Shhh. Today I road a city-bike through an underwater pedestrian tunnel to a park along the Schelde River, ordered fries with mayonnaise and ate them while reading Murakami.
I liked James' story. I don't know that I have the cohones to hitchhike myself, but I always love reading stories about people encountering strangers. I've never picked up a hitchhiker myself, but I'd give it a more serious thought after reading your story.