Another Western Trip Full of Surprises

No matter how many times you drive cross country, you never get tired of the views, sights and surprises, unless you prefer the interstate highways, and if so, you won’t get the full immersion in our country. All you’ll experience is concrete, ill-tempered drivers, lots of traffic, confusing signs and, oh yes, litter. More on that in another article.

Reaching the northern Florida border from Naples feels like eternity; greenery punctuated by signage, exits and traffic, although it’s lots better in the summer. Why we don’t have passenger/car hauler trains the length of western Florida is a mystery to me. Could be my next research project.

Periodically, we decide to drive to our western destination, rather than fly, so we can experience our country up close and personally. The very vastness of the U.S. is awe inspiring, along with the quirky small towns that we enjoy exploring. Those are the places to experience what our country is all about, connect with people, and share stories, kindness and courtesy. It’s always fun to make connections, even if short-term, and leave a place with a more first-person congeniality. 

There’s nothing like seeing different wildlife than what we’re accustomed to in Florida, too. Even our dog was shocked, but really enjoyed stalking squirrels and then chasing them up the pine trees, where they stayed, but taunted her relentlessly. Same with chipmunks. She had great fun sneaking up on them, but they’re gone in the blink of an eye. We saw a beautiful buck in velvet with a unique rack of antlers and many others during our visit.

Seeing new places and learning about our country is so rewarding; there are always new and interesting details. In an earlier article, I talked about the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, and all the work they did around the United States. It’s still fascinating to learn about. “The CCC was initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 as a program intended to relieve the high unemployment of the Great Depression, provide vocational training and to improve the care of natural resources by completing a backlog of conservation projects across the United States.”

All of this information comes from the signage at the site of the CCC Camps. “The work was dirty, hot, cold, exhausting and never-ending. Most served one to two years where they made $30 per month, of which $25 was deducted from their pay and sent home. The majority of the boys were from Ohio and this was a new experience for them. The men kept busy with activities, training, education and opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. The enrollees built enduring friendships and a connection with the land. Two out of three men re-enrolled for new duty tours.”

In Wyoming, the Fremont Lake Civilian Conservation Corps Camp, known as F13, opened in 1933 and was self-sufficient with a headquarters, barracks for hundreds of men, mess hall, a doctor, a weekly newspaper and community interaction. The remains of this camp are visible in a few remaining building foundations. Their back-breaking work helped to build and improve natural resources, like roads, bridges, campgrounds, a ski area, fish-rearing ponds, ranger stations, phone and electrical lines, many of which are still in service today, while helping their folks back home who were struggling through the depression. A lasting legacy connected them to the public lands of America as well as the area of Pinedale, Wyoming.

Projects also enhanced tourism by developing campgrounds, boating facilities, fishing opportunities, fences, corrals, stock driveways that gave cattle ranchers a helping hand with their operations. There are many more CCC projects across the country, this is just one of many.”

There are many innovations in small towns, even in Wyoming. For example, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, there is an organization called “Vertical Harvest” which has rotating, vertical conveyors that expose the seedlings to the sunlight outside, and therefore, growth. It has been publicized that this production can fill the needs of all restaurants in Jackson Hole. They produce several varieties of lettuce for salads.

In another Wyoming restaurant, “Lakeside Lodge,” on Fremont Lake in Pinedale the chef has created a tiered herb garden outside the restaurant to supplement the tastes of his kitchen creations. It’s innovative that there are options for fresh herbs and healthy alternatives. Most customers are thrilled to have freshly picked, au natural herbs that enhance their dining experience. 

The joys of learning, investigating, observing and again, learning, are food for the soul and mind.