CURRENT MISSION

To collect unforgetable ADVENTURES while traveling, meeting and making New FRIENDS!

ABOUT ME

I'm an outgoing, adventure loving, self employed, non-smoking, professional photographer who is now mostly retired. I am a straight guy who is tolerant of ALL sexual orientations, races and faiths - and even of those with no faith. Furthermore I am now in the middle of a great "solo" adventure. In May of 2011 I began traveling the USA on an extended and wonderful RoadTrip, and I have also hiked portions of the Appalachian Trail. As a Life Member of the hiking group, ALDHA.org, I have been wonderfully hosted by over 19 different members (as of January 2024) up and down the eastern seaboard. Plus in June, and then September of 2013, I photographed two different weddings of a hiking family I met in Vermont. I have never used any illegal drugs. But I do occasionally enjoy a beer... or glass of wine.

PHILOSOPHY

I was fortunate to have had a fantastic childhood, and had loving parents who not only relished life - but also enjoyed TEASING most everyone. So I attempt to CARRY ON in that tradition ... I frequently mention that if EVERYONE had had parents like me, then there would be very few problems in this world!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I thoroughly enjoy "trading" my photography services (or photo instruction) for being hosted by friends - even the newly met, "on the spot" variety. I also relish getting in the kitchen and rustling up a pot of gumbo to share with my hosts...

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

In early July of 2024 I RETURNED (for my 4th time) to stay with my great CS friend and fellow photographer, Sam Interrante in Lancaster, PA. (We have become "soul mates" - despite the difference in our ages - Ha!)

In November of 2023 I was hosted by Barbara in Peoria/Phoenix, Arizona. We had a great time sharing photographs and I was delighted to use her oven to rustle up some baked fish and mashed potatoes, plus I introduced her to baked oatmeal which is a favorite recipe in Pennsylvania. FUN!

In November of 2022 I had a FINE time visiting Patsy and Dave in Harrisburg, PA. They are mostly retired DeeJays - so we TAWKED about our favorite musical artists and more. It was a FUN visit!

In October of 2020 I stayed with Ellie Riley at her fine condo near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We had great fun sharing photographs and talking about our respective grandkids. What FUN!

In August of 2019 I met up with a great CouchSurfer IN ALASKA - whom I had originally met at a hostel in Florida! Season Kerr (real name) and we had a fine time CAMPING together at two different "free" campgrounds - YEA.

And in early June of 2019 I spent two fine nights in Olympia, Washington with Sherry Chilcutt and her hubby...

In early Sept of 2018 I was WONDERFULLY hosted for 4 nights in central Maine by Dave Weatherbee, and enjoyed meeting his wife and son. We all really hit it off and I look forward to another visit!

December of 2017 - A SUPER FINE two nights being hosted by Sam Interrante in Lancaster, PA. He is also a PRO photographer, and we had FUN photographing EACH OTHER!

December of 2015: I had a FANTASTIC 4 days with Heath Ray in Bowling Green, Kentucky!

But my first experience of being hosted "on the spot" was in Casper, Wyoming circa 1982 when I stayed with the Adams family - whom I met at a small cafe near their home on the mountain (one of the first geodesic domes in the country!) Since then I met and stayed with two different ladies (and their young teen sons) after #1 -striking up a conversion on a Florida beach, and #2 - helping move a couch for a new resident in Hanover, VT.

Plus I have great friends in the KC area (The Greens - see photo) whom I met in Key Largo. Not to mention over 19 (so far) fellow members of the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Asso. (ALDHA.org) with whom I have been wonderfully hosted.

Interests

Among MANY interests, I especially love the outdoors! I also relish cooking and baking - yeast breads and muffins, not to mention gumbo from my full blooded Cajun mom's recipe! I am a life member of ALDHA.org - where I share my photography expertise, but I also enjoy "pitching in" and "helping out" - with chores or whatever needs to be done. I am becoming known as the "guy who brings or makes a big fruit salad" to hiker gatherings ... PLUS, I can't get enough of teasing, testing, showing, educating, and sometimes "herding" my 5 GrandKids in Lancaster, PA - Ha!

• photography
• cooking
• baking
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• camping
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Big, Splash, Contact, 2001, Groundhog Day, Schindler's List, Sleepless in Seattle, Lord of the Rings. Music: Classic Rock, Alternative, Pop, Rhythm and Blues, Blues, Reggae, World, some Hip Hop, More. Books: Huckleberry Finn, Lonesome Dove, Stranger in a Strange Land, Dune, Pride and Prejudice, To Kill a Mockingbird, Blue Highways, River Horse, History of: American Revolution, World Explorers, More.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

#1 - Driven four times all the way up "NAWTH" to ALASKA to spend 4 separate summers in our 49th state ( 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2023) #2 - I've had the pleasure of meeting my favorite living author - William Least Heat-Moon and having 4 long lunches with him - in Columbia, MO. #3 - Hiked over 10% of the Appalachian Trail in one calendar year (Apr 3, 2012 to Apr 3, 2013) for a total of 286 miles (in one direction, so that excludes hikes back to my car.) This includes all of the AT in Georgia, West Virginia and Maryland.

Teach, Learn, Share

I of course enjoy sharing whatever knowledge I have regarding photography (as well as graphics.) I even "traded" photo instruction for accommodations with the owner/manager of a hostel in Kissimmee/Orlando, Florida.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I actually "live" in my "mobile domicile " - my very blue 2016 Dodge Dart. I have removed the front passenger seat, and the back seat, and I built a bunk in it so that I can travel the USA "on the cheap." Therefore, I don't have a "regular" couch for other members to surf. But for the adventurous, I could offer to "host and sleep" up to 5 other individuals at a camping site - because I have two hammocks, and both a single tent, and a double tent... So lets find a great place to Car Camp and get OUTDOORS!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States