Bummit, the annual student hitchhike, is here!
This year sees 300 students attempting the 1,900 mile journey to the Estonian capital Tallinn blagging travel on trains, buses, trams, ferries - and trying to stick to a tight budget of 15 English Pounds.
Shefbase live editor Sarah Stead is embarking on the adventure and will be keeping you posted on her progress right here…
Wednesday 2nd - 08:40(GMT) - Tallinn, Estonia
“Went out for a few drinks and some food last night in Tallinn (Sarah had garlic fries!!!), it’s quarter to 11 now we’re treating ourselves to a late start. Going to take our bags over to tonight’s hotel and then wander. Tallinn is incredibly beautiful from what we’ve seen of it so far 
”
Tuesday 1st - 19:52 - Tallinn, Estonia
“Hip hip horray! We made it. Wasn’t expecting an Estonian sun tan, but looks like we’l get one. Here in time for the man utd game too! ”
Tuesday 1st April - 10:37 - Riga, Latvia
“We’re in Riga! We’re going to make it! And whaddya know, it’s warm & sunny…”
Monday 31st - 16:42 - a petrol station just inside Lithuania
“We’ve survived the possibility of being gassed, robbed and/or eaten by wolves & got to Kaunas hitching. No more: bus/train all the way!”
Monday 31st - 12:21 - Suwalki, Poland
“Picked up almost instantly (bad luck to the bummiters who’ve been there 24 hrs!), on way to a petrol station just inside Lithuania.”
Monday 31st - 05:18 - Warsaw, Poland
“Longest 5 hours of our lives! Less than 30 mins sleep, now getting train to Suwalki with plan of hitching again. BRING IT ON!”
Sunday 30th - 20:05 - Gdansk, Poland
“Turns out gdansk was a bad choice, so we’re getting the midnight train to Warsaw. Don’t care about budget anymore, just want to be in Tallinn! ”
Sunday 30th - 15:26 - on the train to Gdansk, Poland
“Train. Tom’s phone is dead, don’t worry mum! We saw a cat suckling on a dog this morning - an omen of strange things to come?”
Sunday 30th - 10:26 - Poland
“Stayed with the lovely Emilia & her mum last night who bought us a meal & chocolate! Helped us get money & trains - £7 to Gdansk by this evening”
Saturday 29th - 20:41 - near the Polish border
“Poland: mission accomplished! In the back of a van with a lovely lady and a kid. Many thanks to our friends in the border polizei 
”
Saturday 29th - 18:13 - somewhere in Germany
“Finally got out of berlin, and into germany’s quietest town. Great. ”
Saturday 29th - 17:19 - Berlin, Germany
“‘Tallin beckons, Sarah & search for the lost Jewell’ are fine & dandy but cant connect to the ‘call in’ number. Going to schwedt oder on the German border.”
Saturday 29th - 11:15 - Berlin, Germany
“VERY hungover + tired, but free train to Berlin makes it all better sight-seeing time now, then into Poland! (maybe..)”
Saturday 29th - 09:11 - Leipzig, Germany
“Starting trying to leave Leipzig after a mental night out, hoping to blag train to Berlin. Would rather eat each other than another bloody cheese roll…”
Thursday 27th - 19:12 - Leipzig, Germany
“We’ve arrived at the meet-up point! We’re 24 hours early for the ‘half way party’ - food, beer + party time. (Off to the zoo tomorrow, then the taxidermy museum!) ”
Thursday 27th - 16:46 - on a train near Erfurt, Germany
“The amazing train manager has spoken to his mate and has let us continue onto Leipzig! It’s been a free train day. Also.. Frankfurters in Frankfurt!!”
Thursday 27th - 10:37 - on a train bound for Frankfurt, Germany
“Blagged a train to Frankfurt, piece of cake! Will eat here & then on to Leipzig. Sarah reckons she can’t handle 33cm of sausage??”
Wednesday 26th - Day 2
 | Postcard from Köln “It’s against the Bummit rules, but we were desperate…“ Find out why by clicking here and reading on. |
Wednesday 26th - 18:47 - Köln, Germany
“No speed limit!! Survived the rain, Autobahn and the driver’s stereo to arrive in Köln! Now time for Big german beer & sausages. ”
Wednesday 26th - 18:11
“After two incredibly easy hitches (one couple off to buy a new puppy in Germany) went through Holland and we’re now off to Köln for the night!”
Wednesday 26th - 16:15 - outside Antwerp, Belgium
“Left Antwerp with a crazy flemish speaking, Metallica listening lady. Just having an Irish coffee, next stop Germany (hopefully).. ”
Wednesday 26th - 12:59 - Antwerp, Belgium
“Having a beer in Antwerp having had the easiest hitch ever. Fun and games fellow bummiters! x”
Wednesday 26th - 11:13 - in the back of a lorry nr. Gent, Belgium
“We arrived here in a fridge and had croissants for breakfast; Hitching has such highs & lows, emotional rollercoaster! Target today: Germany”
Wednesday 26th - 08:30 - Nr. Dunkerque in Northern France
“Why do people not understand that if the sign says brussels then just outside brussels is fine!?!”
Day 1: reflexion:
“We made it across the channel with a Welsh couple in a camper van and stayed between Calais and Dunkerque. We hope to get to Germany tonight. We’ve only spent £3 so far!”
Tuesday 25th - 23:38 - Nr. Dunkerque in Northern France
“Given choice between glass bus shelter w bench in middle of empty french village & reasonably priced room, made right decision…”
Tuesday 25th - 17:39 - Canterbury, Kent, UK
“So close to dover yet so far!” Well, there’s still a fair few miles to Dover yet. Will Sarah leave the UK before the end of the day?
Tuesday 25th - 15:32 - M25 near St Albans, Hertfordshire, UK
Tuesday 25th - 09:36 - Sheffield, UK
“Hoping to get on a national express coach to London. Train station manager already told all train drivers not to take us!”
Monday 24th - 22:39 - Sheffield, UK
“T minus 8 and a half hours. It’s half ten at night and I’m considering going to bed - this doesn’t happen much. Yesterday I was starting to get cold feet, perhaps my mum’s paranoia was starting to rub off on me. But now I’m in Sheffield with my team I’m feeling a lot more confident, but still very apprehensive. We don’t have much more of a plan than ‘walk to a petrol station’, but hopefully it’ll be enough.
“We’re anticipating getting out of England to be the hardest part of the journey, although we may be taking that back before long! I’m off to have a shower - my last for god knows how long; and sleep in a comfy double bed - my last for god knows how long. But kitted out in my shiny new snowboarding jacket, and with enough layers to put a wedding cake company to shame, hopefully I’ll make it there in one non-frost-bite-afflicted piece!“
