**I do not use Couchsurfing as a dating app and I am not interested in anything romantic or sexual. If you think I'm flirting with you, I'm not-- I'm just being friendly!

Please don't push this boundary as it makes me very uncomfortable and sad. I love meeting new friends and making real connections through Couchsurfing, but only platonic ones. :) **

Hi there!
My name is Bailey! I am currently travelling in Germany! I've been travelling since August and so far have visited Italy, Switzerland and France. In November, I am heading to Nepal to do some trekking and then on to Asia for the winter! :)

So far this summer and fall, I have had the pleasure of being hosted by some really wonderful people! I have been a casual Couchsurfer for several years now, and I really enjoy meeting new people, having good conversations and exploring platonic connections with people from all over the world. Solo travel can be lonely, and I love that Couchsurfing gives me the opportunity to feel like a member of a community.

My experiences this summer have really taught me that you can sometimes find the best connections with people who initially seem very different from you-- but it is nice to start with some shared commonalities! With that in mind, here are some things I've done that I am proud of. If you think these are cool, we might get along!

Last year I spent 5 months hiking 4,270 km along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). It was the most amazing experience of my life so far!
The backpack I will be travelling with is homemade, by me! This was a bit of a creative project to hold me over between hiking the PCT and my next adventure.
I love animals, and when I am not travelling I foster dogs. So far, I have fostered ten. Lately I have taken a break from fostering to have my elderly family dog come live with me. She is almost 17 years old and my favourite creature on this planet.
I am vegan-- though I make occasional exceptions while travelling (for instance I may eat eggs and some small amounts of dairy). My reasoning is environmental, as I have spent quite a bit of time in places that are seeing extreme impacts of Climate Change, and I want to do my best to mitigate my impact on the planet.
I have an M.Sc in Integrative Biology, with a thesis focused on Science Education. I also consider myself a naturalist and botanist, and I have spent a couple summers working as a botanist in the Canadian Arctic.
Outside of Canada, my favourite place that I have travelled to was Iceland!

I love meeting people and learning about the ways that locals interact with their city. I would be happy to have dinner together (I love to cook-- but it will be vegan!) or spend some time touring your favourite places.

As a Couchsurfer, I aim to be polite, helpful and respectful while in your home. I am usually up for hanging out, but if you're busy, I'm also happy to do my own thing.

I have not yet had the opportunity to host, but I try to give back to the community in other little ways until I have a place of my own to share. :) The concept of Couchsurfing reminds me fondly of the Trail Angels you encounter while on long hikes or bike trips. In my opinion, the pay-it-forward philosophy is one of the coolest things we do as humans. I'm so grateful for all the kindness I received while travelling and I always aim to pass it on and to give back. I look forward to hosting in the future. And if you need travel advice in either Saugeen Shores or Guelph, Ontario please message me!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I joined Couchsurfing as a cheap travel option, but I stayed for the community. I love connecting (platonically) with new people and making friends around the world. I love that we are all out here looking after each other, building a global community, and making travel more fun and more accessible for those of us with less cash to spend. :)

Interests

I love hiking, exploring, and seeing the most beautiful places I can. When I'm not outside, I love playing boardgames, crafts, and chatting with interesting people.

• wildlife
• amphibians
• arts
• traveling
• socializing
• surfing
• ecology
• languages
• psychology
• science
• nature
• biking
• climbing
• hiking,
• plant based
• hiking in the mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Favourite Books: Harry Potter still probably holds the cake-- but as an adult, I love anything by Brandon Sanderson.
Music: I love Canadian music-- especially punk and americana (a bit ecclectic, I know), and I would be happy to share some of my favourites with you (like Glorious Sons, Hollerado, Pup, Barenaked Ladies, The Beaches, The Arkells. Some other musicians I love are Frank Turner and Hozier.
Movie: My favourite movie of all time is Hunt for the Wilderpeople. I also love The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, even though it has terrible reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hiked the Pacific Crest Trail!

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm trying desperately (and mostly failing) to learn German. I would be happy to speak with you in English or French (~B2). If you want to talk about hiking gear, or learn about the best trails in Canada and the US, I would be more than happy to share! :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can teach you about Canadian ecology, or share travel and hiking tips and experiences.
I can also give you a simple stick and poke tattoo! I have done lots of them-- including two on myself.

Countries I’ve Visited

Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Kenya, Morocco, Peru, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, France