Adventure from Kita-Kyushu to Oita City

Youji and Miki

August 5: I hitchhiked to Oita City down route 10, a distance of over 60 kilometers in only 3 cars!

The first driver, Mr. Kihara saw me standing outside a hospital hitchhiking and wondered if I was a disabled man who needed help! He turned around and asked me what I was doing. I told him I was hitchhiking to Oita city and he offered to take me just out of the city limits to catch cars going out of town.

Mr. Kihara is a financial adviser. I asked him what advice he has now that the economy is down. He replied, “Know your dream!”

The next driver, Mr. Sumitomo took me as far as Yukuhashi City. Mr. Sumitomo is a company owner and speaks some English. He lived in South Carolina.

The next car took me all the way to Oita station! They were 20 year old Miki and her 15 year old brother Youji. They said they are Christians and were raised in a Christian family. It’s very uncommon to meet such people. Miki is a college student and was on the way to her university in Beppu which is just before Oita City. She went out of her way to take me to my destination.