After about a half mile I started actively trying to hitch - hike while continuing to walk / jog down the road 15 minutes and 20 cars later , I finally got lucky . A Polish couple on their way to Derry stopped and welcomed me in . They took me as far as Coleraine , and were even kind enough to drive me into the town centre .

Question: Why did the writer try to hitch - hike ?
Answer: Because they walked / jogged down the road 15 minutes .Because they needed to travel somewhere far but had no other transportation .Because it was after about half a mile .Because a Polish couple was on their way to Derry .