A long time ago I'd hitch hiked to get to a gig with a favourite band with a friend. I'd hitch hiked before without incident and realise now how risky it was and how the outcome could have been a different story. Back then I had no idea how dangerous the world could be.
We stayed in a youth hostel on the first night but were locked out when we spent too much time talking to the band after the performance on the second night.
Another fan, a young chap, saw our predicament and took us back to his house where he lived with his Mum. [I know, we were so stupid trusting but everything he said turned out to be true, genuine bloke]. We were given a bed for the night and breakfast in the morning! His Mum was lovely.
However me and friend had had a row [another story] and I ended storming off and trying to hitch hike back home on my own. An older man picked me up and asked where I was going [50-60 miles away!]. He didn't say much, drove me to a train station, parked up, gave me money for a train ticket home and told me to buy some chocolate with the change....and told me to go home and never do the same again. A proper wake up call.
I look back and can't believe how lucky I was, how decent he was and how naive I'd been. I was an idiot. This was also in the days [and area] where Fred and Rose West could have been driving by. I had chills when their antics became public knowledge.
I hitch hiked again, once or twice but only with my new husband. It was a pretty common thing to do in that era.