Our most recent workamping adventure was working as gate guards, guarding oil rigs in Texas for 21 days. Why would we want to do that? Well, it pays from $175 to $200 a day, and… More
Workamping Adventures: Outer Banks of North Carolina: Summer of 2022 at Camp Hatteras, NC
Have you been wondering why I’ve been quiet on this blog? I’d like to catch you up with where I’ve been. Last winter 2021-2022, I took a break from blogging to finish my newest novel (Montana SEAL Protector came out Feb. 2022), and then we traveled to visit family before taking jobs in May as workampers at Camp Hatteras for the summer!
Here is an aerial view of Camp Hatteras. There are 400 campsites here, with sites on both the ocean side and the sound side. We are camped on the ocean side. It’s just a short walk to the beach from our motorhome.
For some travel writers, their blog or YouTube channel is their entire job. But for me, I’ve been a published novelist and freelance author for thirteen years. My first book signing at Burkes in Memphis back in 2009 seems like ages ago and I’ve had many adventures since then. Now I’m having them in a motorhome!
In Nov. 2020, we moved into the motorhome full-time and I started this blog as a way to share my travels with friends and family. I’ve been thrilled that so many of my readers have wanted to follow along with me.
We wintered in Clewiston, Florida in the 2021-2022 season, which is sugar cane country, in the middle of FL near Lake Okeechobee. There’s not much there other than the cane fields, but that was good for writing. I wrote my seventh Brotherhood Protector book there and we took day trips to explore FL sites. I had planned to return to Wild Deadwood Reads in Deadwood, SD again this summer to sign books and spend time with readers and author friends. Then diesel prices went way up. We have a 43 ft Tiffin Allegro Bus/motorhome which is diesel, and we pull a Colorado truck which is also diesel. So we started looking for summer jobs as workampers. What, you might ask, is workamping?
Workamping is an arrangement for a period of time where you work in exchange for your RV site fees. Some jobs, such as the ones we accepted, also offer full hook-up utilities and an hourly rate. We have other perks such as cable, ice-cream at the ice-cream social, hot dog lunch on hot dog day, and a tie-dyed t-shirt on tie-dye day.
This summer, we’re working at Camp Hatteras, in Rodanthe, N.C. which is in the Outer Banks on Hatteras Island North Carolina. I’ve always wanted to live on the beach, and this places us five hours from our kids and grandkids, so it’s a great summer job for us. My children and grandchildren came to visit and to celebrate my 60th birthday, which was the best present I could ever have asked for.
It is beautiful here and I’m learning what it’s like to live on an island on the outer banks. Life on a sandbar is unique and I think you have to experience it to truly get it. Yes, I will set a novel here.
For now, I’m collecting information, photos and experiences for future writings. I’ve also started writing a book about our first year of full-time RV living and traveling, to share with you how we “sold it all” to begin this new lifestyle and the 109-day trip we took from Ohio to CA to see the redwoods and back to Memphis, TN. I’m only about eleven pages in but its a start. I sometimes write poems and I’m collecting the beach-themed ones into a poetry book with that theme. And of course, I’m also at work on book eight in the Brotherhood Protectors series which should be out in December. It’s common for me to have multiple book projects, generally, around thirteen or fourteen of them started at any given time. If you’re a writer and you have story ideas, you must get them written down, or like dreams, they drift away.
Back to workamping. What are these jobs like? There are workamper jobs all over the country. Each setting is different of course, and that can be part of the fun. I’ve met workampers who come back every season to work at the same place and workampers who change locations each time to see another part of the country, who enjoy that variety. For those of you who have asked, how can you afford to travel in a motorhome? Workamping is one way.
I’m lucky in that I can write anywhere and run my little publishing house from wherever I am. My husband started to get bored after eighteen months of being “retired.” People kept saying he was retired and he would say, “No, but I owned my own business for twenty-three years. So I’m taking a day off.” He certainly had earned it. Our 109-day trip out west took a good chunk of that eighteen months off, visiting family took another chunk, and I was on the opposite end of what he was experiencing work-wise. I got behind on writing and publishing though I did manage to get one book out in 2021, and another out in Feb. 2022. Last winter we sat still, in a more remote RV park on purpose, so I could get that Feb book done.
Now, in my new job at Camp Hatteras, I work at the front desk, evening shift, which is from 3:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Mike works security, the evening shift which has similar hours that vary just a bit and he also does some maintenance. The setting at the camp is beautiful and it’s fun meeting all the travelers and the other workampers. We work weekends, so our days off fall mid-week. This is when we do our exploring of the islands and I do my research for future books. I work four days a week, one day we have off together for exploring, a second day off we do our grocery restocking and errands, and the third day is for writing and laundry. In between all that, I squeeze a little more writing in where I can as well as any other book-related business.
Many new things are coming, and I will post more travel blogs here, from NC as I can, so stay tuned for more beautiful days.
For more about Camp Hatteras, the only oceanfront to sound front camping in North Carolina visit: https://www.camphatteras.com/
Family-owned since 1991. Over 400 sites with concrete pads. Enjoy full hookups, the beach, sunsets on the sound side, a tennis court, indoor and outdoor pools, hot tub, shuffleboard, miniature golf, basketball, children’s playground, bike rentals, bathhouses, activities, and a fenced dog park with a washing station.
For more about Debra and her travels, check out her YouTube channel. Right now its raw videos uploaded with no editing or commentary. When she has more time she will update them.
Follow Debra’s Beautiful Day YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UC27hTWse4gLJxTETQw6i7xw/
For more about Debra and her books:
Website: debraparmley.com
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FB page facebook.com/debra.parmley.7
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To Catch An Elf FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793115644206381/
Instagram: instagram.com/debraparmley
Pinterest: pinterest.com/debraparmley/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/debraparmley
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debra-parmley
Poems on K0-Fi: ko-fi.com/debraparmley
Articles on Medium: medium.com/@debraparmley1
Writing Classes on Teachable: beautiful-day-dreamers.teachable.com/
Cover Model Corner blog: https://covermodelcorner.wordpress.com/
Debra’s old radio show Book Lights: http://bit.ly/BookLights
Debra’s books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EsbWsa
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Deadwood, South Dakota: Brothel Tour
On June 17th, 2021, the authors at Wild Deadwood Reads met in the morning for a private tour of the Brothel in Deadwood, South Dakota. I was excited about this tour as I love history and had never toured a brothel before. We were to meet at 610 Main Street at 10:00 a.m. and were told to look for the green door. My husband took this picture before we went in. You can see my excitement. What could be behind the door?
Through the green door and then to the red stairs and you know you are in the right place for the Deadwood brothel tour. I was very curious about what we would find inside and looked forward to hearing the history and the stories.
After you climb the stairs, there is this sign.
Seen on a sign as you enter the brothel – “This building, located at 610 Main Street, was built in 1902-1903. The main floor was home to an auto parts store, an electronics repair shop, an assay office, an art supply store, and several bars.
Residential apartments were located on the second floor. By the 1930s, it was a boarding house and local newspapers reported several arrests for ‘dry law’ violations and keeping a “house of nuisance.” Some resourceful residents even hid a stash of liquor behind a sliding wooden panel built into one of the walls.
By the late 1930s, legitimate boarders had all moved out, creating an opportunity for not-so-legitimate boarders to move in. It was then that the brothel known as the “Shasta Rooms” was born. Over the next 50 years its name would change to the “Beige Door,” and the sleazy little place would see more action than an episode of Game of Thrones.”
Here is the common room where the ladies would offer the men refreshments and music before heading to the bedroom. There is artwork throughout the building, paintings of nude women which I cannot show on this blog as it is for the general public, for all ages. You will have to visit the brothel museum yourself and take a tour to see those.
The peacock above the piano was just one of the exotic sights here.
The first bedroom, below, depicts what a soiled dove’s bedroom would have looked like in a brothel in the 1900s. There is a washstand in the corner, a chamber pot, a brass bed, and a quilt. A typical dress is spread across the bed.
There are many names for soiled doves that have been used throughout the years. Words are my thing, so I will list them for you here: Courtesan, Demimonde, Soiled Dove, Painted Ladies, Madam, Whores, Working Girls, Upstairs Girl, Call Girl, Prostitute, Street Walker, Hooker, and Sex Workers.
“The Bad Lands district, located on Deadwood’s lower Main Street, was where every sordid form of vice found a home – gambling halls, brothels, saloons, opium dens, and rowdy theaters. Infamous characters such as Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok, Colorado Charlie Utter, and others frequented its many establishments. The Bad Lands was the proverbial line in the sand, separating the heavens from the haloed. Scores of establishments that occupied this devil’s playground, “drew their support from many ‘so-called leading citizens’ and so prospered financially and were let alone by the city authorities.” Sometimes the line got blurred.” – Deadwood the Golden Years – Watson Parker
This bedroom shows what the lady of the evenings’ room would have looked like during the 1920s and 1930s.
With each room we moved from one era to another, getting an idea of how the rooms would have been furnished and what life was like for the women during each era. Not just a history museum of this particular brothel, the tour also tells the history of brothels in Deadwood. You will notice the pictures become more and more modern as you read this blog.
Fancy chairs for the men to wait on in the front room.
The madam’s office, where she conducted business meetings. Notice the dresser as there will be a close-up picture next.
Each of her ladies had a slot where they would place the money they earned.
Famous madams of the brothels.
There ends our brothel tour. There are many pictures and signs explaining things throughout the tour, a movie to watch, and a tour guide to share the stories and bring the tour to life. I recommend this tour if you are able to visit Deadwood, S.D.
I was, you might say, inspired. A story began percolating in 2021, and by 2022, it was time to write it. I wrote a short story with co-author Robert Arrow, for the anthology Tales of Deadwood and it will be for sale at Wild Deadwood Reads in June 2023. This story is different from my other stories because it’s time travel. Our hero traveled back in time to Deadwood during its wild west days. The anthology is a fundraiser for the Shiloh Horse Rescue. Robert and I will be expanding the story into a novella, so look for Penny From Heaven in 2023.
Remember, “Every day we are alive is a beautiful day.” – Debra Parmley, Your Beautiful Day Traveler
To be sure not to miss any of my travel and RV living posts be sure to subscribe to: beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/
And my videos can be seen at Debra’s Beautiful Day YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UC27hTWse4gLJxTETQw6i7xw/
To see the route we have taken on our Go West adventure as well as a list of the RV parks we stayed in, visit this page https://wordpress.com/post/beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/1976
My other links:
Website: debraparmley.com
Newsletter sign up: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/w9s9h0
FB page facebook.com/debra.parmley.7
FB fan group Beautiful Day Dreamers: facebook.com/groups/debraparmley/
FB fan page: facebook.com/authordebraparmley/
To Catch An Elf FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793115644206381/
Instagram: instagram.com/debraparmley
Pinterest: pinterest.com/debraparmley/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/debraparmley
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debra-parmley
Poems on K0-Fi: ko-fi.com/debraparmley
Articles on Medium: medium.com/@debraparmley1
Writing Classes on Teachable: beautiful-day-dreamers.teachable.com/
Cover Model Corner blog: https://covermodelcorner.wordpress.com/
Debra’s old radio show Book Lights: http://bit.ly/BookLights
Debra’s books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EsbWsa
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Custer State Park: A Picnic Lunch at the Buffalo Herd
June 24, 2021. We’d been out west for several days and I had yet to see any buffalo. So we headed to Custer State Park, SD where there were sure to be many. Mike was determined to drive until we found some buffalo for me to see. The first one I saw was a stuffed buffalo in the state park store. Sigh. Not exactly what I was looking for.
As we’d planned to have a picnic lunch, we picked up a few things to add to that and headed out again. We had asked in the store where we might find the buffalo and they told us to head to this ranger station and to ask the ranger on duty.
See the wooden buffalo on the map above? This is the map that shows where the buffalo are this afternoon. As the buffalo move throughout the park, the wooden buffalo magnets on the map get moved. After we thanked the park ranger, we headed out again to have our picnic and hopefully to see some buffalo.
As we came over the hill and saw the line of cars that had slowed down and buffalo in the distance I began to get excited. We hadn’t just found one or two buffalo, we’d found a whole herd!
This was our view as we stopped to eat lunch in our truck. This pic was the left-side view.
This pic was the straight-ahead view.
It was one of the most exciting picnic lunches I have ever had. So we sat there for a while, ate our lunches, and then Mike started slowly driving through the park again as I took pictures of the buffalo.
We saw mothers with their young and we saw big bulls.
Some mothers and their young even crossed the road in front of us.
I used my zoom on my phone camera for these pics. You should not get this close to a buffalo and her young.
It seems that the buffalo were full from their grassy lunches and were ready to nap in the warm summer sunshine.
Driving away from the buffalo herd we saw pronghorn deer.
Then we saw an older buffalo bull by himself. The older buffalo bulls are driven from the herd by the younger bulls.
There was another bull a little bit further on. We drove on to Wind Cave but got there too late to get into one of their tours. We’ll have to save that for a future visit. There was a small museum that we went through before heading back to the RV Park.
Thank you for visiting my travel blog. I have many more posts from our Go West trip to share, so keep visiting! Wishing you a beautiful day – Your Beautiful Day Traveler, Debra Parmley
Follow Debra’s RV Living and Travel Adventures: beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/
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Pinterest: pinterest.com/debraparmley/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/debraparmley
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debra-parmley
Poems on K0-Fi: ko-fi.com/debraparmley
Articles on Medium: medium.com/@debraparmley1
Writing Classes on Teachable: beautiful-day-dreamers.teachable.com/
Cover Model Corner blog: https://covermodelcorner.wordpress.com/
Debra’s old radio show Book Lights: http://bit.ly/BookLights
Debra’s books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EsbWsa
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Crescent City, CA: Battery Point Lighthouse
Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City, CA is a pretty place that you can only access during certain times of the day. Can you see it up on the hill just past that tree? There’s a road, but now imagine that road covered with six or more feet of water.
This is how it looked on August 2nd, 2021 when we visited.
The lighthouse is accessible during low tide via a land bridge which is covered at high tide. The tide can raise six feet or higher.
See the land bridge behind us? We’ve crossed over to see the lighthouse and have to make it back across before the tide comes back in. Wait too long and you’ll either have to swim or find someone with a boat to come get you, and that is all on you. There is no staying over on the island. The only people who sleep on the island are the keepers. One of the first things you see as you climb the hill are the warning signs about this.
On our first attempt to see Battery Point Lighthouse, I opted to wait, as the tide was coming in. I wasn’t about to put my feet in the cold Pacific Ocean water. Brrr! Mike made it across and back but he didn’t see much in the short time he was there. I wanted to take my time and am glad I waited.
On our second attempt, the tide was low and we had plenty of time to see everything and to go up into the lighthouse, where the views were beautiful.
This lighthouse is not hard to climb as it sits high on the rocky island and has fewer stairsteps to climb, though they are narrow as you can see below, so you must watch where you are stepping.
Up top, there is an inner viewing area that was not as windy. I enjoyed looking out all around.
Mike walked around the outside where it was windy to take pics for me.
I love taking pictures of flowers, especially wildflowers, and had many opportunities to take pictures on the island. I’ll add them on a different post.
Plan your visit based on the tides and learn more here: https://delnortehistory.org/battery-point-lighthouse/
Thank you for reading my travel blog, I hope you enjoyed a virtual visit to the lighthouse and I wish you a beautiful day! Remember, “every day we are alive is a beautiful day.” – Debra Parmley, your Beautiful Day Traveler
To be sure not to miss any of my travel and RV living posts be sure to subscribe to: beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/
And my videos can be seen at Debra’s Beautiful Day YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UC27hTWse4gLJxTETQw6i7xw/
To see the route we took on our Go West adventure in 2021 as well as a list of the RV parks we stayed in, visit this page https://wordpress.com/post/beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/1976
My other links:
Website: debraparmley.com
Newsletter sign up: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/w9s9h0
FB page facebook.com/debra.parmley.7
FB fan group Beautiful Day Dreamers: facebook.com/groups/debraparmley/
FB fan page: facebook.com/authordebraparmley/
To Catch An Elf FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793115644206381/
Instagram: instagram.com/debraparmley
Pinterest: pinterest.com/debraparmley/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/debraparmley
Goodreads: goodreads.com/debraparmley
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debra-parmley
Poems on K0-Fi: ko-fi.com/debraparmley
Articles on Medium: medium.com/@debraparmley1
Writing Classes on Teachable: beautiful-day-dreamers.teachable.com/
Cover Model Corner blog: https://covermodelcorner.wordpress.com/
Debra’s old radio show Book Lights: http://bit.ly/BookLights
Debra’s books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EsbWsa
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Tybee Island Lighthouse, Georgia: Why I Climb Lighthouses, Fear and Courage.
Recently I found a pillow for our motorhome. I saw it in a Buc-ee’s store and had to have it. Why? Because of what it said. It pretty much sums up how I climb lighthouses and is a great reminder.
“Inhale Courage, Exhale Fear.” I find that I like this pillow and this quote. It is useful to remember when climbing lighthouses.
I am afraid of heights, yet I climb lighthouses. This is a rather new thing for me which started in 2021 after we moved into our motorhome and started traveling. I began with one lighthouse in St. Augustine and by the end of the year, I’d climbed five of them. I’ve climbed the lighthouse in Daytona, which is the tallest one I have attempted, and Battery Point Lighthouse in Cresent City, CA which has a land bridge. In December 2021, I climbed the lighthouse on Tybee Island, GA.
The lighthouse on Tybee Island is 154 feet tall, the bottom 60 feet date from 1773, and the upper 94 feet from 1867. It is still in use as a beacon to guide ships.
Why do I climb lighthouses? Because they are there and they are intriguing. Also because I do not intend to let fear run or rule my life in any way. I will continue to do the things that scare me so those things will never win.
My husband tells people I am brave. I had never really thought about it much, but he’s right.
Meriam-Webster defines brave as having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty: having or showing courage.
This means that my husband is right. I am brave. I will continue to climb lighthouses, whether I am afraid to climb them or not. And the thing is, every time I master the climb, enjoy the sights, and then climb back down, I have added to my bravery column and proved to myself that I can do it. Perhaps that is the most important reason of all.
Getting ready to climb up the lighthouse. It’s a tall one.
The day is windy and cool. Perfect for climbing lighthouses.
And so we begin to climb.
Following my granddaughter is great motivation. I am a two-handed climber, hand over hand, and I hold the rail tight.
Had to let go with my right hand and turn for a picture.
My son and youngest granddaughter and I reached a window to stop and look out of.
Beautiful views from the top. If I can make it to the top I can usually look out the doorway to the views.
This is about as close to the outdoor ledge/walk-around that I get. But I have to see the view from here!
This lighthouse has a window and you can sit on the stairstep and lookout.
My oldest granddaughter is being so brave! I’m proud of her.
My youngest granddaughter is being so brave!
Found a spot where I can sit on the stair step and look out the window.
I can look out the window here as everyone else walks around outside.
Saying hi!
Of course, we had to have a picture with all who climbed. Such a fun memory I have with them! I’m glad we climbed the lighthouse together.
2021 has come to a close and this was one of the most wonderful ways to close it.
What are you afraid of doing this year in 2022 and what is stopping you? If it is something you really want to do, I’d advise you to go for it.
Thank you for reading my travel blog, and I wish you a beautiful day! Remember, “every day we are alive is a beautiful day.” – Debra Parmley, your Beautiful Day Traveler
To be sure not to miss any of my travel and RV living posts be sure to subscribe to: beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/
And my videos can be seen at Debra’s Beautiful Day YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UC27hTWse4gLJxTETQw6i7xw/
To see the route we took on our Go West adventure in 2021 as well as a list of the RV parks we stayed in, visit this page https://wordpress.com/post/beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/1976
My other links:
Website: debraparmley.com
Newsletter sign up: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/w9s9h0
FB page facebook.com/debra.parmley.7
FB fan group Beautiful Day Dreamers: facebook.com/groups/debraparmley/
FB fan page: facebook.com/authordebraparmley/
To Catch An Elf FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793115644206381/
Instagram: instagram.com/debraparmley
Pinterest: pinterest.com/debraparmley/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/debraparmley
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debra-parmley
Poems on K0-Fi: ko-fi.com/debraparmley
Articles on Medium: medium.com/@debraparmley1
Writing Classes on Teachable: beautiful-day-dreamers.teachable.com/
Cover Model Corner blog: https://covermodelcorner.wordpress.com/
Debra’s old radio show Book Lights: http://bit.ly/BookLights
Debra’s books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EsbWsa
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Nevada: Casa Grande National Monument: Prehistoric Ruins
On September 7th, 2021, we drove to Casa Grande National Historical Monument in Nevada to see the prehistoric ruins. As you might imagine summer is hot and dry in the west and early September was the same. You will want to bring water and a sun hat.
Cactus we saw on the way to and from Casa Grande National Monument.
Thank you for reading my travel blog, and I wish you a beautiful day! Remember, “every day we are alive is a beautiful day.” – Debra Parmley, your Beautiful Day Traveler
To be sure not to miss any of my travel and RV living posts be sure to subscribe to: beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/
And my videos can be seen at Debra’s Beautiful Day YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UC27hTWse4gLJxTETQw6i7xw/
To see the route we have taken on our Go West adventure as well as a list of the RV parks we stayed in, visit this page https://wordpress.com/post/beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/1976
My other links:
Website: debraparmley.com
Newsletter sign up: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/w9s9h0
FB page facebook.com/debra.parmley.7
FB fan group Beautiful Day Dreamers: facebook.com/groups/debraparmley/
FB fan page: facebook.com/authordebraparmley/
To Catch An Elf FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793115644206381/
Instagram: instagram.com/debraparmley
Pinterest: pinterest.com/debraparmley/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/debraparmley
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debra-parmley
Poems on K0-Fi: ko-fi.com/debraparmley
Articles on Medium: medium.com/@debraparmley1
Writing Classes on Teachable: beautiful-day-dreamers.teachable.com/
Cover Model Corner blog: https://covermodelcorner.wordpress.com/
Debra’s old radio show Book Lights: http://bit.ly/BookLights
Debra’s books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EsbWsa
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Utah: Pink Sand Dunes State Park
On August 25, 2021, after seeing Bryce Canyon, we drove to see Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah.
The coral pink sand was not easy to walk on. Our feet sank down into the sand each time we took a step. Notice how my husband’s feet are sunk into the sand down to his ankles. Look to the left of the photo and you can see where we all parked. We then had to climb up the first sand dunes to get to the top, with our feet sinking the whole way up. This is an incredible workout for the muscles of your legs and feet. There are no stairs or handrails. It’s just you and the sand.
The sand comes from Navajo sandstone and these dunes are estimated at 10,000 to 15,000 years old. The vegetation holds some of the sand in place but these are shifting sands for the most part and this sea of red sand, changed by the wind, can move as much as fifty feet per year. There are areas for off-highway vehicles such as ATVs and all of the dunes are open for hiking and playing in the sand.
The sand is somewhat powdery and it is soft. After the climb up it actually felt pretty good to stand in and the views as we stood were stunning.
The white dots in this photo above by that curve in the dunes are people.
Then as the sun would be down soon, it was time to head back to our RV for the evening. Nighttime out west where there are no lights can be incredibly dark and we were tired from hiking all day, but we were glad we took the time to come here to see the incredibly beautiful dunes.
The climb is well worth it if you are physically up to it.
Thank you for following my beautiful day traveler blog. I have many more travel posts from our trip west to show you, so stay tuned for more! If you subscribe you won’t miss one.
Wishing you a beautiful day!
Debra Parmley, your Beautiful Day Traveler
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Sioux Falls, South Dakota: The Waterfalls of Sioux Falls Park
On June 8th, 2021 we visited Sioux Falls Park, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It was the day after my birthday and I was excited to go searching for waterfalls because I love waterfalls.
Sioux Falls takes its name from the falls located in the Big Sioux River. When railroad service arrived in 1878, the city expanded with mills, quarries, and other industries which used the falls, the river, and the rocks. The Queen Bee Mill produced wheat flour and the Sioux Falls Light & Power Company hydro-electric plant generated electricity. The mill ruins and the powerhouse building are on the national historic register.
The sound of the falls in Sioux Falls Park can be heard for miles around and we could hear the falls before we even got out of the truck. It was a hot day, around 100 degrees, so we took along hats and water bottles.
At the top of the falls, you can walk out onto the rocks.
This bird on the walkway across the falls was guarding its spot and would make a lot of noise at anyone walking across. It was determined that this was its territory. I didn’t see any nest nearby so I don’t know if it was guarding young. There seemed to be nothing around but rocks.
Sioux Quartzite, also called Jasper, is the stone throughout the park. Quartzite is very hard. Harder than granite and nearly as hard as diamond. Sioux Quartzite, the bedrock under all of Sioux Falls, can be seen throughout Sioux Fall Park. It was used throughout the city to build amazing, long-lasting buildings. Cut stones and paving stones were also cut and sold to cities throughout the U.S. and Europe. I love rocks of all kinds so I had to get closer and touch the stone.
We went back to the park in the evening to watch the sunset from the tower.
Watching the sunset from the tower.
We had fun walking around visiting Sioux Falls Park, seeing beautiful waterfalls during the day and then returning in the evening to see the sunset. Later, we drove around downtown to see the statues throughout the downtown area which you can see here: https://beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/2021/11/06/dancing-a-dragon-and-a-jester-the-statues-of-sioux-falls-south-dakota/
I hope you’ve enjoyed the waterfalls.
Until my next travel post, remember, “Every day we are alive is a beautiful day.” – Debra Parmley, Your Beautiful Day Traveler
To be sure not to miss any of my travel and RV living posts be sure to subscribe to: beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/
And my videos can be seen on: Debra’s Beautiful Day YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UC27hTWse4gLJxTETQw6i7xw/
To see the route we took on our Go West adventure as well as a list of the RV parks we stayed in, visit this page https://wordpress.com/post/beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/1976
My other links:
Website: debraparmley.com
Newsletter sign up: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/w9s9h0
FB page facebook.com/debra.parmley.7
FB fan group Beautiful Day Dreamers: facebook.com/groups/debraparmley/
FB fan page: facebook.com/authordebraparmley/
To Catch An Elf FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793115644206381/
Instagram: instagram.com/debraparmley
Pinterest: pinterest.com/debraparmley/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/debraparmley
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debra-parmley
Poems on K0-Fi: ko-fi.com/debraparmley
Articles on Medium: medium.com/@debraparmley1
Writing Classes on Teachable: beautiful-day-dreamers.teachable.com/
Cover Model Corner blog: https://covermodelcorner.wordpress.com/
Debra’s old radio show Book Lights: http://bit.ly/BookLights
Debra’s books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EsbWsa
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Sioux Falls, South Dakota: The Statues of Sioux Falls
On June 8th, 2021, we went to downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota to see all the statues there. My three favorites were this Dancer, the Dragon, and the Jester. Come along with me on this pictorial tour of many of the statues in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The Last Whistle is fitting for my husband Mike, who retired from his company, Whistle Clean Incorporated in Memphis, TN after 23 years. November 2020 they stopped work and we moved into our motorhome full time.
The next statue is in the next three photos to capture it all.
Son of Odin
I’ll end with Mr. Bojangles.
We had fun walking around downtown Sioux Falls, looking at the statues in the evening and it’s fun to share some of them here with you.
Until next time, remember, “Every day we are alive is a beautiful day.” – Debra Parmley, Your Beautiful Day Traveler
To be sure not to miss any of my travel and RV living posts be sure to subscribe to: beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/
And my videos can be seen at: Debra’s Beautiful Day YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UC27hTWse4gLJxTETQw6i7xw/
To see the route we have taken on our Go West adventure as well as a list of the RV parks we stayed in, visit this page https://wordpress.com/post/beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/1976
My other links:
Website: debraparmley.com
Newsletter sign up: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/w9s9h0
FB page facebook.com/debra.parmley.7
FB fan group Beautiful Day Dreamers: facebook.com/groups/debraparmley/
FB fan page: facebook.com/authordebraparmley/
To Catch An Elf FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793115644206381/
Instagram: instagram.com/debraparmley
Pinterest: pinterest.com/debraparmley/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/debraparmley
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debra-parmley
Poems on K0-Fi: ko-fi.com/debraparmley
Articles on Medium: medium.com/@debraparmley1
Writing Classes on Teachable: beautiful-day-dreamers.teachable.com/
Cover Model Corner blog: https://covermodelcorner.wordpress.com/
Debra’s old radio show Book Lights: http://bit.ly/BookLights
Debra’s books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EsbWsa
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Konkolville, Idaho: a Logging Town
We expected to get some rest at Clearwater Crossing RV Park in Orofino, Idaho July 15, 2021. And we did. The river was peaceful and the RV park was quiet and clean. Orofino is a logging town. Trucks went back and forth all day, carrying logs or empty for the next load. Other than that there wasn’t a lot of traffic.
Right next to Orofino, Idaho is a tiny town called Konkolville. I decided it needed its own travel blog post.
Konkolville, just up the road, was founded by Andrew and Bernice Konkol who arrived in 1947. This tree is in memory of Andrew Konkol 1910 – 1975, and Bernice Konkol 1915 – 2000. The old tree trunk is banded with iron to hold it together and it has a little roof on top.
He started a lumber mill here and it is still owned by family members. Today the Konkolville Lumber Company produces 21 million board feet per year. The town also has a motel. I didn’t see many other businesses.
The second day we were there, I got so used to seeing trucks with logs driving through town that by the time we left it seemed normal, not something new I didn’t see every day.
I believe this is the cedar overpass that was built in 1971. Huge cedar logs nine feet in diameter at the base and 1,000 years old were cut to form its support. The steps of the overpass were cut from a single tree and were supported by steel beams from an old bridge.
The gray skies that we saw were from the smoke which comes from areas that are on fire. In some of these pictures, you can see the smoke. Some days the blue sky would try to poke through.
Just up the road is the spot where the helicopters take off and land. They dip their buckets into the river and then take the water to where the fires are. It was fascinating to watch. We could hear them flying even when we couldn’t see them. In the time we were there, we didn’t see any fires, but I hadn’t seen a blue sky since we entered Idaho. The skies are the gray-white of smoke and it was very dry. It was dry in all the western states we visited. You can read more about Orofino Idaho in my other blog post
To reserve a spot at Clearwater Crossing RV Park visit https://www.clearwatercrossingrvpark.com/
Thank you for reading my travel blog, and I wish you a beautiful day! Remember, “every day we are alive is a beautiful day.” – Debra Parmley, your beautiful day traveler
To be sure not to miss any of my travel and RV living posts be sure to subscribe to: beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/
And my videos can be seen at: Debra’s Beautiful Day YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UC27hTWse4gLJxTETQw6i7xw/
To see the route we have taken on our Go West adventure as well as a list of the RV parks we stayed in, visit this page https://wordpress.com/post/beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/1976
My other links:
Website: debraparmley.com
Newsletter sign up: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/w9s9h0
FB page facebook.com/debra.parmley.7
FB fan group Beautiful Day Dreamers: facebook.com/groups/debraparmley/
FB fan page: facebook.com/authordebraparmley/
To Catch An Elf FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793115644206381/
Instagram: instagram.com/debraparmley
Pinterest: pinterest.com/debraparmley/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/debraparmley
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debra-parmley
Poems on K0-Fi: ko-fi.com/debraparmley
Articles on Medium: medium.com/@debraparmley1
Writing Classes on Teachable: beautiful-day-dreamers.teachable.com/
Cover Model Corner blog: https://covermodelcorner.wordpress.com/
Debra’s old radio show Book Lights: http://bit.ly/BookLights
Debra’s books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EsbWsa
Beautiful Day Traveler 