File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Hello /tv/. This is my 1st time posting in your bored. Well i want to ask some americans some questions. I'm from Australia and i'm 21. I plan to make a trip to the USA at the start of next year.

Now i have a bugdget of $7000 and i want to backpack 80% of the way to save on money. I plan to put most of my money into food. Anyway i wanna know if there are places for backpakers in the US and can you pick up odd jobs like farm work and such if need be.

I do plan to camp alot of the time so i will be bringing camping gear if need by hunting too...

So i plan to start on the West coast and make my way to the East via the south. Is this a good Idea?

What are some of the places i MUST see and some of the places i MUST avoived?
Where is all the good dumb easy pussy at?
Will they let me into pubs with an australian ID only?
Can i drive with an Australian licence?
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
you can marry at 14 in Louisiana
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
LOL!!!!
>> Anonymous
>>61391
16.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
YEEEEHAWWWW.....N-WORD!!!!
>> Anonymous
backpacking foreignors through hick towns = dead, enjoy our customs and buy a gun for safety if you plan on interacting with drunk close-minded rednecks
>>  
Op: Look up WWOOF. I believe you'll find the experience you desire through that.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
we try to make it safe- but those lousy democrats keep getting in.. oh, HAI Michelle
>> Anonymous
>>61387
Do yourself a favor and just avoid the coastlines. The closer you get to the periphery (particularly in the East), the less warm we get to the notion of "visitors." Getting caught camping around without a good American reason to be there will generally get you hauled away.

I'm sure others will disagree, but this isn't the place to come to backpack. We're a hyperpatriotic police state in far too many places these days. I suppose your best bet would be to find an urban center in the Midwest like Chicago, where you can blend in with an immigrant population. Make sure you really get a taste for what America is in the city before you go roaming around. Otherwise you'll have a lot of people asking to see your papers.
>> Anonymous
we love backpackers.......GREAT FUN!!!!
>> Anonymous
You should be good on the around western area. I know my cousin traveled across the whole country hitchhiking a few years ago, and was able to pick up a few jobs to get money herding sheep and farming tomatoes and stuff. You should be able to do alright, just gotta make sure you stay away from the wrong people. Like ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWAH
>> Anonymous
>>61419
lolwut
I've backpacked on the US's east coast repeatedly. I find the nicest places are rural Ohio, and the fringes of Pennsylvania. The center of Pennsylvania can be a goddamn nightmare though if you should stop at the wrong bars, but I was never asked for papers or what not. North Florida was nice enough, except for near the Georgia border, where there seems to be some bleedover of Deliverance-style rednecks.
>> Anonymous
OP is failtroll, only failtroll would ask for info while posting inflammatory pic.

So how's middle school in Oxnard, OP? douche
>> Anonymous
>>61391
girls can be in the KKK? I seriously didnt know that
>> Bullpup
>>61419
Why are you being a douche. Other than this is the official fansite for douchebaggery.

No one is going to ask to see your "papers", OP, despite what libtards will tell you, we're not a fucking police state.

All the same, we're not really a good country to go "backpacking" in.
>> Anonymous
>>61446
I've had plenty of good camping experiences too living in the Northeast, but some pretty awful ones as well. What's worse is that I am an outright citizen, yet I suppose young enough that it's hard to explain "what I'm doing out there." Lots of harassment by authorities over what they eventually conclude MUST be vagrancy or terrorism. Doesn't make much sense, I know, but people just seem really up-tight these days.

I live in the most densely populated state in the union, where there's a limited amount of open land and at times a distinct sense of extreme vigilance from the general public. Perhaps that's left me a bit jaded about this whole topic. But this country is still xenophobic and is suspending civil liberties left and right. Even as a citizen that scares me, when I consider traveling around with very little to prove who I am or why I'm there.
>> Anonymous
>>61419

Anon must be high. Or a negro. No one gets asked for "papers." Did you just wander in from a B&W WWII movie?
>> Anonymous
your best bet is to go camping at state parks and campsites, but seriously FUCK THE SOUTH
>> Anonymous
>>61459
In short:

1) I live in NJ, where you are required by law to provide ID if asked for by an officer, above and beyond simply telling him/her your name when asked. Several other states impose this requirement as well.

2) If I am imprisoned on suspicion of terrorism, I don't have the right to petition the court to verify the necessity to imprison me. Effectively, though I am a citizen, I lose my "right of habeas corpus."

3) My neighbors are hypervigilant enough to have called the municipality on me for improper use of an extension cord outdoors. By improper use, I mean that I had one out there plugged in over two nights.

I don't think it's douchey to provide a decent opinion, and mine happens to be that we're working with an increasingly overbearing government. I shouldn't have to provide papers to prove that I am who I say I am. I do agree that this is not the place to backpack, and I think if he runs into any crap about being a foreigner then I think it'll just make his trip all the more a waste.
>> Anonymous
>>61482
I'm neither high nor a negro, perhaps I've just had different experiences than you. I have been asked (under threat of compulsion) to provide ID to a cop, and I imagine that as a visitor it could very well escalate to needing to prove your visa status and the like.

What happens if he gets drunk and decks someone or does something else stupid? Tell the officer that he doesn't have any US identification, and that he lives in his tent in the woods? Where I come from, that won't go well.
>> Anonymous
whatever you do, DO NOT GO TO WEST VIRGINIA AND IF YOU DO, STAY AWAY FROM SMALL TOWNS AT NIGHT!!!!!!
>> Anonymous
Answer is simple. Don't go to New Jersey. Or the East coast. The entire area is overrun with faggotry.

Hit the northwest, Washington state, Oregon, Northern Cali., Utah (conservative but polite), the south including Florida, parts of Southern Lousiana (reserved but accepting). Georgia's cool. Avoid Texas, Nevada, Arizona. Fucked law enforcement.

Be aware it's illegal to hitchhike on most freeways. And nobody will pick up hitchhikers anyway, unless they plan to strangle, then fuck you (or vica versa).

Hope you have fun. If limited on time, funds, hit the west coast, from Wash down to Mexico.
>> Anonymous
depending on how old you look, sum bars/pubs will accept a passport.

no, you can't drive w/ an aussie license.
>> Anonymous
My friend travelled in the USA, he was pulled up and asked for ID because he walked past a cop twice while looking for a hostel.

Honestly, I'd spend my money somewhere else, OP. For $7000 you can have a fucking amazing time in SE Asia or Souh America. Do you really want three months of talking to people who say "GERDAY MITE" and think it's hilarious or don't even know where Australia is?
>> Anonymous
>>61514

Well, the cop probably pulled him over for being retarded, because the US doesn't have any hostels.

Quit discouraging the kid. I didn't know he was bringing $7000. Hey kid, you can stay at my house. I have a guesthouse on the grounds that you'll love!
>> Anonymous
>>61504

Shut up conservi-fag.
New England is the best part of the USA.
IMO we should've let the south secede from the union, that way we could be a country that is liked by the world, and the confederate states could be a third world country.
>> Anonymous
>>61532
I agree with you on this one, cause newjersey isn't part of new england. if it was.. i would have to disagree.
>> Anonymous
>>61532
Greatest fucking idea, ever.
>> Anonymous
>>61532

Everyone know New Jersey isn't part of New England, douche. New Jersey isn't even part of America. It's this strange, toxic place filled with guidos and toxic waste dumps. At least, that's all they show on TV.

And oh noes, you made us go back in the US. I didn't know they had oil in New Jersey. There are 6000 wells in the Gulf, so I guess we'd be in OPEC. Of course, everyone would still be poor as shit. But at least we'd have slaves.

Oh, BTW OP, welcome to America! We're neighborly!
>> Anonymous
You cunt. The north would be above and beyond your primitive fossil fuels. Its the oil industry that outlawed the electric card. Research moar you ignorant neocon christfag.
>> Anonymous
You want to backpack? The US is huge, you'll have to spend a year and more than $7000 to do that.

You can't just setup a tent anywhere. If its private land you're trespassing and if it's public land you have to go to a campsite.

You cannot pick up odd jobs, all those jobs are already occupied by illegal immigrants (mexicans).

You might accidently wander onto property that belongs to some hermit loner. He will be armed, he will defend his property.

You'll pretty much have to use the interstates as your hiking routes. However, police may think you're hitchhiking and give you a hard time. Too many murders back before they banned it.

Be certain that you aren't backpacking through an area during hunting season.

Pretty much your best bet is to find a region and plot a course where Americans will hitchhike as well. You might want to find a handful of these routes in different regions then bus between them.
The appalachian trail in the south is probably the longest, best know and best suited to handle someone like you. It is pretty high traffic, you won't be suspicious or unusual and the people you run into will be used to seeing people backpacking the trail. This will be the most similar experience to backpacking trips in europe.

The US is so sparesely populated that you can't just backpack around easily. There aren't long demarcated routes. It's straight up wilderness in a lot of places where you'd be stupid to go without a gun. No one is around to protect you and if someone is around it might be because you're on his property and he doesn't want you there (he will be armed).

It might take a lot of work to find the kind of safe routes that you're looking for... outside of the appalacian trail that is.
>> Anonymous
>>61525

Yes, it does. That's what the YMCA is. I don't expect you to know anything about the rest of the world but you should be well informed about MURRRIKA, surely.
>> Anonymous
>The appalachian trail in the south is probably the longest, best know and best suited to handle someone like you. It is pretty high traffic, you won't be suspicious or unusual and the people you run into will be used to seeing people backpacking the trail. This will be the most similar experience to backpacking trips in europe.

ITT: no one knows what the fuck "backpacking" means.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
backpacking? in MY america?
>> Anonymous
I'm 45. Yes, older than god. However, back when I was in high school, I had a cool old biology teacher who was undoubtedly born before the Big Bang.

He told us once about how he used to drive cars cross country and drop them off for car companies back when he was in college. After he dropped the cars off, he'd hitchhike back home to Texas. He said that he never had any problems at all.

Of course, I heard that story in 1977 or 78, and he was about 50 at the time, so do the math.

At any rate, Aussie Anon, I recommend looking into hostels and train passes. While it's easly for Mexicans to pick up odd jobs in the US without documentation, it's probably harder for a caucasion to do the same. The business owners will assume that you're trying to set them up for an INS (google it) raid or something equally nasty.

I'm sorry, but our country isn't like Europe. We don't have a good mass transit system except for the highways and the airports. Even trains and buses are hit and miss.

You're better off either adjusting your plans to a shorter trip with more money spent on transportation and lodging, or save a lot more money.

You might be able to work out something with youth hostels and the bus system that would be pretty cheap. I'd google long and hard to confirm everything, though.
>> Anonymous
Read "Into The Wild" not alot will be explained, but hey, it's a good book.
Stay away from rural hick towns and deserted strips of desert. Also other places such as L.A, Detroit, and Missisipi (but for a different reason). Basically, don't go into rural shit towns, or crappy citites where you'r likely to get mugged, hassled, etc.
Basically, if you see black people, gtfo.
Buy a knife and if you can, a gun.
>> Anonymous
disregard the faggots in this thread. nobody except the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, and West Virginia will give two fucks about you.
>> Anonymous
>>61634

its more likely than you think
>> Anonymous
>>61692
Correction, I meant New England.
Any red state will push their religion on you and make it impossible for you to get birth control. Or an education.
They will disregard rational thought and blindly follow their fascist leaders.
>> Anonymous
>>61514
>>61514
>>61514
>>61514
>>61514

This
>> Anonymous
Go to europe instead or if you are pro try turkey.
>> Anonymous
>>61387

I live in Texas, I think I can help you.

$7000 dollars could stretch you a long time if you have a cheap way to get food and lodging, otherwise you'll make it from San Diego to Phoenix with just enough to buy a ticket home.

For these plans, and to go along with your hopes of "backpacking" I suggest using a service along the lines of www.helpx.net. These places typically board travellers for 1-4 weeks for minimal work during the week. They're often run by friendly couples with a few odd chores to do on a ranch.

Do not bring a gun without consulting an attorney (or someone very knowledgable) first. While it is legal to own a gun in all regions of the United States, exact laws vary. If you must own a gun, I suggest a .22 rifle with the shortest barrel possible (18inches I believe). The reason is that larger calibers can be illegal, as can different weapons, and handguns - the shorter length makes it easier to conceal if you need to.

Good dumb pussy can be found at any major town with a large college presence. San Diego, Phoenix, Lubbock, Dallas, Austin, etc. (I know less about the South east of TX.) Your foreign accent should help you plenty in these endeavors.

An australian ID should work for pubs, unlikely to be legal to drive.

enjoy your stay, make sure to try mexican food and barbeque from as many places as you can. these foods vary GREATLY from region to region (though mexican food quality decreases dramatically to the east of Texas, and barbeque quality decreases west of Texas - we live in that happy intersection). Also, local breweries offer plenty of fine beers, seek them out.

Finally, never be afraid to ask a native where the hotspots are. Most people in the south pride themselves on friendliness.
>> Anonymous
Um, why would a tourist ever need a gun? Don't bother trolling with ridiculous info.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Dear op,

America is a HUGE and very diverse place. Most of America's diversity is in smaller town and communities (under 100,000ish) . Larger towns and cities tend to be very similar: strip malls, big box stores, suburbs, etc. This causes big towns to have a similar culture and look. My recommendation is to visit smaller towns and STAY THE FUCK OFF THE INTERSTATE. The interstate consists of the same gas stations, fast food joints, and truck stops from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Small towns are often awesome hidden gems with cool sites and great local food (also a lot of shitty sites and crappy frozen food). Overall, people will be more willing to talk about what they love about their town.

But, staying on county and state roads in small towns may put a kink in your plan to hitchhike everywhere. Many of these roads are used by local citizens almost exclusively; meaning that there wont be many people to pick you up for a long ride (regular people dont pick up hitch hikers as often as truckers do).
>> Anonymous
>>61387
I LOVE OPS PIC.
>> Anonymous
For pubs bring your Aussie ID and your passport. You'll get less hassle if you have 2 IDs. When youre in towns TALK TO PEOPLE. Ask someone near your age for the best bar/regional food/cool local sites. My favorite conversation starter: " Im not from around here where do i absolutely HAVE to go before i leave?" I got some badass responses from gas station attendants and other people in convenience stores.

My biggest recommendation to you is to rent a car (i know you really dont want to spend the money). If youre 25 most places will rent to you (some will at 21 for an increased price). Rent the car as a one way ticket to an airport across the country. A compact car will run you $180-$300 a week, depending on a variety of factors. Buy a tent after you pickup the rental car at the airport, this way you dont have to bring the tent with you on the airplane.

With a rental car and a tent your $7000 will strech for quite some time depending on your discresionary spending. Bring a friend to split the cost if you can. The following are ESTIMATES all on the high side: $90 a day for food and gas, $40 a day for the rental car, maybe $70 a week for a one day a week stay in a motel room (mattresses FTW, also you need to shower you smelly bastard). Thats $140 a day (again, its just my personal estimate), leaving you with enough cash for 50ish days.

Overall, you will have as much fun as you decide to. Be friendly and start conversations, good things will happen. Most people will be very nice to you, we have a similar jackass/pretty cool guy ratio as most developed nations.
>> Anonymous
OP, I'm pretty sure your aussie license is fine, it's valid all over europe. You will need an international license but it's just a piece of cardboard from the NRMA. Get it before you leave.

Foreigners in the US cannot own guns though, or at least they couldn't when my friend's dad was there. Use your common sense, catch buses, stay in hostels etc. Same shit as every other country, it can't be that different.

I still think you should go to SE Asia or South america though. Even eastern europe.
>> Anonymous
>>61828
If you really want to go this way I'd suggest buying some kind of van and sticking a mattress in it. At least then you can sell it at the end of the trip and make some money back.

If you have plenty of time OP, AGAIN, ASIA. You can be living on an island in Thailand, staying in a private room eating delicious food every day for six months, or living like a bum for 2 months in the USA. I know what I'd choose.
>> Anonymous
Anyone telling OP to buy a gun is a retarded monkey ass, and has never bought a gun. No one is going to sell you a gun jesus.
>> Anonymous
Ausfag here who has traveled to the united states many times.

You can use your Australian ID for driving etc anything. But it always goes down better if you are in a rental car rather than someones privately owned vehicle.

Police tend to get a bit suss if you are using an Australian license and in a private vehicle registered to someone else.
>> Anonymous
Alaska should NOT be in Jesus land. Even though our Governor is a mystical zombie loving cultist, the rest of us grew up in Native Alaskan families.
>> ryan
alright op, im in ohio and im going to level with you.
you should carry your pass-port/id at all times. proably wont get asked for it but it never hurts.

it isnt the best idea to go backpacking through the south. most folks are friendly enough, but if your rude they'll be finding you skeleton in a few years. id stay closer to the north, and far away from west virgina. the bigger cities are nice enough but there have been several cases over the years of people and their cars vanashing in WV, and turning up a few months later as parts.
>> Anonymous
oi mate.

my 2 cents? if you're going to cross america, i'd recommend buying a motorcycle. i invested a grand in a cheap, reliable motorbike (old yamaha cruiser, not a crotch rocket). do a few odd jobs at bars (get a dealer's licence if you can and work at casinos) and you'll have enough money.

motorbikes are fun and waaaay safer than greyhound. amtrak is fucking expensive.

you'll see a lot of the country, cheap, by bike. i did it in about 5 months ... east coast to west coast. i never slept outdoors though. you can often crash with people you meet ... or get a cheap hotel along highways ($20-25 a nite)

have fun
>> Anonymous
>>61387
Thank god that California is in the U.S.of.Canada.
>> Anonymous
Despite what the northerners want to believe, you won't be risking your life to set foot in the south. We don't kill people just for the heck of it here any more than in the north.

Damn yankees.