The title does not have the same ring to it as Patsy Gallant’s From New York to LA, but it serves my purpose. It was fifty-two years ago today, in 1973, that I set out to hitch-hike across Europe on my own. The trip was originally planned with my friend Iain, but he had to drop out a little before our planned departure date.
I think this was at a time when gap years were not really a thing. I gave up my job as a trainee manager for a credit control company and planned to begin training as a learning disability nurse on my return. My ultimate aim was to study psychology at university, but I took a bit of a winding road. Somewhat like my trip across Europe – Athens was my intended end-point, but there was a bit of a diversion, as will become clear as I document my daily progress over the next few weeks.
The source for my material is the contemporary written record I made of the trip.
I expect to be surprised by some of the events I will rediscover from these pages, as well as being suitably embarrassed by my adolescent ramblings. Even then, I fancied myself as a poet and philosopher! Other events are already firmly established in my otherwise leaky memory banks, things which clearly had an impact on shaping the person I have become.
Inventory for the Trip
I found these items listed on a separate sheet of paper.
- 1 orange plastic bivouac [listed as “tent”].
- 4 tent pegs and a nylon cord.
- 1 sleeping bag
- 1 sheet sleeping bag
- Torch
- Sheath knife
- Kodak Instamatic camera
- Dad’s 35mm camera, 3 films, flash-cubes, light meter.
- 1 groundsheet [6 ft x 3ft]
- 3 pairs nylon socks
- 1 pair woollen socks
- 2 white vests
- 2 white underpants
- Pair of white shorts
- Pair of blue swimming trunks
- 3 white handkerchiefs
- 1 pair terylene trousers.
- 2 mauve nylon t-shirts
- 1 pair plimsolls
- 1 pair black gloves
- 1 blue cagoule
- 1 green woollen bobble hat
- 1 pypro solid fuel burner and 2 boxes of 8 solid fuel tablets.
- Matches
- One-man “billycan” set (frying pan, saucepan, cup)
- Medical supplies:
- insect repellent, plasters, crepe bandage
- Anadin, entro-vioform, safety pins
- TCP, salt tablets, needle and thread.
- Toiletries:
- body and foot powder, anti-perspirant, soap
- flannel, towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor and blades
- shaving cream
Today’s Journey
I caught the train from East Croydon with my friend Ray and his girlfriend Tamsin. After changing at Lewes, we arrived at Newhaven Harbour. After our farewells, I queued for the ferry to Dieppe. As I noted at the time:
Things are certainly beginning to happen.
I arrived in Dieppe at 15.50 and arrived at the Youth Hostel in St. Aubin-sur-Scie after an hour waling uphill from the port. The YH was cold. One of my insights from this first day:
Suddenly realised I ain’t got a knife or a fork or a spoon! Must remedy the situation tomorrow.
So much for my comprehensive inventory!
Where will tomorrow find me?
Clues: – birth place of Gustave Flaubert; famous cathedral with its Tour de Beurre; capital of Normandy.
See you there!
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Psychologist on the Move 