I did also. Before the Navy, in the late 60's because I lost my licence, then the early 70's while in the Navy. The code seemed to be "if someone picked you up, you need to keep them awake". For me the best experience was when I picked up an old fart, (I was 18 at the time, Leaving home in western New York for Florida,) somewhere in Virginia. He needed to find his family in North Carolina, but he got me lost after a day of driving backwoods Carolina Mountain roads, and we finaly ended up in Richmond. I was so disgusted that when he went to the bathroom I left him there. On my way out of town a Cop pulled me over. The old man had left his bag in the back of my car, with everything he owned in it. The cop offered to return the bag but I felt bad, so I went back and got the old guy. We spent another day, near evening we found it.

Things were different back then, We had more time than money, and you could tell the good guys from the bad. Hippies were proud of their Quality drugs, Drunks were proud of their Quality Whiskey, The Southern boys were proud of their Quality Moonshine, and the Truckers were the American Heroes.

Since then I've picked up Hichers in the 80's and heard some horrible stories, in the 90's and had some close calls. I guess it is over. It is too bad, America is gone.