CURRENT MISSION

To see the world and gain a true cultural experience while visiting a new destination

ABOUT ME

I am a happy and energetic person who loves to learn new things. I live for the outdoors and enjoy a wide variety of activities. I enjoy: hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing, running, photography, stand up paddle boarding, cooking and meeting new people. Depending on the season and the weather will determine which of these activities I do each week.
I am in the process of discovering other countries and cultures and enjoy the typical touristy locations but also make a strong effort to experience the local culture and to see areas less traveled. I appreciate other people's suggestions regarding things to do, places to go and activities to experience.
I used to own an outdoor adventure company that took people from around the world hiking and camping in Yosemite, so I am a pretty good resource for ideas and suggestions while visiting Yosemite.

PHILOSOPHY

Every day is a GREAT day, and some days are even BETTER.
Life is a series of priorities. Each day we are dealt with scenarios that may change things, but I like to keep my eye on the prize and focus on living life to the fullest.

I live my life with PMA. Positive, Mental Attitude is something that I can control and I choose to live each day to the fullest. Life is too short to dwell on anything negative. The glass is half full and I believe that if I learn something new each day, I have gained a valuable thing.
I always try to MAXIMIZE my day.
Being Happy is important to me.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have a respectable size house with two extra bedrooms and two extra bathrooms and willing to host as well as be hosted.
I feel that couchsurfing is a far greater experience when visiting a foreign area. Getting to meet the locals and learning about the area in their point of view is far more valuable than staying in a hotel and Googling it.

I believe in the original philosophy of Couchsurfing and traveling is not just about the destination, it's about the journey/adventure and embracing the local community and sharing experiences and ideas along the way. The amazing part is that you get to make new friends from around the world along the way.

I believe that it is important for a traveler to have read my profile and personalize their request to stay with me by mentioning "hiking". It's also courteous to begin your request with my first name, so I know that you are asking me to host you.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have hosted a many surfers now and look forward to be hosted. I have hosted a couple of people from different countries prior to becoming a member of the "Couchsurfing Community". I met them while hiking in Yosemite National Park and offered a place to stay while on their way to San Francisco. I have also hosted other acquaintances from people I have met while traveling in Northern California. This is why I have joined Couchsurfing because I realized that I am already essentially participating, just not officially via this website. I enjoy hosting and depending on the situation, would also be willing to be a personal tour guide while visiting IF...our schedules are aligned.

Interests

I have many interests so I will list them off in NO particular order and hope that you will get an idea of how diverse I really am.
Hiking, biking, kayaking, running, fishing, snow skiing, camping, backpacking, golfing, stand up paddle boarding, RV'ing, cooking, tennis, ping pong, going to the beach, watching the sunset, watching the sun rise, trying new recipes, trying new restaurants, sporting events, concerts, building things, working in my yard, watching movies, sight seeing. Traveling to new places. I even enjoy popping bubble wrap.

• cooking
• running
• gardening
• fishing
• hiking
• backpacking
• kayaking
• camping
• skiing
• tennis
• table tennis
• solo travel
• adventure travel
• waterfalls
• biking
• comedy
• meeting new people
• healthy eating
• sunrises
• live concerts
• going to the beach
• stand up paddle boarding
• golfing
• watching sunsets
• building things
• rving

Music, Movies, and Books

I like most music with the exception of RAP or Heavy Metal. I am not a book reader, but I do read interesting articles regardless of what the media or topic is.
I enjoy many movies and I can not list any favorites, because there are too many good ones out there.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I surfed in Corvallis, Oregon to witness the "Totality" solar eclipse. It was mind blowing awesome. I finished another bucket list item and completed my first ever Half Marathon in 2:00:0 hours March 2015, not too bad for my age. I hiked the Inca Trail, 4 days/ 30 miles and summited 14,000 ft. in Peru to see Machu Picchu. I completed my first ever Triathlon in 2013 and did it again in 2014. I have climbed Half Dome in Yosemite National Park 5 times. In 2016, I hiked 96 miles in 12 days while touring Italy have hiked hundreds of miles in many other locations. I have kayaked with whales in the ocean and even had a sea otter climb into my kayak and ride with me. I have sky dived, cliff jumped into a Cenote, and taken a hot air balloon ride. I walked 700 miles on the Camino de Santiago del Norte and continued on to Fisterra and Muxia. I have enjoyed many things and seen a lot, but have not even begun to see what I want to see and that is why I have joined the Couchsurfing University.

Oops....was I supposed to list "1" thing????

Teach, Learn, Share

I am a great teacher in areas of local travel. I was born and raised in Turlock, California and have had the pleasure of traveling extensively throughout most of California. I make it a point to experience new places each month and have accumulated many great adventures that I have shared with many of my friends and acquaintances. Many of my friends have utilized my numerous amounts of experiences to plan their family or group activities with positive feedback thanking me for providing them with ideas as well as details to have a positive and memorable experience while traveling. I love to learn as well as share because it is so fulfilling.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I enjoy cooking and don't mind helping to clean up. I welcome your stories of your life and learning about your area.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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