CURRENT MISSION

To cycle the entire coast of New Zealand solo and unsupported to raise money for a really small but effective education charity.

ABOUT ME

For a long time, I didn't manage to travel at all. I spent a lot of time and money studying, moving and then studying again and got stuck in a little bit of a rut. Sure, I got out and about and did a lot of camping in the UK but as soon as I had some pennies in my bank account again, I was off.

Last year, I made amends and travelled to about ten new countries, which was spectacular. Now that I feel like I have caught up, I want to do something for charity. I also wanted to see a bit more of the world and New Zealand was incredibly high on my hit list.

In terms of what funds my antics, I am a primary school teacher and I just try to save as much as I can whilst I am at home.

PHILOSOPHY

You get out what you put in! Having left accountancy a few years ago to retrain as a primary school teacher, I am happier than I have ever been. I put everything I have into my work and social life and seem to get a lot out of it. I feel like I'm winning :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Just getting started on here, but I think that I would enjoy meeting up with people in London - perhaps even providing a couch (so long as my flatmates also agree at the time).

I managed to surf once with one of my best friends when I was in the USA in summer 2014. We had a great experience and I now feel brave enough to dip a toe in solo! I am also now on WarmShowers and am just looking for kind people to host me whether it be in my tent in their garden!

Interests

Really, I am interested in everything!
Clearly I like cycling, but I actually on started that with any intent in Feb 2015! Just a novice on a bike, trying to cycle 4000 miles.
Theatre has been a big part of my life, especially since moving to London. I just love it. I even took part in a local amateur performance of Jesus Christ Superstar.
This morning I went for a run on the beach - the simple pleasure of the sea and the sand was enough to help me through despite being a terrible runner!
Having spent a lot of time in the countryside growing up, I enjoy hiking/camping.
I did a creative writing course in the summer and loved that and now write a fairly narcissistic blog about my cycle training!
I'll try anything twice :)

• writing
• singing
• performing arts
• education
• dining
• running
• gardening
• traveling
• blogging
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• cartography
• teaching
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm terrible with music but I love it. I just couldn't tell you the style/artists I enjoy. I'd be just as happy going to a classical recital as a rock concert. Just fill my ears with the beatiful stuff!

I'm very similar with movies! The last three I watched at the time of writing were: Hercules (Disney), Friends With Benefits, Flags of our Fathers...

Maybe you are beginning to see a pattern? Currently reading Wolf Hall but also love chick literature and children's fantasy novels.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I'm not sure about 'Amazing'. It's an interesting adjective. One thing I did which was really funny was in Morocco - we listened to local advice and read the maps, followed them perfectly, scaled a mountain in a 1.1 Chevvy Spark only to find that our route was completely inaccessible - in a few more miles there was no more road as it turned into a river.
In the end, we paid an extortionate amount to stay in a hovel of a gite and get ourselves severe food poisoning. I woke up that morning though, warm, smelling of goat to my friend singing happy birthday to me. I'll never forget it! It may not have been conventional but it was a memory with which I will never part. I loved it!