Record time hitchhiking back from Aomori

This trip I hitchhiked 951 kilometers from Niigata Prefecture to Aomori Prefecture and back in 16 cars. Again the first person to pick me up in Murakami city near Majima station was Mrs. Fujiwara, a lady who buys and sells fish. It was the third time to meet her! It’s highly likely we will meet again.

The return trip from Hiroshima to Niigata was via the Tohoku Expressway though Fukushima in 5 cars. A man took me directly to the train station where I park my bicycle. Fifteen minutes later I was back home at 3 p.m.! This is the best time ever. The previous record was 4 p.m. The distance traveled was 560 kilometers.

Steep hill close to Nezugasaki near the border of Niigata and Yamagata

Mr. Saito who took me to Atsumi Onsen in Yamagata. He looks a bit like the current Japanese Prime minister Abe.

This car was so small I had to hold my luggage on my lap!

Lady who took me from Kisarazu to Honjo City in Akita Prefecture. She’s a dance teacher. Her husband passed away 2 years ago from cancer leaving her and two daughters, 1 and 5 years old.

Two men who took me to Higashi Noshiro from Akita City. The older man says he always stops for hitchhikers!

On June 9th on the way back to Niigata, a minivan of two men and 5 ladies took me from Hirosaki in Aomori Ken to Iwate. The fifth lady took the photo. Mt. Iwate is in the background.