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The New American Digest

For Followers of Gerard Van der Leun's Fine Work

  • About American Digest
  • About New American Digest
  • “The Name In The Stone”
  • Remembering Gerard Van der Leun
    • from the website: Through the Looking Glass
    • from the website: Barnhardt
    • from the website: Neo’s Blog
  • Articles
    • The Overland Stage
      • The Holladay Overland Stage: 1 – The Central Route
      • The Overland Stage – 2 Company Operations
      • The Overland Stage – 3 Exploring The Route – An Overview
      • The Overland Stage: 4 – South Platte/Julesburg/Ft Sedgwick
        • Jack Slade
      • The Overland Stage: 5 – Julesburg to Junction Station (aka Ft Morgan)
      • The Overland Stage: 6 – Junction Station to Latham
      • The Overland Stage: 7 – Latham Crossing to Fort Collins
      • The Overland Stage: 8 – LaPorte to Virginia Dale
      • The Overland Stage: 9 – Virginia Dale to Cooper Creek
      • The Overland Stage: 10 – Cooper Creek to Pass Creek
        • Fletcher Family
      • The Overland Stage: 11 – Pass Creek to Bridger Station
      • The Overland Stage: 12 – Bridger Pass to Duck Lake
      • The Overland Stage: 13 – Duck Lake to LaClede
      • The Overland Stage: 14 – LaClede to Almond
      • The Overland Stage: 15 – Almond to Rock Springs
      • The Overland Stage: 16 – Rock Springs to Fort Bridger
      • The Overland Stage: 17 – Fort Bridger to Weber Station

I find I don’t wish to explore new lands, but to explore again those I have already passed through, trying to see what I’d missed in the first hectic rush … Gerard Van der Leun

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The Potato State

The New American Digest Posted on April 24, 2026 by DTApril 23, 2026

When we’re not running sheep up and down the highways – around 2600 this year

we’ve got other things to do

Reading the news, it’s almost like we’re not in the US.
Sometimes.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Replies

Park Service Lecture

The New American Digest Posted on April 23, 2026 by DTApril 22, 2026

When I lived in Williamsburg, I spent a lot of time on Jamestown Island. I cheated a bit – the island has a loop road which doesn’t require a entrance ticket but the Jamestown Settlement grounds do. But if one parks along the loop road and hoofs it, it’s possible to come in through a back way.

Bad DT, bad! (Nah, I have a lifetime park pass anyway – just don’t like dealing with the front office)

So here I am, wandering around the grounds and I got inspired to take this photo of the crowd more than the exhibits (though I have those photos as well).

That’s the James River in the background and Scotland Landing across the river. A ferry runs across here; free last time I was there … (gee, almost 10 years ago. Didn’t realize it had been that long …)

When you get down to it, there’s not really much to see here beyond some signs telling one what once was here; some reconstructions, a bit of facade of a 1609 church, some crumbled bricks of old foundations. A building over-standing an old 1600s glassworks pit with an operating glassworks nearby.

A ruin of a home that burned in 1895 and was never rebuilt. Some old graves, a statue of Pocahontas – probably the model was better looking than the person.

I spent a lot of time wandering through places in the woods I probably wasn’t supposed to be.

Less than 20 miles from Gloucester Point/Yorktown to Scotland/Jamestown

There’s a lot of history packed into this region.
I don’t want to live there again but I wouldn’t mind visiting – many places to re-visit; to see what I missed the first time ’round.

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Replies

First class or coach…

The New American Digest Posted on April 22, 2026 by JeanApril 21, 2026

A new one from Jean: Mar 28, 2026

How long
does it take
to get to heaven?

do you wait
for a bus with
a layover in Purgatory? 

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Replies

Mines Alumni

The New American Digest Posted on April 21, 2026 by HJBApril 21, 2026

Those in the know, know …
A post from HJB – inspired by “Oh Wow Man The Colors!”

Nope – not too long for a post.

Your piece today on the ‘newly-discovered’ controlled substances reminds me of a short story from the years at Mines –

I had driven up to Boulder very early one Saturday morning to attend a geology lecture. On the way back down Hwy 93 to Golden, mid-morning, on the dead-straight and flat section about half-way I found myself catching up to a slow-moving Volkswagen Beetle.

When I was about 100 yards behind, the Bug suddenly made a 90° right turn, ran through the roadside ditch and came to rest impaled on the barbed-wire fence along the adjacent pasture. I pulled over quickly and jumped out to render aid if needed. As I got to the car a long-haired, bearded flower child of the late 1960s Boulder / CU variety emerged with a wide-eyed look on his face …..

“Did you see that?? Did you see that??? Oh my God, did you see that??” …..
“See what, I hollered” …..

“That giant purple chicken in the middle of the road …. there was a giant purple chicken!!” ……

Seeing that he was not visibly injured, I returned to my car and made my way back to Mines, thanking my stars for having not chosen CU.

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Replies

Tunesday: PropellerHeads – “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”

The New American Digest Posted on April 21, 2026 by DTApril 10, 2026

A sample of some obscure – and maybe not obscure – tunes from my strange and off-the-wall collection.

Today’s selection: PropellerHeads – “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” 1997

Sacrilege – neither Sean Connery or Roger Moore: A version of the soundtrack to my favorite James Bond movie. With the exception of Telly Savalas as Blofeld.

PropellerHeads was an English electronic music duo who developed this piece for “The David Arnold James Bond Project“

A bit off the wall but I like it.
Or I wouldn’t have posted it. 🙂

Posted in tunes, Uncategorized | Leave a reply

Three Good Ones Suggested By Joe

The New American Digest Posted on April 20, 2026 by JoeApril 20, 2026

“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos.” — H.L. Mencken

“Truth seekers often find themselves alone.  This is part of their initiation in order to gain self mastery.  One cannot know thy true self by being constantly surrounded by others.” —  Anonymous 

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” ― Plato

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Replies

Oh Wow Man! The Colors!

The New American Digest Posted on April 20, 2026 by DTApril 20, 2026

Without presenting anything pro or con, I notice this morning the announcement:

“Psychedelic Stocks Soar After Trump Order … accelerates psychedelics as the key next wave of mental health treatments.”

They used to be at least semi-legal up to about the 1960s. Valium was an over-the counter drug until the 70s, so was effective cough syrup. Methamphetamine was once common and legal … until the ’70s. Then the “it’s bad for you” crowd got control.

I’m not going to get into the rights and wrongs – but what I wanted to note is my suspicion that the main reason psychedelics and pain-killers are so tightly controlled is because people enjoyed them, especially during the Vietnam era as a means to “fight them hippies”. Then the bureaucracy got involved and started making any such illegal and/or heavily controlled.

(Bureaucracy with power – no matter the form of government – the root cause of many of the problems we enjoy today)

It’s the enjoyment that’s regulated, not the addiction. That goes back to the Puritans …

As the less-government type I am, I figure all that stuff should be legal – with immediate consequences for stupidity while under the influence.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Replies

Boise Go Blue

The New American Digest Posted on April 20, 2026 by DTApril 18, 2026

Too many Left-Coasters moving in

“Providing a welcoming and inclusive space to learn about your bike“

The Boise Bicycle Project is hosting their third annual emergency bike repair clinic with Idaho Women’s Bikepacking. The event provides women and those who identify as female support and education around fixing their bike. Accepting people of all skill levels, BBP says it’s a place for people to feel safe and comfortable around a hobby they might not normally feel welcomed in.

A “safe space” for bicycles? What? Lessons on how not to interfere with motor vehicles when driving in the middle of the road?

It’s a bicycle. OK, a repair clinic is good – but why dump all the woke crap into it?
(because we’re all inclusive and safe and welcoming and all that – and we want people to know that they’re safe here)

“safe here” didn’t used to be an issue – but I certainly wouldn’t feel safe and welcome at such an event.

OK – I don’t go into Boise city much anyway (but then I don’t go into the nearby town here much either) – usually only because that’s the center for medical specialties.

Boise used to be a nice city … parking wasn’t a hassle, traffic was light enough that “jay-walking” wasn’t an issue – and didn’t deserve a ticket, one could walk around without being bothered by “support-our-issues” people, shops were nice without being pretentious, the city hall wasn’t full of rainbow flags and trimmings.

But that was then. “Then” wasn’t long ago – it happened quick.

Just to counter my own bitching, this was also a headline in local news:

Eagle firefighters rescue cow after it falls inside an irrigation box

“The cow fell into an irrigation box at a nearby ranch when the fire department was called. Responding crews found the cow in the irrigation box and quickly constructed a mechanical advantage system, according to EFD. The firefighters managed to extricate the cow, showing the skill and capabilities of the firefighters who responded.”
[They put straps under the cow and lifted]

Eagle is not Boise.

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Replies

It’s That Time Of Year

The New American Digest Posted on April 19, 2026 by DTApril 19, 2026
This weekend

Time to take the flocks up to summer grazing and the highway is the best path. The state Rangeland Resources Commission helps coordinate the move which will be repeated in the fall when the flocks return to winter grazing. It’s just a short distance up and across the highway anyway.

I post this because just last night I was talking with an acquaintance from California and his Santa Fe girlfriend and they were disdaining “cow and sheep” country … yet they want to move here. So I sent them this news article.

Yes, I consider the guy a business friend – but stay where you are. At least keep your “I’m from Santa Fe” girlfriend away.

Eagle used to be a remote small town on an island far away from Boise city. It’s now a special (expensive) “place” within the metro area. But it also has the Old State Saloon that celebrates “Heterosexual Awesomeness Month” in June to the discomfort of those preferring “Gay Pride Month” so the Boise blue hasn’t fully infested the area.

Of course, any such happening has to turn into an “event” – I imagine sometime in the near future they will sell tickets in a park celebrating “our agricultural past” … while outlawing the actual movement of livestock. Someone will sue for blocking the highway.

But still … for now, we remain sheep and cow country once out of the metro area.

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Replies

Trial and error…

The New American Digest Posted on April 19, 2026 by JeanApril 18, 2026

originally posted by Jean December 04, 2007

If I
had my way,
if it were
up to me,
I’d know
what to say
and how
to say it.
I’d know
what to feel
and when
to feel it.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Replies

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Contact: dt@newamericandigest.org

Gerard Van der Leun
12/26/45 - 1/27/23


Gerard's Last Post
(posthumous): Feb 4, 2023
"So Long. See You All a Little Further Down the Road"

When my body won’t hold me anymore
And it finally lets me free
Where will I go?
Will the trade winds take me south through Georgia grain?
Or tropical rain?
Or snow from the heavens?
Will I join with the ocean blue?
Or run into a savior true?
And shake hands laughing
And walk through the night, straight to the light
Holding the love I’ve known in my life
And no hard feelings

Avett Brothers - No Hard Feelings

The following was posted along with the announcement of Gerard's passing.
Leonard Cohen - Going Home

For a 2005 interview with Gerard


April 2026
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Most Recent Comments

  1. Snakepit Kansas on The Potato StateApril 24, 2026

    Bacon, sour dough bread and a couple Ham's tallboys. Friday night is looking up!

  2. Snakepit Kansas on The Potato StateApril 24, 2026

    Running of the sheep, the Waynoka snake hunt, ground hog day, any church ice cream social, and I suppose a…

  3. John A. Fleming on Park Service LectureApril 23, 2026

    Not too long ago I had a business trip in that area. Flew into Ricnmond, met my colleagues at the…

  4. Wild, wild west on Mines AlumniApril 23, 2026

    Gerard once put up a story called "The Witness", a translation of Jorge Louis Borges work into English, about the…

  5. jean on Park Service LectureApril 23, 2026

    If anyone can find it, you can.


Blogroll
The New Neo
Jean's Blog - Pondering
The Feral Irishman

Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man,
play a song for me
I'm not sleepy
and there ain't no place I'm goin' to

Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man,
play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning,
I'll come followin' you

Take me for a trip upon
your magic swirling ship
All my senses have been stripped
And my hands can't feel to grip
And my toes too numb to step
Wait only for my boot heels to be wanderin'

I'm ready to go anywhere,
I'm ready for to fade
Unto my own parade
Cast your dancing spell my way
I promise to go under it


Men who saw night coming down about them could somehow act as if they stood at the edge of dawn.


From Gerard's site. The picture always caught my eye.

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