience the prior summer, but I was assisted by a bridge. Long story.
2008
Hitching around New England was relatively easy, especially in Vermont. The people are too friendly, and most people aren't in a hurry.
With a one-way ticket to Dublin, I began exploring Europe by way of the thumb (and signs...And poor german/french/romanian/italian/hungarian/russian/dutch). From Dublin to Scotland, I somehow got lost in the Balkans and ended up finding friends and comrades at 888. Cris-crossing France a few times, I was initially rejected by the British authorities (black mark. Sadly becoming more common), but eventually made my way to Scotland.
2009
My favorite sign:
Spent a month hitching around the west coast, then hiked for a month on the PCT. Ended up in Amsterdam hitching to 7/8/9, which lead me on a merry loop around Poland and the Baltics, ending up back in Amsterdam a month later.
Hitching Canada in the fall (late October) is not such a hot idea.
Made it to the 7/8/9 Ukraine Hitchgathering
2010
After completing a circuit around Australia (15,000km in 3 months) I finally have a rev! I've hitched over 45,000KMs as of the end of 2010
Made it to 6/8/10 hitchgathering in Sines, Portugal
Future Plans
Road-tripping across the US in 2011
Exploring South America in 2012
