We might be the same age. I used to hitch everywhere too and therefore still pick up hitchers or would but there aren't any.

I used to just set off and see where I ended up and I met so many interesting peoole and travelled in great vehicles. Going down the mulsanne straight in a 1940's Citroen, through some mountains at night in a snarling turbo rally car, trucks usually didn't stop by then but I loved it when they did. One night a women invited me back for dinner and to meet her son. I don't think he was very impressed. It was awesome to dump your bag on a Mediterranean beach and swim in the warm sun when you knew you had got there for free and had an adventure getting there. Good times.

Got to say I've spent a few years in Asia myself and never seen a hitchhicker out there. I've always assumed because coach travel is so cheap.