Monday, October 27, 2014

Whistle...or Work While You Travel

Traveling with a pet and sleeping in a tent wasn't really conducive to a lot of work options.  However, they are out there.  People are always wanting to know how to live this lifestyle while being able to earn money.  Especially those of us who don't have work-at-home online jobs!!  Now that I have a camper for Lillie to stay in, I CAN work!  "Where?", you ask.  Ha!  That is the question I wanted to hear!

I can do wine tastings for companies nationwide, as I was in Texas.  I just need to find out what the state requirements are and comply (ie. Texas required you to be TABC certified), find companies providing tastings for wine, beer, etc, apply online then simply find jobs that I want to and am able to do.

While waiting to sell my home in Dallas, I temporarily worked for a Canadian silk bedding company who have road shows nationwide at Costcos.  The owner of the company is good with me contacting them to work when I'm in an area where they have shows.  But that is just a bonus for me!

Other than that?  SO MUCH MORE!

Workers on Wheels
http://www.work-for-rvers-and-campers.com/
Work for RVers and Campers: Employment, Volunteer Positions, Jobs, and remote Business Resources

Ad Hoc Group ~ RVers and Freelancers
http://www.adhocgroup.net/AHG/RV.html
Helpful links for those who love the RVing life and to those who need only to find a way to make a living to join in this wonderfully nomadic way to live.

Backdoor Jobs ~ Short Term Job Adventures
http://www.backdoorjobs.com/
Opportunities to work, travel, play, live, learn, help, create, experience and grow.

Camp Host Jobs
http://www.camphost.org/
Great Jobs in the Outdoors

CoolWorks.com
http://www.coolworks.com/
Find Summer Jobs and Seasonal Work in Great Places
http://www.coolworks.com/ranch-jobs/
Guest ranch jobs go way beyond riding horses! Guest service, meal service, housekeeping, chuckwagon cookouts, children's activities, gardening, and More!

Help Exchange
Free Volunteer Work Exchange in U.S. and Abroad (Australia New Zealand Canada Europe)
http://www.helpx.net/

Workaway.info the site for free work exchange.
Gap year volunteer for food and accommodation whilst traveling abroad.
http://www.workaway.info/

Find Festival Jobs
Festival and fair employment, internships and volunteer opportunities.
http://www.findfestivaljobs.com/

Darien Lake, Darien Center, NY
Many Seasonal Positions Available in Amusement Park and Hotel/Campground
www.darienlake.com

Dollywood, Pigeon Forge TN
Main Employment Site (Resort, Entertainment, Etc.):
http://www.dollywood.com/Jobs/Dollywood/Overview.aspx
Dollywood Park & Cabins:
http://dollywoodjobs.silkroad.com/

Happy Vagabonds: Jobs for RVers
http://www.happyvagabonds.com/Jobs/Jobs-for-RVers.htm
 Work Camping Jobs, Camp Host Jobs, Campground Jobs for RV Campers

Help Wanted for RV Parks and Campgrounds
http://www.rvparkstore.com/rv-park-help-wanted
Paid listings for jobs available in the RV industry.

National Forests Parks and More Jobs
http://volunteer.gov
The Federal Government agencies including the National Parks Service, US Army Corp of Engineers, National Forest Service and More has an all-in-one Volunteer Position website with Current Listings and Brief Job Descriptions. Just Fill out your application once and you can submit it to any job, anywhere in the US.

US Fish and Wildlife Volunteers
http://www.fws.gov/volunteers/
Volunteer opportunities at more than 500 National Wildlife Refuges and fish hatcheries throughout the United States.
http://www.fws.gov/volunteers/volProgramList.html
USFW Volunteer opportunites by state.

National Park Service volunteer Jobs
http://www.nps.gov/getinvolved/volunteer.htm
There are more than 400 national parks in the U.S. and even more ways that you can help. Find an opportunity at a park near you.

Find State Park Workamping Jobs
Snowbird RV Trails: Where to Find & Apply for State Campground and Park Host Workamping Jobs by State.
http://www.snowbirdrvtrails.com/workkampingb.htm

US Army Corps of Engineers (COE)
Find opportunities at:
http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/VolunteerClearinghouse/VolunteerOpportunities.aspx

Government Contract Application Quick Start Guide:https://www.facebook.com/groups/weloveworkamping/511096932305408/

Seasonal Job Opportunities Nationwide 
http://readytogofulltimerving.blogspot.com/p/seasonal-work-opportunities.html
Includes link to Google Doc listing websites with seasonal job opportunities. 

Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road
http://www.rvlifestyleexperts.com/rv-books/books-for-working-on-the-road/ All the "how-to's" of working and volunteering on the road plus more than 360 ideas for earning or making money.

WorkampingJobs.com
http://workampingjobs.com/
Bringing employers and RV work campers together.

Work For KOA
http://workatkoa.com/
KOA Campgrounds Work kamper program

WorkingCouples.com
http://workingcouples.com/jobs-category/work-campers-campground
Work Camper Positions - Campground

 Work for Skilled Trade Workers
http://www.workatskilledtrades.com/
Website for traveling tradesmen and women.

OIL FIELD & GATE GUARD JOBS: 

NOTE: Oilfield Gate Guard Hiring and Contact Information*
http://www.gateguards.org/
http://myoldrv.com/forums/index.php
Search blog for more advice about Gate Guard jobs:
http://www.myoldrv.com/?page_id=1884

*PLEASE DO NOT call or email to ask questions about gate guarding. Ask those in the forums. They are extremely busy and often take time to call back or don't return calls or email unless they actually have something right now for you. Like getting any other job, you may need to contact multiple times. Most are in Texas.
  • Gate Guard Services 361-949-6992 (Have their own yards with full hookups to wait for a gate.)
  • Sitewatch 903-561-7202 Riata Cheryl McCollum 936 645-5662
  • KC Services Kim 956-791-0064
  • Pro Gate 830-776-8666
  • Trinity 979-241-1675
  • Oil Field Support Services 361-815-7050
  • Primo 361-563-9272  361-563-3080
  • LOMA Rentals 817-964-182
  • 8J&G Security Justin French or Jo Ann Blackmon 956-236-5255 361-358-0443
  • Capital Well Service mjimenez@capitalwellservice.netD.A.D.S 210-844-7393
  • D&G Enterprise 817-291-2737
  • C & K Rentals ckrentals@gvec.net
  • Streamline Field Services 979-541-9883
  • A & D Oilfield Gate Guard Services 956-236-2377
  • Alcatraz Gate Guard Services 817-209-8602
  • Red Horse Protection 817-312-3515
  • Superior Onsite Security 940-435-9221
  • Overwatch http://www.overwatchent.com/Employment.html   
  • Oilfield Gate Guard Services, LLC 281-338-9933
  • Secured Gates, Jack 469-203-5053
  • Regulators Gate Guards Jack Powers 361-945-4546
Rig Zone
http://rigzone.com/
Resource for jobs in the oil and gas industry.

FARM AND SEASONAL HARVEST WORK:

WWOOF - World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
http://www.wwoofusa.org/
http://www.wwoof.net/ 
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms: Linking volunteers with organic farms and growers. In return for volunteer help, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodation and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles.

Sugar Beet Harvest
http://www.sugarbeetharvest.com
Seasonal harvest information and open positions
Harvest Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/theunbeetableexperience
http://theschollbus.com/2012/11/sugar-beets-who-knew/First hand report of sugar beet harvest work, with video.

ATTRA: National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/internships/
Sustainable Farming Internships & Apprenticeships: A directory of on-the-job learning opportunities.

MISC. FREE WORKAMPER JOB SITES:

http://rvjobline.com/SubscribeMain.aspx

http://www.rvparkstore.com/rv_park_help_wanted.htm

http://www.work-for-rvers-and-campers.com/index.html

http://forums.goodsamclub.com/Index.cfm/fuseaction/activate/rk/6AB74730-B2A5-8D85-D16DD09029043B18/reg/true.cfm

http://www.indeed.com/q-Campground-l-Florida-jobs.html

http://gypsyjournal.net/

http://www.fema.gov/about/career/index.shtm

http://www.flcampersonmission.org/

I have to say thanks to  https://www.facebook.com/groups/weloveworkamping/ for the above links!

As I travel and work in my RV, meet other people doing the same, this list will grow and change so check it often!

Happy Camping!!!
Chris of Phoenix, AZ...Tower Guard at Rainbow Rim near North Grand Canyon.  Not a camper or workamper.  Just a worker I met along my travels.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Rocky Mountain High


When you travel through so many states or countries in a short period of time, you find yourself asking, "Where am I now?".  When I think back on the sights that I've seen, the people I've met, and look at the pictures, I have to dig deep sometimes to remember exactly where I was at the time.  Then again, I AM getting old so maybe it's just me!  I don't really have that problem when I think of Colorado.  There is not one boring drive in Colorado!  Maybe if you are driving on the interstate but I wouldn't know as I find most interstates pretty boring.  Seeing as I was primarily driving the highways, it was a slow trek for me through this state.  I couldn't help but appreciate the beauty and snap picture after picture.

Unlike my travels so far this year, I started out spending several days in a large city, Denver.  My nephew, a trucker, notified me that his truck was in the shop and he was stuck in a hotel there.  Ben is a fun, positive person to be around and I was headed that way anyway so it was perfect timing (though I feel for his loss of wages that week!).

Once I arrived, unloaded, and got Lillie settled in the hotel room, Ben and I went in search of a friend of mine's pizzeria, Enzo's End Pizzeria, for dinner.  I met my friend, Charlie, in China...well, initially on Couchsurfing.  I had posted in one of the groups that I wanted to climb Mt Huashan and was anyone else interested.  He was!  So we experienced an incredible 9 hour adventure in China on one of the most dangerous mountains to hike in the world!  It was wonderful to see him in his element in Denver!  I recommend you pay Charlie a visit at his restaurant as the pizza was delicious!!

Other than spending some time in the shop getting my passenger window repaired, Ben and I enjoyed getting out to Tavern Downtown for drinks and
dancing (ladies drank for free), a tour of the Capital building, wandering and
dining in downtown Denver, driving up Mount Evans (and doing a little bit of hiking at the top), and gambling in Black Hawk.  We experienced weather ranging from extreme heat to snow, sleet, and rain. Once his truck was repaired, I headed west to Parachute to enjoy the hospitality of a friend of mine from my school days in Rome, Italy.

Driving through vineyards

I spent a little over a week in Parachute.  It is a great jumping off point for ski resort cities, wineries, hiking, off road driving, rock climbing, and photo opportunities.  I, of course, hopped on Palisades Fruit and Wine Byway first.  This trail winds along the Colorado River to peach orchards, lavender gardens, and vineyards where you're invited to taste for free. Next I wandered Aspen, took the ski lift up Aspen Mountain and hiked, drove up to see Maroon Bells (but it was raining so my view was limited to say the least), and enjoyed a nice Italian dinner in Glenwood Springs on my way back to Parachute.  On another day, I went to Colorado National Monument where I not only enjoyed the views but reveled in a healthy hike on Serpent's Trail.  Lillie patiently waited in the Jeep as it was cool weather.  I spent a day checking out ice caves and watching rock climbers in Rifle Falls State Park and took Lillie with me to visit the Falls themselves.  Thanks to my friend, Robert, I also ate very well!  My favorite restaurant (which we went to my first evening there and my last) was in Silt, CO at Miner's Claim Restaurant!  Not only was the food delicious and the atmosphere relaxed, the staff were friendly and accommodating as well. 

Ouray, CO
One of the benefits of staying with friends is that they can inform you of things to see or do and places to go that you've never heard of before but are so happy to learn about!  Ouray, CO is one of those places.  Cradled by the San Juan Mountains, this small, river valley town is world renown for it's Ice Park (if you're an ice climber, this is the place to be during the winter).  Besides being the "Jeep Capital of the World", it is also called the "Switzerland of America".  Whatever you want to call it, it rocks!  I camped at 4J+1+1 RV Park and Campgrounds so I could just walk into town.  Jeeps were everywhere as they actually have "Jeep roads" for you to drive your own or rent one and drive (or hire a guide to drive you).  I considered it but didn't feel that my Jeep was sitting high enough up to avoid the rocks.  Also in Ouray, you will find sulfur-free hot springs but I'm more into activities than relaxation.  My activities in Ouray consisted of hiking the perimeter trail, driving some of the back roads, wandering around town, and visiting Box Canyon Falls (everyone should!).


I ate out 3 times while in Ouray, twice at the same restaurant because it was so good!  That would be Bon Ton Restaurant.  That's right!  Who else is going to romance me?  Not only is the restaurant very romantic indoors but on their outdoor patio as well.  That is where I had my first meal there...Sunday brunch!!  It included free champagne or mimosas!  The meal itself was delicious and presentation was exquisite.  The surroundings, service, and food made me feel like a wealthy woman enjoying just one more expensive meal at an expensive restaurant but the prices weren't that at all.  This tent camper was a very happy camper indeed!  So of course I returned for dinner my last night in Ouray.

Rolling out of Bon Ton had me rolling to visit the surrounding towns of Telluride, Ridgway, and historic Silverton.  Traveling to Silverton is a pure treat as you have to drive the Million Dollar Highway (which was also my route south when I left Ouray to Durango and west).  The winding, two lane mountain road with sheer drop-offs might lead some people to choose an alternate route.  I'm not one of those people!  Amazing
views and ghost mining towns are the reward for testing your driving skills.  After a slow drive through Silverton, I turned around and drove those fear inducing roads again.  The sheer quantity of photos that I took are a little ridiculous, even for me!

Before leaving this amazing area of Colorado, I took the opportunity to visit the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park which has been on my bucket list since last year.  Quite the exercise program!  If I had not had Lillie, I would have hiked down into the Canyon (there are several different trails varying in difficulty) and back up.  As it was, I still got a great workout!  There are 13 points of varying distances (from 100 yards to over 1700 yards) to stop and hike out for the canyon views.  I skipped Devil's Point, Cedar Point, and Warner Point (the longest).  Nor did I make the drive to the North Rim.  I did, however, drive the extremely steep, switchback road with a 16 percent grade to the East Portal. 
It was well worth it for the views!  The Gunnison River was gorgeous and the outdoor exhibits explaining the Gunnison Tunnel and Dam were very informative.  If you continue driving until you arrive at a dead end,  you are at Crystal Dam which is another architectural feat.  Along the drive, you most certainly will pass fishermen casting their lines into the fast flowing river.

Once past Durango on my journey to Utah and Arizona, I made one more detour...Mesa Verde National Park.  I had no idea it would take me most of the day!  I didn't pay for any of the tours yet I was still there
for hours driving, hiking out to views, and taking photographs of how ancestral man used to live.  I recommend this park to everyone as it really is an eye opener on man's ingenuity and physical endurance and strength.

Yes, I am in love with Colorado!  No, I do not like cold weather!  So you'll find me there again in the spring or fall unless someone wants to put me up in a nice ski resort.  I'll meet you in the bar when you're done skiing!!  As for "high"...though marijuana is now sold legally in Colorado, my only highs were altitude and happiness!


Overlooking Parachute after a hike


On Aspen Mountain

On Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument

Company on Mount Evans

Pikes Peak is over there somewhere!

From the peak of Mt Evans

This guy came right at me on Mt Evans!

View from Aspen Mountain

Rifle Falls

Fishing Gunnison River

Along the Million Dollar Hwy

Rifle Falls

State Capital - Denver

Ouray residents