top of page
Search

Hitchhiking to Pamplona with Comedian Andy Smart

Between 1977 and 1982 comedian Andy Smart hitchhiked 72,000 miles across Europe – the equivalent of crossing America coast-to-coast 24 times. This is the story of his greatest ride ever.



At 20-years of age Andy sold everything he owned and left his home in Liverpool to move to London and pursue his dream of becoming a comedian. But before he did, he had one hitch, one last great adventure, left. It was the World Cup and England were playing France in Bilbao, Spain on his birthday. He planned to hitchhike through UK, down the length of France and into Spain to watch the game.


It wouldn’t be easy. He carried a hammock, a piece of tarpaulin and some string to sleep by the side of the road. He had a small backpack, hardly any money and barely more than a change of clothes. But as he stood on the East Lancs Road on the edge of Liverpool, thumb out waiting for his first lift he knew, somehow, that this was a pivotal moment, that his life would never be the same again. He was right, but he never could have anticipated what a wild ride it would be.


Highlights include:

  • Hear about one of the greatest hitchhiking adventures of all time

  • Catch a ride to the Council of the Universe (well, sort of …)

  • Take part in an insanely violent game of medieval soccer

  • Run for your life in the festival of San Fermino





You can purchase his book, A Hitch in Time: From Liverpool to Pamplona on a 72,000-Mile Road Trip below or on Amazon.

A Hitch In Time Overview Combining memoir, travel writing, and a wealth of unbelievably hilarious anecdotes, this autobiographical extravaganza chronicles the amazing early life of entertainer Andy Smart.

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hitchhiking-to-pamplona-with-comedian-andy-smart/id1495103557?i=1000548749125 SPOTIFY:https://open.spotify.com/episode/70FKzOLmb4P85wOe1H3PX4https://open.spotify.com/episode/0uJtykT7IyONQNCIBsTFTY

Adventure Travel Podcast / Armchair Explorer Hitchhiking Across Europe with Comedian Andy Smart





If you want to another fun, crazy adventure check out The Rickshaw Run: Driving a 3-Wheel Rickshaw 2,500 miles Across India with Journalist Simon Parker Take part in the world’s most ridiculous road trip: 2,500 miles across India in a glorified lawnmower Be inspired by the spirit of old school adventure – embracing challenges and the unknown Experience a side of India that few tourists ever see, staying in small villages well off the usual traveller trail and seeing the entire country from the far northern Himalayan foothills to the steamy jungles of the south



The Rickshaw Run: Driving a 3-Wheel Rickshaw 2,500 miles Across India with Journalist Simon Parker Follow journalist Simon Parker as he takes part in the world's craziest race: 2,500-miles and two weeks across the length of India ... in a rickshaw. You read that right. Welcome to the Rickshaw Run: if Monty Python went on a road trip, this is what they'd do.


For nine days, people from around the world flock to Spain to celebrate the Festival of San Fermin. The running of the bulls is the main attraction in this famous celebration that turns Pamplona into one non-stop fiesta.The excitement and chaos of the festival has become so famous that even Hemingway wrote about it in his novel The Sun Also Rises. Originally started as a way to move bulls from the fields into the bullring quickly, the running of the bulls has become a way for people to prove their guts and prowess by running alongside a beast that weights close to a metric ton. Imagine the adrenaline running next to one of these animals. Surprisingly, the average speed is only 15mph! Hmm maybe a podcast episode in Spain is in our future. To learn more about the San Fermin Festival please visit there website here: https://www.sanfermin.com/en/



Source: Getty Images

Join the Community If you're enjoying the show please consider showing your support by buying me a pint! The show is free but each episode takes about 40hrs to produce. The sponsors cover my costs, but not my time. If you like what you hear and think that two episodes a month is worth the price of a frosty beverage then please go to www.patreon.com/armchairexplorerpodcast. From just $5 per month you will get you ad free episodes and access to our explorers community with exclusive travel discount vouchers delivered right to your inbox each month. Buy me a pint! ... the next round will be on me. Let's Hang out Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode

Thank you Sponsors! Today’s episode is sponsored by Wondrium. Wondrium is like Netflix for your brain, an enormous encyclopedia of mind-blowing audio and video content designed for curious people just like us. I love it and i think you will too. Go to www.wondrium.com/armchair to get a 22-day free trail with access to thousands of hours of audio and video content, from travel guides and documentaries to courses taught by the world’s greatest professors. All for free, no strings attached. Check it out!

THANK YOU!



661 views0 comments
bottom of page