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Topic: River's Travel Journal
Riverspirit1111's photo
Sat 09/11/21 07:10 PM

Elk are very large, almost like a moose or a very large deer.


Oh my goodness, you're right. I just googled them, they're pronghorn antelope. slaphead

Thanks cat waving

Riverspirit1111's photo
Sat 09/11/21 07:11 PM

During my adventure to find the moose, I was also blessed to run across a small herd of Elk. love





Silly me, these are Pronghorn Antelope slaphead blushing

I still love them! love laugh

Dramatic Muffin's photo
Sat 09/11/21 07:23 PM
Hi River! waving

I've been wanting to check this thread out, but it's like 20 pages long and I don't know what's going on.

Are you on vacation in Wyoming? Or did you move there? Love your pictures of the animals!

no photo
Sat 09/11/21 07:24 PM
I've seen those antelope heards.

Riverspirit1111's photo
Sat 09/11/21 07:35 PM

Hi River! waving

I've been wanting to check this thread out, but it's like 20 pages long and I don't know what's going on.

Are you on vacation in Wyoming? Or did you move there? Love your pictures of the animals!


Hi Bonnie waving Thanks!

Back in April I decided to go back to seasonal work and travel. I originally started doing this after Hurricane Irma hit Florida in 2017. But I took a little break towards the end of 2019.

Currently I'm working for a company in the Grand Teton National Park. I got here mid-April and will be here for another month.


Riverspirit1111's photo
Sat 09/11/21 07:38 PM

I've seen those antelope heards.


Cool. There are a lot of them here. I don't know why I keep calling them elk. Wishful thinking, I suppose, lol.

Dramatic Muffin's photo
Sat 09/11/21 07:38 PM
That sounds amazing, River! I love that Grand Tetons/Jackson Hole/Yellowstone area! The company my dad used to work for owned a ranch near Driggs, Idaho (on the border). So when we would go up there, we would visit that whole area. In Jackson Hole there is a place called Bar J Ranch. They do this chuckwagon dinner show and they sing cowboy songs. They are fantastic! It is the absolute best.

Hope you're enjoying the area!

Riverspirit1111's photo
Sat 09/11/21 07:52 PM
Thanks, I am. Sounds like a lot of fun. There are quite a few dude ranches around here. I wouldn't mind working at one next summer, but I think it would be more fun to just vacation at one. Plus with all the smoke they have here in the summer, I want to stay closer to the East Coast.

I'll be at my home in Key Largo for the winter.

I just googled Bar J Ranch, they closed permanently just recently.

Dramatic Muffin's photo
Sat 09/11/21 07:55 PM
Yeah, this was their last season. I didn't realize they had already ended the season. So sad they are closing up.

Sounds like you have a fun life, River! What a blessing!

Riverspirit1111's photo
Sat 09/11/21 08:08 PM
It has it's pros and cons, just like anything. But yes, I feel blessed that I am able to do this. I love traveling, so doing the seasonal work makes it possible.

I don't go a lot of places though, unless there aren't many tourists around, lol. After a full day of hundreds of them coming in the store, I like to find places that are peaceful and relaxing.

Riverspirit1111's photo
Tue 09/21/21 04:47 PM
Edited by Riverspirit1111 on Tue 09/21/21 05:02 PM
Summer season is almost over, only 3 more weeks. Overall it's been an interesting and fun summer. A few disappointments and a couple times when I almost left, haha, but I hung in there and today I'm really happy I did. I've met some really cool people, a couple I may even keep in touch with. And got to live in this beautiful location with amazing scenery and plenty of wildlife. That alone was well worth my time here. Professionally... I learned a lot of new skills, and learned a few valuable lessons about what it means to be a leader.

I've already started planning my trip home, to Florida. I found out I can leave on the 13th instead of the 14th, so on the 13th... I'm outta here!!! laugh

I'm stopping in Hot Springs, Arkansas to spend a little time in nature and enjoy the bathhouses. The bathhouses have the natural thermal spring water in their pools. I booked a cabin for the 17th and 18th, but I will end up arriving ahead of schedule. It only takes 3 days to get there. So I'll tent camp for two nights and then move into the cabin for the other two nights. I'll get back on the road on the 19th

Next stop will be Destin, Florida. I should arrive on the 20th... I could get there in one day, but I don't want to be exhausted. I'll be camping out on the sandy white beaches of the Gulf of Mexico for a couple nights. love

Then, it's a slight detour about an hour and a half away. There's someone special I'm going to meet. smitten

Next stop will be Tampa, I'll be staying with my niece for a couple nights. There's a major vortex close by that I really want to visit. And of course I want to see my niece and great nieces and nephews as well.

Final destination will be Key Largo, Florida. Estimated date of arrival...
Depends on how the meet and greet goes. bigsmile


no photo
Tue 09/21/21 07:25 PM
You are lucky that you have a lot of money to travel.

Riverspirit1111's photo
Tue 09/21/21 08:11 PM

You are lucky that you have a lot of money to travel.


Lol, luck has nothing to do with it cat, I work hard for my money. And you don't necessarily need a lot of money to travel. When you budget, spend wisely, and do the research on how to travel on a budget, there's plenty of things you can do.

One of the nice things about seasonal work and travel is that you live in employee housing, which usually doesn't cost much. So it's a lot easier to put money aside to fund your trip to the next destination.

no photo
Tue 09/21/21 09:06 PM
Yes, but you have to actually talk to people.

Riverspirit1111's photo
Wed 09/22/21 03:28 AM

Yes, but you have to actually talk to people.


Trust me cat, if I could do this by talking to animals instead of people, I would. laugh

How have you been by the way? smile2

delightfulillusion's photo
Wed 09/22/21 03:29 AM
Another adventure coming up. Doesn’t time fly?

Have you got a job lined up in Key Largo yet?

Riverspirit1111's photo
Wed 09/22/21 03:50 AM
waving Delightful... Yes, time sure did fly by.

No, I decided to wait until I get there. Or at least until the last week in October. I revised my resume on a job searching site and just doing that I'm already getting emails from prospective employers.

The two that contacted me want me to get in touch with them shortly before I arrive. My former boss from Hawks Cay is now at another resort and he wants me to let him know when I'll be back. And my niece manages a food truck and she always needs help. Another option would be to go back to working in the schools, they are screaming for paraprofessionals... those are teacher assistants positions in special education.

When I did a quick search there were 100's of jobs to choose from within a 40 mile radius of where I'll be. The winter season there is November through February, so I'll be getting there at the perfect time for even more positions opening up. smile2


delightfulillusion's photo
Wed 09/22/21 04:02 AM
Oh my…..lots of options and you still have time to decide. Plus, you’re getting a break between jobs too. Life is looking good for you.

My daughter changed career 18 months ago and she now works in a school teaching special needs children. She absolutely loves it…not sure I have the patience for that. Mind you, she does have a nurturing, caring nature unlike her mother laugh Perhaps it’s time for you to go in another direction too. You did say previously that you did work in education before so maybe it’s a chance to get back into it.

Enjoy your travelling meantime and try not to count down the days bigsmile flowers

Riverspirit1111's photo
Wed 09/22/21 04:11 AM
Edited by Riverspirit1111 on Wed 09/22/21 04:15 AM
flowers Thanks Delightful, I will. biggrin

Yep, plenty of options. I actually talked to one of the general managers the other day. When he asked what I was looking for I told him... "Something that doesn't involve having customers in my face all day" laugh

So clearly I'm not in the mind set right now to actively look for something. It's best to wait until I've had a chance to get a little break. Then decide what I really want to do.

There is a position that I would love to take. It's working at a sea life theme park, The Theater of the Sea. It doesn't pay what I'm asking for, but it's a great opportunity. They cross train the service desk people. So I would have a chance to work with the sea lions, dolphins, etc... and be trained in taking photos. That right there would be worth the lesser pay, I'd get experience with photography and that could lead to something more.

Perhaps it will still be available when I get there. happy


delightfulillusion's photo
Wed 09/22/21 04:17 AM
Yes, you still have time to decide what you want to do.

I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the position at the sea life theme park will still be available 🤞

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