Charlotte High School - Witan Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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Auto-Hiking “We walk a mile, we rest awhile, we’re 097 miles from home.” So sang Bill Bacon who, with his chum Jim Miller, was taking an auto-hiking trip to Chicago. “W hat do 1 see, is it a ride that is approaching upon the western horizon? Hail him. quick! Bill.” said Jim. Bill motioned with his hand and at the same time shouted, ‘ Give us a lift!” I he car, amid a squeaking of tires and brakebands, came to a stop and a cheery. “Climb in. boys, invited them to an easier method of traveling than walking. The boys slipped their packs off their backs and took a seat in the car, arranged themselves comfortably, so that they could see everything there was to be seen, and were off once more. This is only one example of how hun- dreds of hoys are satisfying that travel lust that grips them at a certain age. Auto-hiking is a delightful means of traveling. By auto-hiking I mean, travel- ing by means of getting rides in auto- mobiles. whose drivers are kind enough to stop and give you a lift when you ask. It is a delightful means of traveling for there are few worries and few expenses to detract from your enjoyment, and there are plenty of adventures that are not met in other modes of travel. Rides are very plentiful. Almost every- one that has the room will give you a ride, some are even glad to have your com- panionship. Some of these rides are long and some short, some cars go fast and some slow, some are careful drivers others are daring. You take your chance, for you have no choice. It is seldom you have to walk far, not even ten out of a thousand miles would have to be covered in this manner. In some places people will not stop so read- ily as in others, as in towns and at the foot of hills, so it is to your advantage to walk if you happen to be in one of these places. Rides are sometimes obtained with very amusing people. This only tends to make the trip more enjoyable. For ex- ample you might get a ride with an old colored fellow in an ancient I.izzie, who had only fifty cents, five extra gallons of gasoline, a wife in Pittsburgh and another in Chicago, who was on his way to Pitts- burgh from Chicago because his Chicago wife had run away. He tells you he wouldn’t have picked you up only he joined the Masons here awhile back and learned what true brotherhood is. You would laugh all the way from Toledo to Cleveland if that’s where he carried you. In this mode of travel, you often run across newlyweds and even they will pick you up, and you will spend another hun- dred miles or so amused by them and their actions. The thing I could never figure out was why they would give any- one a ride. I should think a man just entering the state of matrimony had plenty of trouble already. Then there is the fun of telling of your adventures to the kind person who gives you a ride. This is indeed a pleas- ure and of course each time it is told, like small town gossip it becomes more thrill- ing and wonderful. Although automobiles will stand al- most unlimited abuse. e «-n nowadays they are not trouble-proof. That's one more reason why it is advisable to do your traveling on someone’s else back seat. When his car breaks down, you see if you can help him. If you can’t, you leave him in the hands of some understudy of Jesse James, who is armed to the teeth with a garage hill, while you step out and hail the next car that happens along and continue your search for new sights with- out further delay. It seems cruel, but it is unavoidable. Sending post cards home (and other places! occupies about half of your time and consumes about half of your money. No auto-hiker’s equipment is complete without either pen or pencil to write postal cards. Even if he should have to

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WHAT WE THINK OF EACH OTHER Result of vote taken at the regular senior meeting January 7. 1924 Hardest Worker £ 2 0 1 ia £ £ c 1 § c Jj 3 £ | -a 11 t; 12 | L. t 3 cc I b £ 1 .3 3 £ 3 t 1 £ A ■o c 3 r . r. '£ -z c. | 1 « 1 o s sc 3 ■2 2 o' . a- 1 c u: s I ti i= u. A Anderson, Astnd 1 8 5 12 1 Arlidge, Florence o 5 2 7 2 7 3 1 Bacon. Helen 1 2 5 2 Bums, John I 1 3 o Castle. Mary 8 1 2 8 1 6 3 Cleary, Miriam 1 1 2 I 1 3 Coons, Norman 1 8 4 1 4 4 Doty, Ernest 4 1 I 3 1 3 1 2 5 Drews, Florence 1 5 6 2 Howe, Dorothy I 3 3 1 Justice, Howard 1 1 2 3 1 2 Karl John C. 4 2 I 3 1 3 Landon, Don 8 6 4 8 2 Pickens, Joseph 1 1 1 1 Punnett, Milton 3 5 6 11 3 Riche ns, Carlton 15 1 Rickman, Ruth 1 3 Sage, Ruth 2 13 1 4 4 1 1 1 2 Shaw, Erma Soucie, Edith 5 I 2 Travis, Opal 1 C Westfall. Gilterta 1 I 2 1 Wignall, Wilbur I 2 1 1 1 1 6 Total number of votes cast.................................................................... ]g

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---------------------- ■ ■■■■ ■ — sacrifice liis tooth-brush, the pen or pencil should be carried. Night, like the tide, has never failed to close in upon us and almost as regu- larly. the traveler begins to look for a spot to spend the night as soon as it grows dusk. With the coming of darkness the auto-hiker can feel assured that his day's travels are over, for the few who travel in the night are too suspicious and afraid to offer rides to strangers, and they are not to be blamed. With his means of traveling cut off the auto-hiker's thoughts then turn toward a shelter for the night. Your shelter is gen- erally carried in the pack upon your back in the form of a tent of the “dog” or shelter type. Then comes the question of where to pitch tin tent. This, like a great many things, nowadays is already taken care of for you, as there are hundreds up- on hundreds of free camping sites, which, as the signs read, are kept by Chambers of Commerce. States, Cities. Counties, vil- lages, gasoline stations and country gro- cery stores. These sites are generally excellent places to spend the night for they are kept very neat and fire wood and other supplies are furnished free. An attendant is also given free so you can spend a pleasant evening trying to think up a bigger yarn than he can. and about midnight you will decide it is impossible and go to bed. These attendants you will find can tell you almost anything includ- ing wrong directions. But even the auto-hiker, with his en- joyable means of travel, tires of the con- tinued new sights and longs to see the old home town once more and eagerly counts the miles of his return journey. As he begins occasionally to catch sight of some familiar object his heart quickens and he realizes that he is nearing home. Home, they say. is dearest when farthest away, but it is a mightv dear place to see after a vacation of s e?ping on rocks, thistles and the hard old Earth, and after eating a col- lection of restaurant and camp meals. Mother has been warned in her last letters that her wandering hoy is on his way to in- vade her pantry and she has stocked her shelves till they are sagging under the strain. After the home coming, conies the best part of the trip, the recalling and telling and retelling the incidents of your trip. It is most strange how quickly the unpleasant side of the trip vanishes and how the good side lingers. I believe you convince your- self that you have had a good time by tell- ing others that you did. Milton B. Pln.nett. 30