Great Sand Dunes NP and Preserve

So here we are in the Rocky Mountain area and stop at

This place was fascinating.  Surrounded by mountain here is an ecosystem that just does not belong.  Water erodes the softer rock and moves it down a valley creek.  It is a very fine sand.  Sun and wind dry the sand then wind blows it back up the valley forming massive sand dunes.

Our first day in the park we took a hike up the stream bed for about 2 miles.  The water was cool but very comfortable and only a few inches deep, so we went bare foot.  The patterns the water made in the sand were beautiful and constantly changing.

The sand is so fine the slightest shift in water creates a new pattern.  Our foot prints were eliminated quickly and replaced with more sand art.














We took a day and drove up to Zapata Falls.  The falls is outside the park but very close by.  With just a short hike were at the falls.

In order to get to the falls, you must hike through the stream.

This water is exceptionally cold.  We both had to step on to rocks or out of the water several times to let our feet warm up.

Finally the day came to hike up the dunes.  In every National Park we've been to (over 40) there are signs to stay on the trail and to not disturb the vegetation.  But here the wind reshapes the dunes constantly, so there are no designated trails.  You just hike up the best you can that day.  The hike up was difficult for both of us.  One because of the altitude and lack of oxygen, but also the sand is so soft that with each step forward you slide back about a half a step.  Then there is the additional work of just waking through sand.  Tough walk!

We did not climb the highest dune.  But the one we climbed was beautiful.  The view over the dunes, desert then the mountains was an amazing contrast.  We sat on the top for about 45 minutes talking with other folks and just enjoying the scenery.

You can rent sand sleds or sand boards and slide down the dunes.  We met 2 women who were trying it.  The only problem seemed to be once you slide down the dune, you might need to climb back up.  We did not do any sand boarding.

The trip down the dune was super easy.  Each step down into the soft sand resulted in about 2 steps in distance.  Also there was no need to stop and catch our breath.  Even with Diana"s bad knees the trip down was easy due to the soft landing in the sand.

Denver

After Fort Collins we headed toward Denver.  We parked in the drive way of some great friends we've made in Mesa.  Dave and Julie welcomed us to their "Campground" and we stayed fro 12 nights.

We had a ball.  One of their daughters, her husband and 2 grandchildren are living with them for now,  we had a ball with everyone, especially the kids.

Bubbles are always fun

They wore me out and I loved it

We made it to a Rockies game.  Sometimes I get a little focused on the game.  I had no idea this pic was taken until I saw it in the album.

Sandy and Rick Herbert next to me with Julie and Dave next

We played golf, spent 2 days on the western slop of the Rockies and just had a great relaxing time.

A BIG mistake

I had wanted to spend a few days in Fort Collins, CO after the eclipse but prior to a service appointment we had for Harvey closer to Denver.  The schedule got a little tight so we decided to leave Glenrock shortly after the eclipse had passed totality.  This would get us into Fort Collins on Monday evening rather than Tuesday afternoon giving us the extra time I wanted.  BIG MISTAKE!!!

Turns out about 12 bazillion other people were also heading South on I-25.  Our trip planner said if we left at 2 PM we would arrive by 6...4 hours is no problem. We left at 12:30 and sat in traffic.  After 9 hours of stop, then 10 -15 mph we realized we were not going to get to our prepaid camp site that night.  BTW we had also paid for one extra night in Glenrock because originally we were not leaving until Tuesday.  Once we realized we were not going to get to the campground we pulled up a Walmart on our phones and thought we'd just pull in there for the night.  Then we learned this particular Walmart does not allow overnight parking.  So with tears in our eyes we thought about other places to pull over for the night.  Finally, we decided on the Elks lodge in Fort Collins.  They did not have designated RV parking but since we got in at 10:30 at night, there was no one there to tell us we could not park there.  So we did.  Early the next day we left and drove the rest of the way.  It was only about 40 minutes but we would never have gotten into the park or the space we had in the dark and as tired as we were.  I did leave some $ with the Elks as payment for the unauthorized stay.  So we paid for 3 campsites that night.

The Eclipse

We were in Glenrock, Wyoming for the eclipse of 2017.  We chose Glenrock because it was close to our planned '17 route and it was in the path of totality.  We had made reservations at a campground last October and they were full.  But  they could put us in a field with no services.  So that's what we had.  This campground is small.  It normally has about 50 camp sites.  For the eclipse there were over 500 RVs and a bunch of tent sites.  It is located along the North Platte River and was a nice location.

We got in a few days early so we could celebrate our anniversary and not be driving. Saturday before the eclipse we drove into Casper about 20 miles west.  Attended a very nice festival with great music, typical festival food and about 8 breweries.  I was very happy.  That evening we attended the planetarium presentation on the eclipse.

Monday was the eclipse.  AMAZING!!!  We decided to go up on the roof of Harvey during the eclipse.

We have no pictures of the eclipse as we were told it would damage our cameras.  So here is a pic of a banner..