Touring - Broke as a Joke.

Has anyone ever toured without much money and just found work as they go? Do you know of any web pages of people who have done this. I've never had a problem finding work when hitchhiking, but stashing a backpack is different than a bicycle and trailer!

How old are you?

I discovered that it would have been a piece of cake for me to pick up fruit picking and related work when I was in Australia ... except for one thing - I'm over 30, and couldn't get a Temporary Working Visa. If you're under 30 getting those odd jobs here and there is easy and legal, if you're over 30 it's much harder.

I could have worked illegally, but if caught it's a mere $10,000.00 fine and removal from the country.

I took a break from school, and worked for 9 months in '83. I accumulated enough money to pay for school the following year, and tour Europe, comfortably for 3 months. In the Pelopanesian Peninsula of Greece( Olypimpia, and Sparta), the locals thought that only someone who had no money and desperately wnated to see their country would cycle through the mountains in winter. People gave me homemade rotgut and freshly baked bread. I had to argue when the price of a meal was 25 cents. People were universally very, very, nice!

I did meet other bicyclists who picked olives for a few dollars a day. They seemed to enjoy the adventure, but I'm glad that I amassed money far more easily back home.

I realize this shows my age, but I spent six months touring Europe in 1984 and spent a total of $2000. By camping, gratefully accepting hospitality, staying in youth hostels and eating simply from grocery stores (and occasional restaurants), I had the adventure of my life. As I rolled along, I was offered a number of farm jobs. I didn't actually look for work, but it found me. Don't know if this helps. I simply decided to go, live simply, and not worry.

I met a guy a couple of years ago who was basically on the tramp on a bike. He paid his way by washing windows for businesses in the towns he went through. He begged his way into the movies, and wasn't afraid to ask for a handout at a restaurant.

I couldn't do it myselr, but I guess it can be done.

I've never panhandled and I don't think I ever will. If somebody walks up and hands me money, I'll take it, but other wise I'd like to work for it. I was curious of the logistics of day labor and such with a bike in tow in the US and Canada. I tour pretty cheaply, anyway, and don't stay in hotels or eat in resteraunts, and I'm always amazed when people tell me how many thousands they spent on tour.

I tour pretty cheaply, anyway, and don't stay in hotels or eat in resteraunts (sic), and I'm always amazed when people tell me how many thousands they spent on tour.

Yes, yes, yes!
Although I don't ever need to work while on tour, I agree that the supported tours and even credit card touring can be far too expensive. I don't know the inside of a restaurant, I always buy the take-away food usually from the large supermarket chains and eat in a park or a churchyard.
I stealth camp and stay at a hostel or B&B when I have to. A two week trip in Europe typically costs me $1000 and $500 of that is for air.

As for finding temporary jobs in Canada: It is possible to pick fruits and veggies in the summer in both British Columbia and Southern Ontario. I'm not sure about the rest of Canada. For a regular job you need to have status.

One summer (like 1980) I earned money on a 4-5 week tour in the upper Midwest and Western US. I started the trip with maybe $12. Here's how I did it... bought stencils and two cans of paint (black/white) and cut a rectangular shape out of a piece of plastic. The way I earned money was by canvassing select neighborhoods and getting the housewives (usually) to let me paint their address on the curb in front of their house. I developed a rap on how it was helpful for emergency vehicles to find your house and the pizza guy. But mostly, I think they did cause I was a nice young man and they were intrigued by the fact that I was riding my bike with all this stuff strapped to it. The residual benefits were many… free food and places to crash, etc. I think I only charged $2 per address, but a lot of people gave me $5 or more. It is a hassle and takes time away from riding, but I did earn plenty of money and ended my trip with more than I started (which isn't saying much!) and you meet people that give you info on local environment.

Noah