I live on the ACA Pacific Coast route and when riding my bike I will often meet up with tourers that are either finishing their trip or have plans to cross the border. I help them negotiate the city, tell them where to stay if they want to enjoy the nightlife or where they can camp for little to nothing.

Once I invited a couple to stay with my wife and I. I drove them and their bikes to various bike shops to find parts, my wife cooked them two wonderful carbo laden dinners, they stayed in their own room and bathrom. After they left, we heard nothing from them, but when I stumbled upon their log and found no mention - not even a hint - that they had been hosted in San Diego, but lots of stuff about what they did (but actually what we all did toether), we felt taken advantage of.

If tourers take for granted the small kindnesses extended to them from strangers, they will become the exception rather than the rule.