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Geogypsy
Menu
  • Home
  • About Geogypsy
    • Herstory
    • Parks where I’ve worked
  • Places I’ve been
    • United States
      • Arizona
        • Antelope Slot Canyon
        • Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
        • Colossal Cave Mountain Park
        • Flagstaff
        • Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
        • Grand Canyon National Park
          • Grand Canyon National Park North Rim
          • Grand Canyon National Park South Rim
          • Toroweap
        • Havasu Canyon
        • Horseshoe Bend
        • Jerome
        • Kaibab National Forest
        • Lee’s Ferry
        • Meteor Crater
        • Navajo Bridge
        • Oak Creek Canyon
        • Painted Desert
        • Pipe Springs National Monument
        • Prescott
        • Quartzsite
        • Saguaro National Park
        • Sedona
        • Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
        • Vermilion Cliffs
        • Walnut Canyon National Monument
        • Wupatki National Monument
        • Yarnell
      • California
        • Anzaberrego
        • Bakersfield
        • Death Valley National Park
        • Joshua Tree National Park
        • Redwoods NP
        • Salton Sea
        • Yucca Valley
      • Colorado
        • Mesa Verde National Park
      • Florida
      • Illinois
        • IL River
        • Morton Arboretum
        • Starved Rock State Park
      • Michigan
      • Nevada
      • New Mexico
      • Oregon
        • Crater Lake NP
        • Mt Hood
        • Oregon Caves National Monument
      • Texas
        • Alpine Texas
        • Padre Island
        • Port Isabel
        • Rio Grande Valley
      • Utah
        • Brian’s Head
        • Bryce Canyon National Park
        • Buckskin Gulch
        • Cedar Breaks National Monument
        • Cedar City
        • Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
        • Dixie National Forest
        • Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
        • Johnson Canyon
        • Kanab
    • World Travels
      • Germany
      • Mexico
      • South Africa
  • Tours
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Category: blogging

07 October 2013

5 years of blogging

Elephant Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa
Elephant Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa 2010

After 5 years of blogging, and just shy of 1300 posts, I still haven’t caught up with everything I want to write about.  When I travel for a few months it takes me at least three times that long to post about the journey.  And then there’s trying to keep up with what’s going on in the Now.

I’ve practically written the story of my life, or at least the last almost 20 years.  Shared more about myself than thought I ever would.  Some from my various travels, trials and tribulations, all from my heart and soul.

Last light on temples North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
Last light on temples North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 2013

Dreamed since 1972 when I graduated from High School to travel, write, take photographs and get paid for it.  I guess 3 out of 4 isn’t too bad.  But I really want to at least help subsidize my life dream.  Fortunately I’ve sold a few photos which sparks me to continue increasing my photography skills and promote the good images more.  I’ll keep working on that.

Trying new ideas, like the eBook that isn’t finished.  Sending postcards from South Africa sparked a lot of you to send me postcards.  Sorry I didn’t get postcards sent from Grand Canyon, seems like life just got in the way and now we’re closed.  Foto Friday Fun has been a great way to share some photos and stories from my archives.

Zebras Addo Elephant National Park South Africa
Zebras Addo Elephant National Park South Africa 2013

I’ve gone from not having a clue starting with BlogSpot to learning more about what to do creating with WordPress and still have a long ways to go.  But I usually have fun sharing this adventure called life where it takes me.

Fog in canyon North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
Fog in canyon North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 2013

I started blogging October 7th, 2008 towards the end of my first summer season as a Park Ranger at the North Rim Grand Canyon.  At least a part of winter has found me around Yarnell, Arizona since 2005.  For a month in 2010 and almost two months early this year I visited South Africa.  I plan to return next year from mid-January to early April.  Hope you’ll follow along.

SEO still trying to figure out.  Keywords that are there but not sure they do any good.  Place names in titles seemed to help me get found.  Joining in memes early on proved a great way to find other bloggers.  Plus I have an awesome group of faithful followers that keep this blog alive.  I try to read blogs first, and follow quite a few, then run out of time to write.  Not the best disciplined.  Thought I might make some money on the blog but can’t bring myself to sidebars full of advertising.

bloggers I've met
Jo, Cheryl Ann, Kelly & Al, Sue, Suzie, Martha & Jules, Gus & Kathie, Chuck & Geri, Garry & Susie, Michael & Chris, Annie & Roxie, and Joan

What I wrote last year about the best part of blogging hasn’t changed, getting to know you and meeting some of you in ‘Real’ time, continues to expanded my mind with friendships from around the world.  I want to meet you all.

The biggest Thank You goes out to Karen at FabGrandma, my mentor and friend, who got me started blogging.  So with five years down I’m working towards more years ahead.

What would you readers like to see more of?

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blogaversary, blogging 35 Comments
31 December 2012

Most visited posts of 2012

The Geogypsytraveler site has only been active nine months and received a total of 61,215 page views so far.  Yippee!!!  Can’t say how many of these visitors stayed and read anything.  Don’t usually get comments on old posts.  Yet nice to know that they still provide helpful information or entertainment.

So here’s the 12 most visited posts of 2012.

Not too surprising are the amount of visits about something Grand Canyon.  Working there six months of the year as a Park Ranger I do get around a little and love to share this most amazing wonder of the natural world.

01er 418 Closed gate at entrance station SR67 S Kaibab NF AZ (1024x678)

#12  Opening the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park  is like opening a small town and many people don’t realize the North Rim is closed during the winter.  In fact I’ve heard many stories of someone driving to Jacob Lake in a snow storm only to find the gate locked.  Normally the North Rim opens May 15th and closes toward the end of November, all weather contingent.  Please plan before you go.

02er 01m Long-horned beetle on Catherines hat Native American Heritage Days NR GRCA NP AZ (A-top a Flat-top) (800x600)

#11  So you want to be a Park Ranger  and I don’t blame you as it’s one of the best jobs in the world.  While working at any national park and wearing the “gray and green” plus of course the hat many people want to know how to become a Park Ranger, either for themselves or someone they know.  I am honest when I tell them it is very competitive but never give up trying if that’s your dream.

03er 20 Cactus Yarnell AZ (600x800)

#10  Cactus Anomaly  as if cacti aren’t unusual looking enough.  This twisted crown reminds me of a Celtic knot although I’m not sure the Celts would have seen cactus.

04er View south from Point Imperial GRCA AZ (1024x281)

#9  Back to the Grand Canyon  when I leave my winter home in the spring.

05er 03 Wandering Garter Snake 12-18in BAP trail NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x768)

#8  Wandering garter snake  gets a lot of image searches and I’m not terribly surprised as garter snakes of many colors are prevalent all over the US.

06er 292 23in 3-strand necklace coral, abalone, copper (761x1024)

#7  I Make Jewelry  which I recently took off the navigation bar as I haven’t found much time to make jewelry lately.  But I still love to collect jewelry at a good deal.  After all, a woman can never have too much jewelry.

07er Parks worked collage (1024x576)

#6  Parks where I’ve worked  isn’t really a huge list compared to parks visited.  People often ask which is my favorite park.  The answer, the one I’m at.

08er 01 North Rim-Plateau Point-Indian Garden-3 mile house from Bright Angel Trail GRCA AZ pano (793x1024)

#5  Hiking the Grand Canyon  is an activity on many peoples to do list.  After hiking to the bottom of this big ditch five times, and making it back out, I consider this one of my major life accomplishments.  I encourage others with the desire, motivation and ability to experience this challenge.  However be smart and prepared please.

09er 01 Gaelyn looking up stream at Colorado R Tuweep GRCA NP AZ by Mike (1024x766)

#4  About Geogypsy  hopefully introduces me to readers as a traveler, writer, photographer and Park Ranger.

10er 02 Earvines (1024x768)

#3  Ear vines  must intrigue people but they don’t seem to buy.  But that’s OK.  See #7.

11r Kicking a bucket by SuperStock_255-5572

#2  Bucket List  doesn’t everyone have one?  Curiosity to see what others have on their list.  Maybe even inspire additions to their list as I add constantly.  There’s just so much to see and do in this world.

12er 26 Gail's first birthday March 26  1955 Spring Rd Hinsdale IL

#1  Herstory  It’s the short version of my life.  Keep following along to keep up with the story.  Everybody has a story to tell.

I am a little surprised that the top 4 visited pages are not really posts, but pages from the navigation bar.  Then again the site is under a year old so I hope people just want to get to know me.

What would you like to see more of in 2013, and beyond?

 

Capturing the present for future memories of the past.

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09 October 2012

What I’ve learned in four years of blogging

01 geogypsy - Google Search - Mozilla Firefox (1024x543)

I never thought I’d share so much of my life online, but I’ve always wanted to be published.  So here I am celebrating four years of blogging with over 1100 posts.  And now I’m all over the internet.

02 Moon over sunset Bryce Canyon NP UT

Moon over sunset Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

At first I thought I was blogging for me.  A way to keep track of the things I do and places I go.  Then people began to actually read what I wrote sometimes leaving encouraging comments.  I even get emails from people asking about the places I’ve seen and written about.  Now I realize I’m actually writing for you.  Sharing information and experiences in the hopes of helping others enjoy a special place, or at least allowing you to live vicariously through my words and photos.

03 Sunrise over Grand Canyon from Toroweap overlook AZ (1024x646)

Sunrise over Grand Canyon from Toroweap overlook Arizona

And I’d like to think my photos have improved over the years of practice.  I started with a Brownie Box at age nine.  This latest DSLR has really been a challenge and I still have much to learn.  Thinking of taking a photography class so I know just what the camera is capable of.

04 Sunset from South CG Zion NP UT pano (1024x503)

Sunset Zion National Park Utah

Networking has been the hugest opportunity to learn about blogging and how to get my content out there.  Everything I read lists good content as the most important  and I keep working to improve that.

05 Elephant Kruger NP Mpumalanga ZA (1024x768)

Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

The best part of blogging has been getting to know all of you, and meeting some of you in person.  Something I hope to continue to do.  I might not have gone to South Africa without knowing the cyber friends who live there.  I want to travel and meet more of you along my journeys.

06 Rainbow Bridge reflected leaving Forbidding Canyon Lake Powell UT (768x1024)

Rainbow Bridge National Monument Lake Powell Utah

The next step is being paid or at least subsidized to travel and write making my dream continue to come true.

07 Raibow & rain in canyon from SR GRCA NP AZ (1024x762)

Grand Canyon from South Rim Arizona

Thank you all for following along.  Plus a special thanks to FabGrandma who encouraged me to start blogging and has been my mentor ever since.

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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

Let’s share our stories.  Here’s more of mine…

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