I'm a veteran motorcycle enthusiast, so far despite having been on motorcycles over 35 years, it's only been in UK and Europe.
I feel really alive when on a motorbike, even more so when I'm on the continent, it somwehow makes me feel more free, like a kid on an adventure.
I also drive a lot and have done many road trips to include: Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine.
I like talking to people, people are the interesting part of travel, not so much the landscape but the people, and everyone has a story to tell, this I found out talking to my customers.
My family say that I'll talk to anyone, even someone I don't know and suddenly meet in the street, and tell me I'll talk the hind leg off a donkey as they say in UK.
I'm really easy to get on with, possibly as a result of having to talk to the public (customers) but mostly as I'm a chatty person by nature.
I've met very interesting people over the years, worked for some big names in cinema, TV and music. Quite a few stories to tell!
I've found though that money does not bring happiness, in fact the happiest and incidentally most generous people I've worked for and met in my travels were the least well off, so material wealth doesn't impress me that much. Ask any tradesperson, they'll tell you the same.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm planning on travelling to the east. Principally via central Asia to India, tour around India and come home again, all on a motorcycle.
Sure the internet is littered with people's journeys East, but the one missing ingredient is the interactions with people, of the few videos I've seen of round the world bike rides, it's the ones where the interactions of the motorcyclist with people that they meet that were the interesting ones.
If it was going to be a journey devoid of meeting people along the way, I'd probably not bother.
I live in a multi-cultural part of West London and have found that people of all walks of life have their own stories, that's what makes travel worth it.
In fact, my son who's been on the back of my bike with me three times in Europe, always cites the interesting people we met whilst travelling, not so much the places, though obviously there are some notable places that need to be seen too.
Also, as consequence of working on my own for the last 37 years, I don't have much contact on a social level with people despite playing badminton twice a week, and kayaking/paddle boarding once a week.
People that I meet in my age group have already made their friendship groups and it's not that easy to get to know new people.

Interests

• photography
• kayaking
• badminton
• gaming
• videography
• paddle boarding
• computers
• aquariums
• motorcycle touring
• rc flying

Music, Movies, and Books

Music? Too much to mention, but..My first love really Black Sabbath, then singer song writers like Warren Zevon, James Taylor, Leonard Cohen, also Electronica like Kraftwerk, Leftfield, Daft Punk, trance bands too.
My list could go on for years, am really open to anything but due to a Spanish background, I'm really fond of Cumbia music too.
My all time favouite book is The Secret History by Donna Tartt, I read it every year, not because I can't remember what happens, but her command of the English language is sublime.
I love art in particular the great masters: Velazquez, El Greco, Goya. I'm also a fan of 17th Century Dutch art especially Godfried Schalcken, a student of Gerrit Dou who in turn was a student of Rembrandt.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Saved a young man's life when the boiler was producing carbon monoxide, but after disconnecting it under regulations, their father refused to pay me. The son phoned me the following week to thank me as he suddenly felt better after I'd left.

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to learn about others' dreams and aspirations whilst happy to impart any wisdoms learned over my 37 year career meeting people and hearing their stories.
I've often been told that I have a special way of teaching when I've taken on a young plumber and showed them secrets of the trade and how I go about my work, not just getting them to learn parrot fashion, but to help them understand why they do things a certain way.
I'm happy to impart any knowledge I have to anyone that will listen, not only in that arena, but in many others I've studied.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A wealth of stories both mine and customers/friends. Friendship and fun
Insights I've gleaned over the years.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Spain