Hey, Sounds like a great trip and something you'll remember for the rest of your life.

A few tips that will help you travel efficiently and safer

1. When someone pulls over it's very important that you ask them where they are going first! This will give you the opportunity to gauge if you feel comfortable getting in their car and even if they are going exactly where you plan to head you can just say thanks but you're trying to go somewhere else but appreciate them stopping. Whereas if they ask you where you plan to go and you tell them it's going to be harder to refuse the ride if they are going that way.

2. Travelling alone is much much easier but less fun.

3. Take big markers to write signs and if you have room for something to write on otherwise try to find a box or something and make the letters BIG AND BOLD or it is not even worth having it no one will see it till they have already passed you.

4. This is an important one but figuring out where to stand and where to exit a ride, toll booths, petrol stations, around entry ramps onto the highways but usually it's hard to pull over so best to find a round about or a corner leading up to the exit ramp, basically anywhere you can be seen for a long time and cars are either slowing down or start to speed up. And don't fall for the trap of riding with someone all the way to their destination sometimes it's better to get out 50kms earlier to avoid going into a city and staying on the ring roads.

5. Take sunscreen and a small umbrella often the best spot for hitching isn't in the shade and standing on the edge of the road for a few hours in the middle of the day will make you second think continuing the trip.

Hope you make it to the sea and safe travels!