Hello!
My name is Kate. I am a scientist/artist from Australia.
I am currently cycling around the Baltic states -- through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. It's my first cycle-touring experience and I am loving it so far! So much so that in late June I will be cycling around Ireland :)

I am a friendly, curious, respectful, mature, and enthusiastic person. I love learning about the areas I travel. I am also a non-smoker ... and I'm tidy! You can read more about me, and see my artworks here: http://katecranney.com/about

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm a little late to the couch-surfing party, but I know that I'll enjoy it -- I love meeting new people, especially local folks who can tell me more about the areas that I am travelling around. Looking forward to meeting you!

Interests

• insects
• arts
• dancing
• exercise
• running
• reading
• music
• live music
• cycling
• hiking
• travelling
• nature
• plants
• good food
• illustration
• cycle touring
• botany
• birdwatching
• long distance running
• reading and writing
• hiking in the mountains
• daggy dancing!

Music, Movies, and Books

I love reading! Some of my favourite books: A Confederacy of Dunces (John Kennedy Toole), Carpentaria (Alexis Wright), The Van (Roddy Doyle), Under the Volcano (Malcom Lowrey), The Plumed Serpent (DH Lawrence), and anything by Thea Astley, John Steinbeck, Flannery O'Connor or Tim Winton. I also love the New Yorker Fiction Podcast, for brilliant short stories, beautifully read.

Movies: I have a short-term memory when it comes to remembering films! So, I can tell you that recently I've enjoyed Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, Tanna, and I, Tonya.

Music: All sorts, apart from heavy metal and twangy country. Some of my favourite singers/ bands: The Weather Station, Mia Dyson, Tiny Ruins, Talking Heads, Julie Byrne, Joanna Newsom, Nina Simone, Charlotte Day Wilson, Frazey Ford, Paul Kelly, Kev Carmody, and Rhye.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I climbed 85m high trees in Borneo as part of a university course (in canopy science). We climbed up in the morning, before sunrise ... at the top we saw tiny flying squirrels zipping up and down tree trunks. Then we saw a juvenile orang-utan perched on a precarious tree branch. And far below us, we could see lesser mouse-deers )(miniature deers!) walking through the forest. Very cool!

Teach, Learn, Share

I love drawing and would be happy to create some artworks with you!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Enthusiasm about art, drawing, story-telling and creativity. An interest in hiking and camping. And a keen interest in birds, insects and wildflowers!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Sweden, Tanzania, Timor-Leste (East Timor)

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Denmark