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“Gruesome” is a poor choice of words, actually, at least for anyone actually interested in workamping on a ranch.
NOTE: My intention with this post is neither to be gratuitous nor grotesque. In fact, Rene spared us all by not taking any truly gruesome pictures.
I’m only sharing this to inform potential workampers that not all workamping jobs are alike, and that when ranch workamping you may be asked to do certain things you’d rather not.
The first time Rene wrote about life and death on the farm, we had nothing to do with the disposal of the dead livestock. This time was different.
With one week left of our final year workamping at Vicker’s Ranch, our second annual Eat, Shop Local Lake City Challenge was another huge success. We haven’t left this little town or purchased a single gallon of diesel fuel since we got here in June, and we’re eating really well.
With distances like this between us and the nearest “real” grocery stores, you may be asking: How do you do it?
Shopping local isn’t expensive, but driving to a “real” grocery store sure is!
I know I’m not the first to ever write a tribute to Perk Vickers, and certainly I won’t be the last. But I can honestly say, I am honored to have met such an honorable man.
It’s been 56 days since we’ve had a cocktail. Our closet is crammed with all of our favorite booze, because we stocked up at Costco in Las Vegas before we came out here to the sticks. But we haven’t touched a drop.
What does this have to do with full-time RVing? A lot. I’ll get to that.? Meanwhile, we’ve been on the wagon, living like Mormons.
Last year, I arrived at the ranch in time to help install and finish a similar mantle my boss made. This year, I had the honor of doing the dirty work. So I thought I would share how to make a custom log fireplace mantle like this one I made at my favorite workamping job.
Read on for tips, lots of photos, and plenty of fun with power tools!
One of the best things I like about workamping on the ranch, besides working with my crazy wife and a bunch of other fun folks, is the opportunity I get to be creative—with access to the tools I need to do just about anything.
Sure, ranch work is hard, but between repairing screen doors, troubleshooting toilets and washing Jeeps, I get to create fun projects like these handmade log slab benches…
Thousands of remote, offbeat destinations line the back roads of America, all leaving imprints on your heart as you roll away to somewhere new. As full-time RVers we get the chance to revisit those magical places whenever we want, but life can get in the way and oftentimes the opportunity never seems to materialize.
The Road to Pie Town New Mexico
But when the cosmic road map finally aligns your present journey with an old favorite destination from the past, well that’s a sign you just can’t ignore.
Going Back to New Mexico’s Church of Pie
Recently while headed to Las Vegas, Nevada, we jumped at the chance to drive Highway 60 to get there. That two-lane route is a little out of the way to Sin City, but taking the slow lane would allow us to make a pilgrimage to The Pie-O-Neer cafe in Pie Town New Mexico.
Strawberry rhubarb pie masterpiece
This magical spot perched atop on the Continental Divide won us over way back in 2008 as we traveled with Jerry, and just like our sweet boy, it’s been in our hearts ever since.
Jerry in Cochiti, New Mexico
In Search of Mystic Pie
We waved goodbye to Waylon Jennings’ spirit and booked it out of Littlefield, Texas early one morning, high on caffeine and anticipation of our destination: the sweetest spot in New Mexico, about 3 hours southwest from Albuquerque.
Slice of Heaven in Pie Town, New Mexico
We needed to get there before the Pie-O-Neer Cafe closed at 4pm but were so excited we managed to arrive by 1pm. What a joy to see that the cafe was exactly as we remembered it! The moment we stepped onto the cozy front porch and opened the door, the heavenly scent of homemade pies wrapped its arms around us like an old friend.
