On Fri, Jun 29, 2012 at 1:43 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>wrote:

> I'm reading Douglas Brinkley's "Wilderness Warrior, Theodore Roosevelt and
> the Crusade for America" which chronicles TR's impact on the west through
> the creation of National Parks (6), National Forests (150), National
> Monuments (18), bird preserves (51), and game preserves (4).  He created
> lots of great places we can visit in our Vanagons!   If you want to refine
> your appreciation of travelling through the west it's well worth reading
> all
> 940 pages.
>
>
   This is a great Friday subject.   I have a couple of good ones for your
reading list as you travel the west, tool

   Edward Abby's "the Monkey Wrench Gang" for those of you familiar with or
passing through the Canyon Country.   Fun read, Abby lived in Moab in his
later life for a bit and was quite a character, I hear.  A bit far-fetched
but enjoyable characters, etc.

    The Cadillac Desert....a book outlining the politics of the development
by the BLM, etc of the water resources of the Southwest and West..A real
'eye-opener'.  It's fun to know the politics behind some of the beautiful
reservoirs and giant dams as you go past or visit in your Vanagon.....I see
it is revised now.... I read it long ago.. link below

http://www.amazon.com/Cadillac-Desert-American-Disappearing-Revised/dp/0140178244