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Land of the Free

They say this is the “Land of the Free”. But very little is free today in America. Every inch of the land the Indians thought couldn’t be owned is now owned by someone. The largest owner of America is the US Federal government. So doesn’t that make all Americans part owners of some amazing lands?

Theoretically, yes. But ask yourself if you feel like the owner when you arrive at the typical national park. In my experience it feels like a shake down for fees by armed police dressed like Smokey the Bear. Then they tell you where to go and how to be act when you get to your designated spot. I once was almost arrested by a ranger for leaving a piece of fruit on the ground under my picnic table. Land of the free my ass.

But there are sections of America that are virtually free of the park Gestapo and all the regulations and restrictions. These areas exist in the lands controlled by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). With over one-eighth of the US land mass under their control, the BLM typically allows people to freely camp on this “public” land.

Now that’s the kind of America I like. As I headed up into the southern end of the California Sierra Nevada’s I stumbled into the Sequoia National Forest just south of the world renowned Kings Canyon National Park. This stretch of land along the Kern River was gorgeous public land available for free camping.

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I staked out my camp spot and laid my sleeping bag out along the fast flowing river. As I lay in my sleeping bag under the stars that night on gorgeous land that was as much mine as any other American, I felt grateful to be able to roam free on this beautiful land of America.

Only then did the words of Woody Guthrie’s famous folk song “This Land is Your Land” ring true.

This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me.

As I went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
I saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me.

I roamed and I rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
While all around me a voice was sounding
Saying this land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
A voice was chanting, As the fog was lifting,
This land was made for you and me.

This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me.

Ok now folks, let’s sing along. This land is your land this land is . . .

This entry was posted on Friday, May 22nd, 2009 at 2:16 am and is filed under California. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

3 Responses to “Land of the Free”

Amanda is a Traveling Photographer Says:
May 24th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
BLM land is GREAT CHOICE to spend some time exploring! I was just in Moab Utah and the BLM land vs. the parks experience was like night and day. We didn’t even go INTO arches nat. park at all, but we still saw TWO great arches ( Corona and Morning Glory ) by finding BLM trailheads to hike. We also brought atv’s are rode to some awesome arches ( gemini bridges ). It was the first time I’ve explored that area without going into the state and national parks and it was really cool! All those gems were BLM land . ~Amanda
jonniebgood Says:
May 28th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Wow, it must be totally rockin to experience that! The blooming flowers, the flowing rivers, trees growing out of the hills! I always feel blissful when I’m alone with nature. I think you’ve, once again, found Peace on Earth!
Pat Says:
May 29th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Isn’t it great to know that this beautiful land is our land – in at least some placing in America? Ironically, I’m camped out today among the redwoods in a California State Park in Marin County and just read that the State of California may be closing almost all California State parks due to the budget crisis. What an outrage if they lock we the people out of our own lands over money. No just where can I get a bolt/chain cutter to open any locks they may put up on our beautiful lands. I’ll pick up my own trash and leave no trace behind – promise.