So unless we can hitch a ride on some souped-up neutrinos, 2011 is gone forever.

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Happily, the pests don't usually hitch a ride on a bus to the Big Apple.

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Energy and commodities trading has attracted the attention of hedge funds and Wall Street firms, which are eager to hitch a ride on the explosive growth in both markets.

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But despite the support of computer makers groaning under Intel's dominance, trying to hitch a ride on the back of a grumpy 800lb gorilla was proving a precarious form of existence.

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As a result, countries and organisations that came late to the problem were able to hitch a free ride on the experience of those that had begun first.

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Luckily for us, a couple had just tied the knot on the beach near our boat and we had to hitch a ride with the newlyweds to a place where the captain and his wife could be airlifted out.

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The next day I realised my way forward was to hitch a ride in a car that was already booked to go on a ferry.

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