2 days ago I picked up a 60 year old out of Yara Glen (Vic) carrying nothing but a small bag and got quite a different view on life over the next 100km.
Was a farmer from gippsland who didn't talk much but gave me his name and address as soon as he got in the car I guess sort of trying to show he was bonna-fide.
I'm semi retired driving around all over the place just for the fun of exploring but I soon learnt there is another side of life as this guy said the bank was selling his Angus beef property to recover debt and he had no money and nothing to show for 40 years hard work.
Never been away from the
farm in gippsland in his life and this was his first ever bit of involuntary exploring.
With no money, food or car he and his wife had an offer of a farming job with board from a friend 600 km away in NSW.
He had no idea where the NSW town was and they spent there last dollars on 1 train ticket.
He put his wife on the train while he had no option but to hitch hike as best he could.
I soon learnt everyone from the city was to be regarded with suspicion - he told me he did have $3 dollars left if I wanted it.
I think this was a way of giving me a message that he wasn't worth mugging - seems incredible doesn't it , and I only took this view after he said he had to only valuable things in world other than his wife , a wedding ring and a watch - his wife carried them so that they wouldn't be lost if he was actually mugged.
After a few questions it became obvious he really didn't know where he was or how he was going to get to his destination.
(Reminded me of when we departed the
Madigan line for unknown territory recently with just a vague idea of direction - post 88482)
A few minutes before I picked him up the cops had stopped him and said hitch hiking was illegal on highways(?) and another car had given him the finger salute
I felt sorry for him and at the next town I brought him a cup of coffee.
A 100km later as I turn off the highway in
Yarck at the bus station I had made up mind to help him catch up to his wife and had $20 for a bus ticket in my hand
to give him , but he got out of the car and took his bag so quickly that by the time I was out of the car he was halfway across the road calling out thanks.
I probably could have chased him but in those two seconds I summed up the previous hour and thought there was no point and that he had contributed to his own situation in life a lot and anyway I'm just a city slicker.
Was I right or wrong ?