I'm a single male with an old body and a young mind. A friend once told me, "There are no strangers, only friends we haven't met. I try to live by that philosophy. I love going places I've never been, seeing things I've never seen and especially meeting people I've never met. I enjoy meeting and learning from a diverse group of people.

Having been retired for a few years now I enjoy the opportunity to pursue a variety of adventures whether spontaneous or planned.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Number 1 ~ I am couch surfing to hold down travel expenses and make it possible for me to travel further and more frequently.

Number 2 ~ It gives me a greater opportunity to meet and know new people as I travel, and I love hearing what others have experienced as they journey through life. It provides opportunity to live new experiences both in reality and vicariously through the stories of others.

Interests

After many years working as a photographer with experience ranging from working on a daily newspaper to portrait and wedding photography I have retired from the daily grind to pursuing photography as art. I enjoy hanging out and swapping stories with other photographers and artists of all sorts including both visual and performing. I love visiting art galleries.

Though I don't consider myself a musician I enjoy music, especially that of lesser known but talented local artists. I have numerous musician friends in the Kansas City and Minneapolis areas as well as a few sprinkled throughout other parts of the U.S.

When I can I enjoy traveling by motorcycle whether just putting around my home area or touring several atates away. Unlike many bikers I tend to travel alone. A musician friend in Minnesota nicknamed me "the One Man Motorcycle Gang" a few years ago and it has stuck.

When traveling I like to sample local cuisine and when possible tend to avoid chain eating establishments. My taste in food is eclectic, and though there are a few definite exceptions there are not many things I won't eat or at least try.

• arts
• performing arts
• street art
• photography
• motorcycles
• live music
• food
• motorcycling
• street photography
• motorcycle riding
• motorcycle touring

Music, Movies, and Books

My interest in music is very eclectic. I often say I like everything from Vivaldi to Jackyl. I most often listen to rock in many of its variations old and new, and I'm a big fan of jazz. Country is probably my least favorite, though I do like bluegrass and some of the newer country that tends to cross over genres. I have numerous musician friends and when often attend performances by local and regional bands.

Though I usually enjoy movies when I get to them I seldom go to the theatre anymore, so if you want to discuss movies, the conversation will likely be one-sided.

At my current age I'm not a particularly avid reader of books, but in the past I have read most of what John Steinbeck wrote and would say he is probably my favorite author.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Friends often seem to exclaim about things I do, but I have trouble finding things about myself I consider amazing. People seem to express amazement that in my 60s I will take off cross country on my motorcycle by myself. I tend not to travel with other riders and a friend in Minneapolis dubbed me the "One Man Motorcydle Gang" shortly after meeting me. Though most of my riding is from my home outside Kansas City into the city, I have made a few longer trips and particulasrly enjoy riding to Minneapolis to visit my son and some friends there.

Amazing things from my younger days might include a trip where I drove from Baldwin City, KS through the fulllength of Mexico and on to Guatemala City, Guatemala with a friend, then rode a bus back home. Also in my youth I once photographed President Richard Nixon at a distance of about 2 eet while being dragged back by secret service agents.

Perhaps most amazing to me is the fact I'm still alive as I approach 70 years old.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm an inquisitive sort, so I tend to learn a little about a lot of different things. My most enduring passion is photography which throughout my life has been both a vocation and an avocation. I have over 50 years experisnce working with film, but have now embraced the digital technology. I wouln't say I'm a master, but I am good. These days I pursue photography as art. I heavily Photoshop some of my work to the point it does not alway look like a photograph, and I occasionally show in galleries.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I would enjoy photographing my hosts and sharing the images with them.

Other than that I would enjoy sharing conversations and friendship.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States