CURRENT MISSION

Cycling the world little by little
L
ABOUT ME

I have been a teacher and in the holidays backpacked in Asia. Before I taught I had a handcraft business including leather work and pottery. Since retiring I have cycled in S E Asia,India, Europe, Morocco and New Zealand. I have 3 children and five grandchildren. When I'm not cycling I work as a day relief teacher at the local high school.

PHILOSOPHY

How do you live your life? I try to make the most of every opportunity and to travel as much as possible in a shoestring type of way.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hosting, surfing, activities... there’s a lot to do here. What’s your favorite way to get involved?I love surfing, but when I'm home I like to host people. I've hosted cyclists from the Warm Showers Group. travellers from Hospitality Club and now I plan to attend a few CouchSurfing activities

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

What kinds of experiences have you had through CouchSurfing?I have had some wonderful experiences with Servas, an organisation similar to CouchSurfing, started in 1945. As I travel with my bicycle it is amazing after being alone all day on the road to meet hosts in the evening to talk and share their lives.In Spain I ended up teaching at an English Immersion School for a few days. I asked one of the students, a policeman what he did all day at work. He said 'Fighting tourists', 'Like me?' 'Er, no'.What he'd meant to say was fighting terrorists.Recently I spent time in an artists' community in France helping to build a yurt out of mud and straw.

Interests

What do you like to do in your free time?Reading, playing Bridge, volunteering for Riding For The Disabled, surfing the net especially Crazy Guy On A Bike, planning the next cycling trip.

• performing arts
• clubbing
• yachting
• reading
• traveling
• pottery
• cycling
• backpacking
• camping
• surfing
• business
• teaching
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

What do you like to watch, read, and listen to?I like to read travel books and books by people overcoming setbacks. I find them inspiring.I watch some TV - Coronation Street, Desperate Housewives, 6 Feet Under, Outrageous Fortunes and documentaries.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Built a yacht with my husband and sailed it to NZTook my bicycle to S E Asia where I was lucky enough to attend an Elephant Camp where I was taught to be a mahout and then featured in the daily performance.Cycled and camped in much of Western Europe including Iceland and Morocco.Walked the Camino de Compostella in Spain.Trekked the Annapurna Circuit solo reaching 5014 metres.

Teach, Learn, Share

What kinds of skills or information could you share with someone? What would you like to learn?I could share backpacking , lightweight travel and trip planning skills. I'm up for learning just about anything.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, China, Denmark, Ecuador, Fiji, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Philippines, Romania, Samoa, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea

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