(Quick edit, I already finished my bike journey after 2 years and I am now building custom Tiny Homes in spain. If you request to stay is important to note that I am living in a very big campervan, so if you’re up for going on adventures and don’t mind the tiny space you’re welcome!)

Hello! My name is Charles. I Just came back from travelling by bicycle through 63 countries for 2 years, around 60.000km. Every country in Europe, Central Asia and part of Northern Africa. Travelling between 80km to 100km almost every day.

I want to experience the most out of life, meeting people all around the world, because the best part of traveling is the beautiful and spontaneous experiences you share with those you meet along the way. I believe that everything has beauty, that most things in life can teach you something about yourself and the world, and that love, understanding and curiosity about life are the most important things in my life.

I believe that in a way we are writing the book of our life; painting the white canvas; paving the road of our own life with every decision we make, and we must strive to live a life that will reflect who we were, a metaphorical book that was written with our thoughts and actions and that when we are not longer here we could look at it and feel peace and relief

Therefore I want to live, live to see beauty in everything and every aspect of life, for being alive is not always the same as living.

I will gladly host anyone wanting to explore, have fun and don’t mind the tiny space of a fully equipped campervan

If you could host me it would mean the world to me, and I will do my best to help in any way I can!

These are some relevant links:

• Short Film Bike Journey: https://youtu.be/HPxsSg-bVOM

• Website/Online Gallery: https://charleswinmar.com/

Instagram: CharlesT.Winmar

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm here because I believe that every one of us has something amazing, and I want to learn from everyone, get to know good people, and share with people what I know

Interests

Life

• animals
• arts
• photography
• movies
• video games
• board games
• reading
• traveling
• music
• camping
• sports
• philosophy
• adventure
• biketouring
• all kinds of sports
• all things outdoors

Music, Movies, and Books

I like any form of music; I actually have a playlist with more than 10.000 songs to listen while I cycled. And the same goes for movies and series, I enjoy and find appealing any movie or series, I find it very difficult to criticise negatively anything. I also believe that any book has the power to teach you something; but for books I have a special interest in fiction mixed with philosophical thought, dystopian/utopian, classical literature, philosophy, psychology, fantasy, nonfiction when it comes to mayor historical events and or just interesting novels in general

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

During my Journey I’ve come across many challenges and experiences. For instance, going through a war zone; Cycling in Iceland on Winter; Going through all Central Asia right to the border with China and back; Volunteering at a Buddhist Temple; Almost being caught with a DJI drone in Uzbekistan where sentences can go up to 3 years; Helping at an animal sanctuary in Hungary working with wolves and other amazing animals; Climbing to the peak of mount Olympus while covered in snow and without proper climbing gear; now cycling to north cape in winter with -30 degrees and almost loosing my fingers to cold and volunteering with the Sami people; Experiencing the kindness of strangers like being invited to a local wedding in Kyrgyzstan and to another wedding in Georgia, and being hosted in the house of locals in over 40 countries; cycling through desert, rain, snow, mountains over 3000 meters, and experiencing the most stunning scenery. And much more.

The first time I traveled by bike was at 16 to 6 countries in Europe just with a bike for some months and without any money; when I was a kid I always wanted to live, escape the beautiful Island I lived in that started to seem more like a natural cage as I was getting older, in my teenage years for instance I left home telling my mother I was going to meet some relatives but in reality traveling by myself to France an other places without anyone noticing. After some harsh times I successfully moved to study at Oxford which is an amazing place to live in, and took a big personal sacrifice and commitment to end up there; I've legally changed my name in an attempt to become more free and in control of my life and identity; I saved the life of someone once who later became one of the most influential and important people in my life. I started a business building Luxury Tiny Homes and campervans and I was able to learn it by myself over the course of a long year.

But the future is bright and I want to see it all. So within my list of things I will commit to do are; crossing the Atlantic Ocean by rowing, motorcycle across all countries in Africa, hitchhike all east Asia, go from Alaska to Patagonia, sail around the world on one go, get my pilot license and fly across the globe, cross Australia by paramotoring, walk the whole wall of china, take the siberian train across Russia and hitchhike back, buy a horse in Mongolia and cross the whole country, ride the coal train in Mauritania, climb to the tallest mountain in each continent, swim across the 7 sea crossings (the ocean’s seven), do a thriatlon in antartica, cross the Sahara by camel, cycle all Middle East, document life living in a submarine, travel to all countries on earth, get my profesional diving license, boat license and parachuting license. Successfully open my own company building tiny houses, campervans and extravagant Airbnb’s, build my own home from scratch, and many more things.

To finish with a quote “Dream of reaching other galaxies and at least you will make it to your nearest stars”

Teach, Learn, Share

I will do my best to help in anything that I could be useful, learn from anything I can, listen to your story, thoughts, experiences and I’m always open to doing anything, because of course, yes is always much more interesting than a no

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm happy to help with anything needed, share my life experiences and enjoy good conversations

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom