overstaying your invitation

As a woman familiar with traditional foods, I know that even fish can be a delicatessen if cured right. ;-)
But the raw materials need to be first class...that is, there has to be a great connection between host and guest. I have not yet hosted anyone from warmshower, so I cannot tell if they stink worse than others (AFTER the shower) but some of those I hosted through couchsurfing stayed for almost a week, and we had time to reallly get to know each other. But I have met bikers of all varietyes while I had a smallscale guesthouse in Vega in Northern Norway, and they seemed to be a lot more restess and focused on mileage than other travellers... Their butts did not seem to like rest... ;-)

So I guess everyone is different. Long distance bikers seem to have an other agenda than the more exploring kind, who tends to be more happy staying in a base and make daytrips and get to know the region. So my advice is, get to know yourself, and meet your host with an open mind. If there is a great connection, I hope meeting people is also part of the interest in being a member of warmshower, not just to be a receiver of service...Genuin respect from both parties is a must. But I must also admit I would like to be the one to ask the biker to stay on...

You are welcome in my house anytime as long as I am not occupied. If you do not know this area, I have a lot of picture albumes at http://www.flickr.com/photos/25827836@N03/sets/ . There are lots and lots of small roads through beautiful scenery worth exploring, and mountain roads in plenty.

Anne-Grete

I host lots, and have this advice: if you want to ask permission to stay longer, do NOT do it in the first few hours. Relax, chat, hang out, do a favour for your host. See if you get on. Then ask.
It is VERY hard to say no to a guest who asks to stay longer.
If I know you a bit, it is easier to decide that I either like you, and want you to stay, or don't get on with you, and would prefer you to leave. It is not pleasant to need to decide that when we just met half an hour ago!

I don't mind 2 or 3 nights if it was agreed upon in advance. Then I can look at the guest's profile to see if it could work out. I mean, we can put up with nearly anything for one night, two or three becomes a life style issue. I do agree that I would feel a bit on the spot if someone asked me during the first night to extend their visit. We do not have too many warm shower guests, but the average stay of the half-dozen or so cyclists has been two days. Baby sitters, gardeners and cooks welcomed to stay longer!

We obviously have rest days planned in, and if I am asking for hosting the night before a planned rest day, then I will state that up front...and offer to split the rest day with someone or somewhere else if need be before giving them a chance to be put on the spot.