CURRENT MISSION

Wag more, bark less.

ABOUT ME

Simply put, I'm an easy-going, friendly, curious guy that has many interests. Other accurate descriptions could be; eclectic free thinker and (usually) smilin' free spirit who's still reasonably grounded in practicality. I'm an open-minded Truth-Finder who mostly craves rich conversations among friends. If alone, you'll find me most often engrossed in a book or listening to an audiobook or podcast. I truly appreciate this life I have now, having already had the ability to travel freely over a large part of the world. I'm a non-judgmental vegetarian, world traveler (inner and outer), ex-bike racer, not allergic to anything, love animals, don't smoke and have never owned a TV (it just kinda worked out that way). BTW, my greatest love belongs to apricots, cherished more than any other food ever. If that's not enough "All About Me", come meet up with me somewhere!

FAVORITE QUOTES:

~~~Absorb life. Love. Go meet other people in other countries. The world is full of exceptionally warm, friendly and good people!
~~~Feral Cheryl's motto: "Love simply, live amply, run wild."
~~~Do something with your life; a job doesn't count.
~~~Behave honestly with yourself; it may actually be your life's work.
~~~"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." - R. Buckminster Fuller
~~~"Before we can receive the unbiased truth about anything, we have to be ready to ignore what we would like to be true." - Ann Davies
~~~Your outer world is only a reflection of your inner.
~~~Keep it simple, all of it. It's not complicated.
~~~The measure of success is - how happy are you? Nothing else matters.
~~~"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." - eden ahbez
~~~Be kind - (me)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

By spreading the word: "Hey! yes, YOU!! Are you looking for free accommodation with some like-minded new friends? Get ready for a cheerful earful from me! An enthusiastic attitude will infect people to overcome initial reservations of maybe meeting a stranger in strange land.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Long before couch surfing existed, my home has always been open to wanderers, especially cyclists. And homes had been opened for me! Since I joined CS in 2005 while in India (everlasting thanks Jaggu!!), I've been hosted by the most fabulous people from all over the world and also hosted numerous people that have also been super great and fun to have as guests. I've never had any bad experiences.

I'm also a member of Warmshowers.org where many of my cycling guests come from, feel free to contact me through them as well.

Interests

Soooo many things interest me... For starters, I'll (obviously) mention travel and exploring new places and cycling. It's been a hugely fun and exhilarating lifestyle; In truth, any kind of cycling or travel typically is, but when I combine the two, I'm often at my happiest! I enjoy the outdoors and also there's... well, for example, I enjoy learning the basics of a new language before I travel (another use for an iPhone!). Music makes me happy, almost any genre, I like working with my hands, building things, improving them, am interested in alternate or new ways of thinking, about anything really. Also, simplicity, minimalism, human potential, all sorts of different festivals, philosophy, sociology, environmentalism, observing the effects of simple kindness, experiencing a rampage of appreciation and roller coasters are fun! I also enjoy learning and teaching about any recovery, deep long-term health and fitness and a reasonably wide variety of other reading. Then there's backpacking, SCUBA, spending time with close friends, storytelling, listening, most humor, MotoGP and motorcycles in general, all bicycles, international people watching, good movies, the violin and the French horn, listening to anyone else's passion, spontaneous road trips, redefining freedom, meditation, meeting interesting, fun(ny), and (especially) inspiring people, beautiful new music, receiving/giving mixed tapes (now MP3s) as gifts, a close NFL game deep into January with other fans, my cozy Home Base, the blue food group, and there's heaps more but that's enough for now, how does it get even better than that?!

• books
• burningman
• festivals
• vegetarian
• meditation
• motorcycles
• movies
• traveling
• minimalism
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• scuba diving
• road trips

Music, Movies, and Books

~~~~Clearly MUSIC, is a huge joy, especially a live show. I don't play anymore (Trumpet or French Horn), but still love music of nearly any genre. What I listen to at any given moment depends so much on what I'm doing at that moment and how I want to feel… to change a mood, for me there's nothing more powerful than music.

~~~~On MOVIES: I have trouble describing my very favorite movies because they're quite often difficult to classify... I'm really not a movie snob, usually enjoying quality movies regardless of genre but as I get older I find my tastes becoming more discerning. Mostly, a movie should engage me, that's simple enough but if it makes me think and/or laugh, all the better!

~~~~I enjoy reading BOOKS, just about anything really, I go through phases. Most recent favorite authors: Pico Iyer and Dr. Thomas Campbell. And also, just for fun, literally anything by Bill Watterson! (Double points if you're also a C and H fan)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Done: On the surface of things, I s'pose it would be my three-year bicycle trip: Aug. 2004 to Oct. 2007; 40+ countries and over 80 border crossings… on a bicycle; sure, it's slow at times but I see and experience a lot… and it's a fantastic way to learn about a country and more importantly, its people!
Done: Rode my bike up the mythic cols of Alpe d'Huez and Mont Ventoux. (the latter, while carrying six bottles of French wine!)
Done: Qualified twice for Olympic Trials, in 1988 and 1992. (Best result - 11th place)
Experienced: Traveled (or lived) in 57 countries, which maybe more than anything, has shaped me into who I've become so far.
Done: Worked in corporate America, as a private and federal loan consultant.
Done: Worked the red carpet at the Oscars in Hollywood for three years.
Doing Recently: Caregiving for my mother in Eupen, Belgium. She has Parkinson's, without question the most difficult challenge she's had to endure after losing her husband (my father). This changed our little family in ways I never saw coming but at least I can feel reasonably proud of how I've conducted myself during those times.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd probably enjoy working on your bicycle, or maybe even better, I'd teach you how to work on your bike. I could also instruct you on how to build or re-spoke a bicycle wheel. Do you have long distance cycling in your future? I could share my experiences riding (or hitch-hiking) in Africa? Want to try vegetarian, vegan or raw vegan? (I've tried them all) Translations? Fix a tent's broken zipper? Meditation? Questions about the Td'A Foundation? I might be able to teach you a thing or two about outdated beliefs. Haha, seems I'm literally a Jack-of-all-trades with a particular passion for bikes, and learning just about anything else I set my mind to. I hope you'll share some of your passions and bucket list items with me, I'm sure to be a happy to listener!

What I Can Share with Hosts

***** PLEASE NOTE: ***** (Notes to come)

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Botswana, Cambodia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macao, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, United States

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