I have avoided politics for the most part in this blog. Peggy’s and my objective in producing Wandering Through Time and Place over the past 14 years has been to share our travels to some of the world’s most beautiful and interesting places, offer background information on the areas we visit, and hopefully provide some laughs (or at least chuckles) along the way.
It isn’t that we don’t care deeply about what is happening in the nation and world today. We do. Yet I have resisted using this blog to jump into the fray. We all deserve a break from the constant pounding and negativity. That is, I have resisted until today.
As you all know if you have followed this blog for more than six months, Peggy and I love America’s incredible national parks and monuments. Like Teddy Roosevelt, we regard them as a sacred public trust. In the past four years alone, we have travelled over 40,000 miles visiting and blogging about over 25 national parks and monuments.
While it is impossible to predict what Donald Trump will do or say on any given day, his actions and words during his first few months of his presidency have signaled his unwillingness to support our parks and monuments. There have been three actions in particular. One he has cut 9% of the staff, which will severely limit the ability of the parks to deal effectively with the more than 300 million people who hope to visit this year. Sections of parks have already been closed because they can’t be covered safely. Two, he is proposing to to sell visitor centers and museums connected to the parks. These are the primary sources of public education and support for those who visit. And finally he is moving to eliminate two of America’s newly created national monuments. This may only be the beginning. Or not. A lot depends on us.
If you are at all concerned about our parks and monuments, whether you are pro or con regarding the present administration, I urge you to contact, contribute to, and join the National Parks Conservation Association that has been leading the effort to protect our parks since 1919. NCAA will keep you informed of developments and the most effective way to preserve our national treasures.
Along with the Grand Canyon shown above, here are 25 reasons to join NCAA and become an advocate for our parks. All photos have been taken by Peggy or me.
Over the next several months, I will feature 25 photos each Monday from specific national parks and monuments that Peggy and I have visited over the past several years. (We have thousands of photos to select from!) Please stop by to enjoy the beauty.
Friday’s blog will continue to feature our ongoing travels, focusing now on the Danube River and the Big Island of Hawaii.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Such awe inspiring places to be cherished and protected, along with our whole planet earth. Thank you for posting Curt
Breathtaking!
Thank you Curt for these photos so filled with wonder. They all fill us with awe and joy. They must be looked after so all can partake.
you continue the good work. 🦋.
miriam
Some of the rock formations look like waterfalls frozen in time.
We have a magnificent country!
Beautiful, breathtaking spaces that must be protected. ❤ Thanks for sharing the info on one way we can help!
We also love US national parks, such beautiful scenery, everywhere.
Hopefully not too much damage will be done!
This is a strange and dangerous time for our country. I appreciate your continuing to bring the beauty of our land to all of us. Our parks are so important for not only employment but for their grand majesty for everyone to experience. I see Mt. Rainier in your collection and all my memories of visiting that lovely place.
Since I live right next to the Capitol, there have been many protests forming there. The last one was Friday Stand Up for Veterans and had a great crowd. I will continue to do what is necessary to keep our country afloat as you and Peggy will do also. God’s speed and protection as we travel through this “unknown” territory!
Love to you both,
Wendy in Olympia
Thanks so much, Wendy. And more power to you. Each and everyone of us has a role to play.
Thank you Curt. The photos are beautiful and I read you loud and clear.
Thanks on both counts, Sylvia.
I understand your concerns about parks staffing. I try to look at it from the perspective of what the President’s stated goal is “make the federal workforce more efficient and effective.” From what I have seen in general is he is reducing the administrative positions and the buildings they worked in (when they were not working from home) and increasing boots on the ground positions. Hard to say how that will work out – most of what google will show you is the apocalyptic forecast side of things.
Mainly I have been relying on the major national park sites for my information. The NPCA has been fighting for parks since 1919 and has a marvelous record with bipartisan support.
Your love and preservation of our National Parks and Monuments is commendable and I always applaud your amazing posts, educating us and taking us on your travels. While you are a smart man to stay out of the fray, this is a time when it’s critical to speak up so thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. It is a critical time everyone do their part to preserve what mother nature has gifted us. They ultimately have the say but they need us as our instruments of rational at the moment. You’re pictures are incredible and we need to do everything in our power to make sure our grandchildren can visit a land and the parks we love with that quote said so well by ” Theodore Roosevelt”! This year we could not get through to Shasta with so many people visiting so I shudder to think what it will be like now. The education the park dispenses are critical in helping to educate our children of tomorrow and selling National Monuments; what next!
Cheers to you and Peggy!
Thank you for the link; I just joined. Never before has this been more important!
Despite the time-honored commitment and bipartisan public support to protect our national parks and monuments, these sites are in peril.
🏞️💓🌞🌳
Thanks so much, Cindy, for both your words and action. My goal is to focus exclusively on national parks, monuments and wilderness areas over the next three months, an then I will see. As always I appreciate your commitment to making this world a better place to live in.
You’re so very welcome. My hat just came from the Nature conservatory and I will happily and joyfully wear it! You are so very welcome and I’m happy to help in any way I can. I love your commitment and resolve! 💓
Much appreciated, Cindy. As always. ❤️
Your photos are spectacular, Curt, and I’ve felt the same about politics re: my blog. But times are scarier than ever. It’s head-spinning, and it’s only been two months. Sigh. We love national parks! Our son went on a 7-month road trip last year that began in Maine and ended in CA (home to us). He visited as many national parks as he could and took ‘millions’ of photos. It was a great experience for him and the timing was right. Anyway, thanks for the link! I’m checking it out! Have a good weekend!
Thanks, Lauren. Times are as scary as I have seen them in my lifetime.
Glad your son got to include the national parks along the way! They are always a treat.
I think ‘millions of photos’ pretty much describes what Peggy and I do as well. Grin.
The latest is that the president is sending US troops into Big Bend National Park, an issue I include in my next blog.
You’re welcome, Curt, and I feel the same! I didn’t know about the troops in Big Bend, Curt. Sigh…I’ll watch for your post. Thanks!
It’s up and posted, Lauren. Albeit later than I hoped for. Keeping out of the way of global warming as we crossed the country over the past three weeks took all of our energy!
I just left a comment, Curt. Stay safe!
Thank you Curt, for those pictures. As GP says, You guys really have a beautiful country.
I understand the need to… stay away from the current mess on one’s blog. Showing Beauty is one way to stay above the fray.
I am face with a similar dilemma. So, I try to keep my normal posts (travel, art, etc.) while sneaking in a post or two.
Eventually, (what I tell my daughters) the beauty and strength of the American people shall prevail against the hooligans… As I told Crystal:
“What can we do, outside the US, to help?”
Take care.
Brian
Thanks much, Brian. Crystal and GP are two of my favorite people. I’ve spent most of my life working as a community advocate for international, environmental and public heath issue. What is happening is of great concern to me. But, for the most part, I am going to focus on what is happening with our national parks, monuments, and wilderness areas. It’a a natural for me given how many of my blogs over the years have focused on the beauty and uniqueness of these places. So, in a sense, I am operating within the bounds of what my blog is all about. It’s tough figuring out what to do from another country although what is happening here has an impact on the whole world. I would say a relatively easy place to start in terms of parks is to become a member of the national parks conservation association: https://www.npca.org and contribute as well if you feel so inclined. Not sure where you live, Mike, but if you have a nearby National Park, visit it and do a blog on its value and the need to support efforts in your courtly and throughout the world to protect these invaluable resources. Much appreciated. Curt
PS, I’m heading over to join your blog.
🙏🏻
Sorry about the typo. “I am faceD.” of course…
I stumbled upon your blog and I’m happy that I did. Thank you for sharing your adventures. A special thank you for sharing the National Parks Conservancy link. I also love our country and our parks and signed up as well. Thank you!
Appreciated, Sandy. A lot. Spread the news!
Hear! Hear! Will check out NPCA right now. My husband spent a year working at the Dept of the Interior, and we are big supporters and lovers of our national park system.
Great, Lexi! Appreciated.
Thank you, Curt. So many amazing places that deserve to be protected.
And given your passion for wandering in the wilds, Diana, you understand this better than most. Thank you as well.
Wonderful pictures, Curt, showing what must be a great source of national pride!
The upkeep of them clearly requires strategy, clearly doesn’t need a wrecking ball!
Indeed, Dave. Just not the president, apparently. Beyond maintaining them for present and future generations, the biggest challenge is accommodating all the people who want to visit now, including the 1/3 of the visitors that come from other countries.
Thank you, Curt (and Peggy) for speaking up in your calm and graceful way for our national parks and the natural beauty of our country. I love the photos (lots of rock, water, and sky) and have visited most of those majestic places. I want to visit them again, and I want my grandchildren and great grandchildren to enjoy them on day. Thank you for sharing information on the NPCA.
Thank you D. Much appreciated. Peggy and I are committed to focusing on the national parks, monuments and wilderness areas for the few months in our blog: What’s happening, lots of photos emphasizing why the areas are so critical to us, and people and us as a nation and what individuals can do.
I’ve been writing to my representatives every day, Curt. I have this one on my list.
Thanks on all accounts, D.