I originally hail from Texas where I had an atypical Texan youth experience. I attended an arts high school (where I was a member of the school mime troupe) and spent most of my free time sailing. I attended Oberlin college in Ohio where I studies physics. When not in the lab I could be found in the school woodshop building furniture and banjos. ( I got deep in to the history of the banjo and built early forms of the banjo as well as West African banjo cousins) After working in a woodshop in Cleveland for two years I moved to Vermont to intern at the with a ecological Design/Build school and most recently worked as a timber framer/carpenter. I am in the process of moving out to Seattle to join my girlfriend and have plans to attend graduate school for environmental engineering there.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

When traveling it's important for me to make human connections. I love hearing people's stories, world views, jokes and passions.

I love traveling by bike for similar reasons. I have found that when I am on a 500+ mile bike trip my bike acts as a bridge to facilitates connections with people that I would not make otherwise.

Interests

Woodworking
Playing banjo/fiddle
Talking about music
Card Games (Cribbage, Hi-low-jack and Spades are some of my favorites)
Biking
Sailing
Talking about quantum mechanics over rye whiskey.

• arts
• design
• cooking
• traveling
• woodworking
• music
• cycling
• sailing
• engineering
• history
• physics

Music, Movies, and Books

Books:
Any science non fiction
Lonesome Dove is one of my favorite novels.
I'm in the process of reading Cloud Atlas

Music:
Frank Zappa, Steve Reich, Mingus, Eric Dolphy, Leadbelly, Narmour and Smith, Edden Hammons, John Hartford, William Onyeabor, Stravinsky, The Velvet Underground, Sufjan Stevens, Arthur Russell, Mos Def, The Strippling Brothers.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've gone on a couple of 500+ mile bike trips but I hardly think that qualifies as amazing.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to give banjo lessons and often I travel with a couple of banjos.
I was in a mime troupe in highschool so a mime lesson could also be arranged.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'd love to cook some meals.
I can offer some non invasive carpentry work on your house.
I can share my banjo playing.
Conversation.

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States