I grew up in New Jersey, Queens, New York, Upstate New York, New York's North Country and New England,  I also spent a lot of time in the Eastern Canadian Provinces and even had a job in mid-Canada Manitoba (brrrh; I'm still shivering!) -- that I used as a home base from which I explored some of the Western Canadian Provinces.  Consequently, I knew very little about the American West; and even less about Frederick Remington.

When I eventually moved to California; first to San Francisco, and then Los Angeles, I was awestruck by the almost unbelievable diversity of climates and microterrains. 

Nowadays, with numerous well-maintained highways. we simply enjoy a comfortable trip with numerous restaurants, lodging,  interesting sights and short side trips to keep travelers occupied.  Or, by air, a short relaxing 5 hour flight, complete with food, drinks, movies, WiFi and other entertainment.

The enormity of the deserts and distances involved makes it difficult to believe that the early settlers actually walked and rode crude wagons from the East to California!

I have gained a new, great respect and appreciation for the early pioneers and their descendants who built the American West.

Trust me when I say that those men and women were TOUGH!

And thank you, Frederick Remington, for reminding us of America's Western heritage!

Dave S