I grew up in the Pacific North West region of the United States, the state of Oregon specifically. I have stayed in the area for college and am now working on getting my PhD in Organic Chemistry. I am very knowledgeable about much of the state and many of the things to do and see.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Both I and my (soon to be) wife, Kyra, enjoy traveling but and meeting new people from near and far. Unfortunately, I am a poor graduate student at the moment and we have limited time and money to visit all the places we would like. I hope that couch surfing provides an opportunity for us to connect with other travelers from around the world.

Interests

• running
• politics
• reading
• music
• hiking
• camping
• scuba diving
• biology
• chemistry
• languages
• philosophy
• waterfalls
• biking
• whiskey
• playing music
• brewing
• wild foods
• mead
• mushroom hunting

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I play guitar and a little bit of piano, violin and harmonica. When I play acoustic guitar music, I enjoy playing folk, Americana, 90s-2000s alternative rock/pop. I like to play classic rock on electric guitar. I enjoy listening to a whole range of music from Bob Dylan to White Stripes to Stravinsky to VanHalen to assorted new Electronica and more.

Favorite books are hard to choose, some of the most recent ones I have read and enjoyed were: Xenocide (SciFi), The New Jim Crow (current events), and The Century Trilogy (historical fiction).

TV: Currently watching The Office (U.S. version), Breaking Bad, and The West Wing

What I Can Share with Hosts

My (soon to be) wife and I rent a 3 bedroom duplex in the small and quiet town of Philomath Oregon. We have a spare bedroom with a futon big enough for two with as many pillows and blankets as you could wish. We have a nice backyard filled with flowers and vegetables that we grow and a fire pit and lawn chairs for nice summer and fall evenings.

Our small town may not have a wild dance scene or world class art, but it serves as a gateway to one of the most beautiful natural regions in the world. We are surrounded by mountainous coastal forests teeming with wildlife, edible berries, and mushrooms, An hours drive West will take you to the edge of the Pacific Ocean with beautiful views and delicious seafood. In the other direction, lies the Cascade Mountain range, filled with snow capped volcanic peaks and clear blue lakes. The vibrant and quirky cities of Portland and Eugene are reasonable drives to the North or South. And the valley that surrounds us is fast becoming one of the biggest wine producing regions in the country. A short trip will take you to a local meadery (honey wine producer), small vineyards, breweries and distilleries.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Mexico