Escaping the Texas Heat

Friday, June 30, 2023

I’m heading out to New Mexico tomorrow to escape the Texas heat and I’m going to visit White Sands National Park.  Yes, it will still be hot in the park, but I’m staying in Cloudcroft at 9000 feet, so overall it will be lovely.  That said, since this is, ironically, going to probably be the only national park I visit this year, I wanted to post this quote by Dayton Duncan, main writer of the Ken Burns National Parks documentary.  I have paraphrased this quote many times to people and it chokes me up every time.  Especially when I’m on trail.

“At the heart of the park idea is this notion:

By virtue of being an American, whether your ancestors came over on the Mayflower or whether they just arrived, whether you’re from a big city or from a rural setting, whether your daddy owns the factory or your mother is a maid…

You, YOU, are the owner of some of the best seafront property this nation’s got.  You own magnificent waterfalls, you own stunning views of mountains and stunning views of gorgeous canyons.  They belong to YOU.  They’re YOURS.

And all that’s asked of you is to put it in your will, for your children, so that they can have it too.  Hopefully, you won’t let it be sold off, you won’t let it be despoiled.  Hopefully, you’ll provide for proper maintenance of this property that is yours.  

But that’s all you’ve got to do, now…that’s quite a bargain.”