Apparently there are some misconceptions regarding our role in the workamping gig. There is absolutely no "managing" going on. We are all about the laid back, no stress lifestyle. Sounds good in theory right? A little hard to put into practice...
So, the basics. Loosely defined "workamping" is RV camping combined with working. Wikipedia sums it up pretty good the following way:
Workamping, a contraction of "work camping" is a form of RV camping involving singles, couples or families who work part-time or full-time. A Workamper combines part-time or full-time paid or volunteer work with RV camping. Workampers generally receive compensation in the form of a free campsite, usually with free utilities (electricity, water, and sewer hookups) and additional wages. Workamping positions can include working at campgrounds, RV resorts, mobile home communities, Christmas tree or pumpkin sales lots, amusement parks, motels/hotels, national parks, state parks, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer locations, national monuments, lighthouses, retail stores, food service, sales and more.
We're interested in reducing our expenses by trading our time for our site. The amount of time required by an employer varies widely. Some offer pay for extra hours worked and some don't. Some places have very detailed duties and some require their workampers to be flexible (read bathroom cleaning or housekeeping here). I plan to NOT be flexible.
We agreed to work 20 hours per week between the two of us for our full hook-up site here at Echo Basin Ranch. However, we arrived to a greatly reduced work force due to the recent Weber fire just a few miles away. It took a several weeks to figure out what was expected of us, who was in charge (nobody really) and how to not get too pissed off and leave before our depart date. What really kept us going was the other newbies (two couples) and the perfect weather and surroundings!
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| Ava and Gary |
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| Wayne and Marvene |
Our official duties have included landscaping, weed removal, wedding site prep, front desk (me) and cabin and pool maintenance (Bob), and trash collection. And for fun we clean and rebuild fire pits! Bob tried out the back-up camp host position but it didn't work out. Let's just say he ended up calling the camp host a jerk (to his face). Not a good idea to go into that on the WORLD WIDE WEB. There are other workampers that have been here multiple years and we have enjoyed meeting them and hearing their stories.
There has been a wedding every weekend, except this weekend, since we've been here. We did a lot of the set-up for this wedding. We expected close to 200 people but only 120 came.
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| The Wedding Site |
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| The Banquet Room |
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| The Bride and her father |
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| The Carriage |
Just to keep busy (I swear!) Bob took on the project of fixing the tire swing. I don't have a "before" picture but imagine six inches of the tire laying on the ground. It took two tries and $40 bucks before Bob was happy!
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| Not User Friendly! |
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| Perfection |
Yesterday Echo Basin Ranch hosted a RAVE type event called Lunar Bass - Total Eclipse 2012. None of the new workampers were informed before arriving here that five hundred to a thousand people would show up to party and listen to LOUD music ALL NIGHT LONG! The event's website describes it as follows:
Lunar Bass 2012 - An all out, knock down, no holds barred, rage it till the roof melts experience of Durango Colorado's electronic nightlife. Lunar Bass is a locally driven music and art festival drawing together members of a small community of artists from Durango, Colorado.
Surprisingly we all survived the 750 or so kids that showed up. Yes, I said kids! This event was open to all ages. A few parents came with their kids but not many. I felt like I was at a high school party in the woods (again), but didn't know anyone. Maybe it was a nightmare? I'm still amazed at the lack of planning and communication with this "concert". Also amazingly no cops or ambulances were needed. Well, I'm just very glad it's over and it's quiet here again.
On another note Bob made friends with a stray dog that keeps showing up in the campground. We call him Hound Dog...
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| Such a Sweetie! |
That's all for now!!!
Love the new profile picture! And I vote to keep Hound Dog, what a cutie!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the workamping update, sounds like you guys are making it work - no pun intended.
Cheers from Austria!
Kit
I like the story about Bob fixing the tire swing. Before you know it, you guys will have an online company selling high-quality american built backyard swings.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
Josh Lee
Sparks, NV.
Looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteJackie
Great post and nice explanations of goings on. Maureen and I just spent a week at Wendover KOA for Speed Week. Very hot, Salt was awesome early in the morning. Tia & Riley stayed in the Alpenlite with the AC set to their liking. Lots of fast machinery to view and wonderful people to share with.
ReplyDeleterj
Have to ask...Who/what is Salt?
DeleteThank you Kim! Chuck and I were flirting with the workamper idea, but after reading about your misadventures, we know we are not cut out for the roles. One or both of us would surely end up in the pokey. And you aptly named your new dog friend...before I saw your caption of him I told Chuck he looks like a Hound Dog!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love the way you tell a story, laughter is good for the soul.
Judy Chuck and Paris currently in Tahoe
Update on the Hound Dog. We will NOT be adopting him. Willie says absolutely NOT! His owner is a foreman on a neighboring ranch. He doesn't appear to be a good owner. The dog was taken to a no-kill shelter in Durango but he showed up here again a couple of days later. Then gone for a few days then back again. So we still don't really know what's going on. What a surprise!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming you guys have already gone to Mesa Verde National Park? And I highly recommend riding the Durango and Silverton narrow gauge, be sure to splurge for the 'caboose' car!! You only live once!
ReplyDeleteFantastic area to be living in!
Matt G.