Faith Can Move Mountains... But Dynamite Works Better

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Sorry, John, But Naming The Country After Yourself Just Can't Be Done



"Doctor Franklin, I appreciate your sentiments most deeply, but I don't believe we can get away with adding chocolate as something we have an unalienable right to." ~ Thomas Jefferson, June 30th, 1776

"Benjamin, are you a betting man? I'll bet you that when we bring out the document for signing, that bloody idiot Hancock will have the biggest signature of everyone in the room. The dimwit is so full of himself, after all. If it was up to him, he'd name this new country we're creating the United States of Hancock." ~ John Adams, June 30th, 1776



Well, it's Independence Day tomorrow in the United States, and so it seems entirely appropriate to do today what I did in my blog for Canada Day, namely a photo blog of places Before I get into that, yesterday was the 75th anniversary of the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, and Norma reminded me of a blog I did a long while back. So I'll leave the link for Amelia Earhart's lost diary with you. Just don't read that blog if you're a member of the Earhart or Noonan clans. You'll probably want to have me killed.

The other Corps of Discovery


To the business at hand, then. Check out Norma's Fourth of July blog too, where fireworks are the order of the day. And since there are fifty states (and one District), I thought I'd take half, and run with the same theme next year. I've left some easy ones for next year (though Arkansas might be a nuisance; the first thing that comes to mind would be the sleazy motel where Bill Clinton took whichever intern caught his eye that week, and who wants to see that? Not me).

And so I'll take you on a tour now, across America, to some places I've been, and others that I'd love to see for myself. Happy Fourth of July, my Yankee friends!

Acadia National Park, Maine

Cape Cod, Massachusetts


Mount Washington, New Hampshire

Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania

Arlington National Military Cemetery, Virginia

Murderkill River, Delaware

Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

A friendly fellow, Everglades National Park, Florida


Stone Mountain, Georgia
Russell Cave, Alabama

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

Mark Twain childhood home, Hannibal, Missouri

Abraham Lincoln home, Springfield, Illinois
Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Chimney Rock, Nebraska

Fort Mandan National Historic Site, North Dakota

White Cliffs of the Missouri River, Montana

Lower Yellowstone Falls, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Kilauea, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii


Yosemite National Park, California

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Denali (Mount McKinley), Denali National Park, Alaska


19 comments:

  1. Why am I not surprised that there are mountains in most of these pics?

    You've reminded me of the beauty in my own country. Thank you, my friend!

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  2. I'm a mountaineer, so of course I'd have to include mountains in the mix!

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  3. Been to a few of these places: Grand Canyon being the most amazing and breath-taking, right behind Utah. Yellowstone before and after the fires--camped there a few times. And collected sage from the area around chimney rock.

    Thanks for the pics and memories, William!

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  4. Great post, love the pics, been to several of these...Denali Was my Favorite by far...Thank :)

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  5. Great post and photos. I have been to many of these places and have loved them.
    We are both so lucky to live in countries that have such wonders.

    cheers, parsnip

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  6. Oh, love that Cape Cod picture...but seriously, what a beautiful country. I hope to see Florida or Nevada in November. I've never been anywhere, so I'll be taking a monster amount of pictures!

    Happy Fourth of July!!!

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  7. Great reminders of some of the wonderful things and places in this country ... wish I'd been to more of them!

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  8. Beautiful pictures, Sir Wills.

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  9. Great pics! I love traveling so hopefully, one day I can visit these places :)

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  10. So many beautiful places I still need to see!

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  11. Wish I'd seen half these places! And hey, I really like the Lewis and Bark picture!

    Bet Scagaflea did all the work on that trip!

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  12. As always, beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing! Wish I could visit this places. Wow!

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  13. Love the photos. Thanks for sharing them. Hope you have a great holiday too. Do they celebrate this Canada? Oh, I guess not, huh?

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  14. Enjoyed the photos of some of the landmarks I've visited but I was missing an awesome picture of Wisconsin!

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  15. @Lorelei: I can't recall the first time I saw pictures of Chimney Rock, but it's fascinated me for years.

    @Aaron: I think it has that effect on a lot of people.

    @Whisk: thanks!

    @Gayle: we're lucky indeed!

    @Beth: Cape Cod's definitely a place I'll have to explore for myself!

    @Mark: there's always time!

    @Shelly and Lynn: thanks!

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  16. Lovely photos, but I'm slightly biased toward Canada... :)

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  17. @Talli: we've got reason to be!

    @Auden and Lena: everyone who's capable of doing so should travel.

    @Christina: the list never ends!

    @Cheryl: I saw that pic and fell about laughing...

    @Eve: well, the Revolution did touch our land. Benedict Arnold (yes, that one) was part of a failed invasion of Quebec City...

    @Deb: I've got some ideas in mind for the other states for next year, including Wisconsin.

    Rhode Island, on the other hand, might give me a problem.

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