After living in Manchester for around 9 years my boyfriend, Dan, and I decided it was time for a new adventure and have just started our first cycling tour. We are aiming to get to Greece for the winter but otherwise have no route planned and happy to take advice about where to visit next from the people we meet.

We will be using warmshowers and couch surfing so that we can interact with like-minded people along the way.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I hitchhiked through Europe one summer with a friend. We camped for the most part but she introduced me to couch surfing and we used it a couple of times when passing through the cities. We ended up travelling much further on a budget because of it and met some great people too.

I think couch surfing makes travel more accessible and has enhanced my experience of it, particularly as you get to meet people you wouldn't otherwise interact with and gain insight into places and cultures because of it.

In my previous house we hosted some couch surfers (on my housemates account) who were passing through Manchester. It was great because we got to hear about their experiences travelling and their plans for more.

Interests

I really love art, music and film. I studied Art History and Visual Culture at University as well as taking an Art Foundation course when I was younger (specialising in sculpture) and, more recently, a print making course. I don't seem to make much art anymore but I do still enjoy it and will occasionally sketch or make a collage.

I've been learning about permaculture recently and have started to help out on a friend's allotment, growing food and using it to make jams, chutneys, cordials and cakes. This has been a great learning experience for me and so rewarding too. I am starting to grow veg in my own garden (mainly courgettes, beans, spring onions, dill and other edible flowers). I'm also planning on building a pond this summer in order to attract more wildlife to the garden. I think it's really important to re-engage with nature, particularly when you live in the city and this is a small way in which I can do it everyday.

Another thing that I really love is cycling. I cycle pretty much everywhere in Manchester, through all the seasons. I'm planning on cycling around Europe at some point next year as I think it will be a great way to travel, to see sites that I otherwise wouldn't see and meet people I wouldn't usually come across.

• arts
• culture
• cooking
• baking
• running
• gardening
• music
• cycling
• swimming
• art history
• ecology
• history
• volunteering
• travelling
• permaculture
• film
• soul
• community
• hiphop
• renaissance

Music, Movies, and Books

I really love music, I like to go to gigs and to dance. Favourite genres include dub, reggae, hip hop, soul, funk, disco, garage.

My boyfriend Dan has a large vinyl collection in the house with a great taste in music too. He tends to provide the soundtrack to my life, morning, noon to night.

I love to read but don't manage to read as much as I'd like too. One of the best books I've recently read is 'A Brief History of Seven Killings' by Marlon James. One of my favourite classics is 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and one of the best short stories is 'Running in the Family' by Micheal Ondaatje. I'm definitely open to book recommendations, particularly books that have been translated into English.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Cycling around Europe has been pretty amazing so far!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm always happy to cook a meal or take the hosts out for a coffee or drink to say thanks!

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe