I am a big fan of the Ken Burns series “THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA’S BEST IDEA”. It ran on PBS a few years ago, and it was one of the points of inspiration for me to take off on this camper van adventure.
The series spends a lot of time on John Muir, considered by many to be the Father of the National Parks. He wrote:
Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. ~ John Muir
In the past two weeks, I was able to spend a few days each in the Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Each park was spectacular, I was delighted to spend time in each, and I will definitely return.
Some fun facts… Yellowstone was established in 1872 and is the world’s first national park. Estimates of its size are 3,472 square miles, and more than 2 million acres. Add to that the 420 square miles and 310,000 acres that make up the Grand Tetons, and you have about 4,000 square miles of protected, natural beauty. Just in one corner of northwest Wyoming and part of Montana.
There were most certainly debates and disagreements over the establishment of these and other National Parks in their infant and adolescent years. But the supporters of the concept that visiting nature washes our spirt clean — they prevailed. Today, more than 140 years after the establishment of the first national park, we continue to be the beneficiaries.
Sadly, we are seeing the reverse happening today. Land that was formerly protected is being made available for profit-making activities. Like most, I think the political situation in our country is, in a word, deplorable. But for me, spending a week in those two parks, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons, made the deplorable bearable — at least for awhile.
A few of my friends have told me that they have stopped watching the news. I have a better, albeit unsolicited, idea. When the news gets you down, don’t stop watching. But DO take a break. Step away from the television and visit a national park.
Or, take a hike to a place where you can’t see another human. Walk on a beach in the fog. Heck, just go walk the damn dog in a field of green grass.
Keep close to nature’s heart. Then come back refreshed so we can be vigilant and aware. And vote.
Actually, I am going to have the hubris to update what Ken Burns said… It’s voting. VOTING is America’s Best Idea.
Love your photos, Eileen!
I surely hope that these midterms have a phenomenal turnout, and not the typical halfhearted showing, they are probably one of the most important midterm elections in modern history!!!
As always, love the photos. So glad you got to visit these two parks😊
Growing up camping, it has always been a sad knowledge for me that national parks and forests are at risk if we don’t stay vigilant and I fear that the time for extreme vigilance is at hand. Vote!!!
100% agree about the taking time to commune with nature…even if my commune time is spent on a riding mower every three days to keep my 1.5 acres under control. Actually thinking of selling my place and going to something smaller. As for you…you should think about doing a book someday…LOVE your pictures and posts!!!