Although being the first person to ever make a world tour by hitchhiking is a tempting achievement, it's always reassuring when you know people did it before you and you can do it as well.
Hitchhiking was not going to be my main mean of transportation if it wasn't for them: the people who did it before and convinced me the human experience is much better like this. Initially all I wanted to do was to avoid using planes.
I've spoken with two French travelers directly:
These two made it a while ago but it is always useful to have recent experience available. Florence Renault (LE MONDE SUR LE POUCE) finished in 2021 and brings precious insights!
It is now my turn to bring new experience on the table and see if this pandemic has killed or not the spirit of hitchhiking, or more generally: human contact.
Spoiler: I think it still exists.