Touring - Did You Work Along the Way?

Hello,

During a multi-month tour, did anyone perform some work along the way to earn a few extra bucks? If so, what did you do? Can you suggest types of places/business/etc. that could need a short-term hired-hand for about 1-3 days?

Thanks,
David

On my second cross country tour (1981) I ran out of money and washed dishes in resturants along the way. It pays mininum wage but the jobs are(were) easy to find, you get food and they pay in cash. Large Farmers Markets ( co-ops) often need extra bodies to load/unload produce from trucks the work is hard and the pace can be fast but again you get paid in cash.

Legal? :D

I'm wondering if you could take up day laborer/construction type jobs. Many places now have places where people looking to get hired for the day go to get hired.

Or if going through Amish country, you could go to a barn-building!

Jay

One summer (like 1980) I was able to earn some 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 (and the pizza guy) to find your house. 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 and offer up other amenities.

Like Velonomad says unloading trucks is a good way to make a fast buck. At many warehouses you'll see "lumpers" outside the gate soliciting truckers to either unload the truck for them or help them unload. You could make anywhere from $30 (if the trucker helps you) to $75 or more depending on the freight for just one truck. It'd take about 2 - 3 hours if it's a floor load. You'd probably get paid cash.

One thing's for certain, you'll sleep well after doing that!

I would have if I could have done so legally in Australia. I'd still be there today if I could have worked. :(

The types of jobs I would have got would have been fruit picking, or doing housekeeping in the hostels I stayed in.

I would have if I could have done so legally in Australia. I'd still be there today if I could have worked. :(

The types of jobs I would have got would have been fruit picking, or doing housekeeping in the hostels I stayed in.
I had no trouble finding work in Australia. I spent many an hour cooking and washing dishes. All black wages.

I had no trouble finding work in Australia. I spent many an hour cooking and washing dishes. All black wages.

If I were under 30, it would have been no problem, but because I'm over 30, I can't get a temporary working visa. I could have probably worked illegally, but I also checked into the penalties for that, and if you're caught you're saddled with a stiff fine (I think it was $10,000), and deportation.

If I were under 30, it would have been no problem, but because I'm over 30, I can't get a temporary working visa. I could have probably worked illegally, but I also checked into the penalties for that, and if you're caught you're saddled with a stiff fine (I think it was $10,000), and deportation.
It's REALLY hard to get cought working under the table. I've even done it in *GASP* Canada.
EDIT: Montreal no less! There is work there!

It's REALLY hard to get cought working under the table. I've even done it in *GASP* Canada.
EDIT: Montreal no less! There is work there!

Well, I wouldn't have any trouble working anywhere in Canada ... I'm a citizen.

As for Australia, I have hopes of going back there again, possibly immigrating, and I didn't want to do anything to thwart those plans.

I have no idea what the rules would be for me to work in the US, but I think it would be OK for me to pick up odd jobs in the UK. Just depends what the laws for the individual countries are.

BTW - back to the original question ... I mentioned that I could have done fruit picking in Australia ... I could quite easily get on a fruit picking crew in BC, and possibly in the east if I were travelling across the country, so that might be an option if you time it right.

strictly secondhand info, but I met a guy once who claimed to have returned from a multi-month tour with more money than when he left by knitting hats and scarves and selling them along the way. I was skeptical at hearing this but his hats were pretty great looking, so I guess he had lots of practice at some point . . .

He must have had enough down time to knit those suckas as well.
I totally believe that story. Bring some nice, hand knit and good looking hats/ scarves into an affluent city, and you can sell those for primo $$$.