Hi there, well 2017 is going to be a BIG year for me. I've quit my job to ride my motorcycle around the world. There's another twist though: I'm also a keen runner, so I'm also going to run a marathon on each continent -- and ride to them all. I'm so lucky because I've got the support of a really loving, close family who share my sense of 'wanderlust' and totally understand why I'm doing this. I'm going to miss them terribly and honestly don't know how I'm going to cope with homesickness, but I do know that surrounding myself with interesting, friendly people from around the world will really help. I could write loads more about me and what I'm trying to do, but I've already started a site and blog about my forthcoming travels, so please have a look at www.themarathonride.com for all the details about why I'm doing this.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I didn't know about Couchsurfing until I started to talk to other travellers already 'on the road' and I'm so pleased to have found this site. What a fantastic idea to put people in touch in this way -- and to have the opportunity to repay the kindness shown to you by hosting other travellers yourself when you are at home again. I love the idea that I can meet 'locals' who can show me their town, tell me about what's important in their lives, hear my story and share theirs. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

Interests

• marathon
• running
• travel
• food
• friends
• marathons
• new cultures
• family
• motorcycling
• travel blogging
• experiences
• long distance running
• overlanding

Music, Movies, and Books

Spotify has been really cool for us as a family as I listen to my kids' playlists and try to get them to listen to mine! If I told you that my latest playlist includes 50cent, Bruno Mars, Drake, AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac, you'll see how messed up my music taste has become.
Same thing for movies really: I'm in a film club where we meet once a month and bring movie clips based on a pre-decided theme. Netflix has changed everything and at the moment, I'm more into Box Sets than movies (Homeland, The Bridge and The Good Wife are the last three we've worked through -- you can lose months of your life to these if you're not careful...).
As for books, I read loads but for the past year of so have been devouring adventure travel literature - stuff by Lois Pryce, Sam Manicom, Ted Simon and others who have gone before me...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Honestly, I'm hoping that what I'm doing over the next year is going to be THE MOST AMAZING THING I've ever done. If I can get all the way around the world on that bike -- and fit in a marathon on every continent along the way - then I'm sure I'll feel that I can accomplish just about anything in the future...

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd love to learn how to cook the local cuisine of the countries I'm passing through, and get taught how to do this by my hosts. Food is an important part of our lives, and one of the best ways to share time and experiences together is by making something tasty together.

What I Can Share with Hosts

As an English guy (with South African-born father and a German-born mother) married to a Dutch girl, with a French sister-in-law, our family is living proof that love conquers all -- especially international borders! But if you're interested to find out more about life in the UK, how I plan to make a living while I'm away, and what I really think of Brexit, then please get in touch and it will be great to meet you.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Greece, Netherlands