Things You'll Need:
- Used beat up paperback of "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac
- Good traveling backpack
- Warm sleeping bag
- Some emergency cash
- Good road maps
- Some quality website addresses
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Step 1
Have a basic plan of where you want to go. Even if it's a general location, you need a place to go to start traveling. This also allows you at least a basic story to start the chatting with locals, people on the greyhound or train, or people picking you up if you're hitching.
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Step 2
Be prepared. You'll want a good hitchhiker's backpack to pack everything you need for long term vagabonding. Backpacking packs or hiking backpacks work best since these give more than ample room for clothes, a backpack, and anything else you need.
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Step 3
Good folding maps. The more detailed the map, the better. The best parts of any country aren't right by the interstates. Look for other highways, roads, and towns to visit. You won't regret it.
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Step 4
Stay up to date on resources. Couchsurfing.com is a fantastic resource for professional vagabonds, allowing you to contact people for a couch to crash on in over 50 nations and literally tens of thousands of towns and cities. You meet interesting people and don't have to worry about a place to lay your head. It's win-win all the way.
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Step 5
If you want to vagabond with the best of them, you'll also want to have some emergency cash stashed away in the boot or hidden just in case you need that emergency Greyhound or Amtrak ticket. It's always best to be prepared.
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Step 6
Have a copy of "On the Road" or another beat up travel narrative that really gets the professional vagabonding juices flowing. Half of any memory is perception, and setting the mood during your adventures can put you in the right mind set to enjoy every moment.
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Step 7
Enjoy the journey. The true vagabonding pros all do :)
Comments
e-howpato said
on 11/25/2009 Kerouac here I come!
thegypsydad said
on 7/6/2009 Great Travel Info....thank you