Great Sand Dunes National Park
So after we loaded the tents that we really could have never put up in the first place, our tired eyes, weary bones and hungry bellies were on the road. As we left the campground and rounded a curve we found some more hungry bellies.
I totally just noticed that the tree on the right looks like it has a huge mouth open ready to eat those deer. Look out deer! Run for your lives! You totally see it too, don’t you?
Due to the change in plans, aka skipping the Royal Gorge, we had some time to do something else, now what would that be? As we sat around the campfire the night before we noticed that the Great Sand Dunes National Park was only about a mile away, or 100 miles as the car drives - ok, I exaggerate. But hey, why not. Sand dunes, here we come.
Don’t let those mountains fool you, those dunes are huge. In fact, they are the tallest dunes in North America. You can hike all over the dunes; all 30 square miles of them. There aren’t trails, you just take off wherever you wish. And I thought it was really cool that they even have a couple of wheelchairs you can borrow that have huge wheels and go in the sand.
To get to the dunes you have to wade across Medano Creek. It’s not deep but nice and cool, relaxing. There are even little rippling waves that splash over your toes, they call this phenomenon “Surge Flow” (and yes I totally took that from the visitor’s guide).
Dennis and Haden decided to hike up the dunes, I decided to keep my feet cool in the creek and look for birds. But, I took this little point and shoot back to the car and pulled out the big guns (aka huge honking lens).
Immediately, this little sparrow posed for me.
He was just so cute I kept snapping. But finally I moved along.
I know these last two pictures aren’t the best but I’m hoping someone can tell me what kind of bird that is. He was bigger than the sparrow, mostly gray, with a little reddish/brown top fluff. Looked like his wings and tail were kind of a yellowy olive green?
This is the back of one of those red eyed birds I showed you a few days ago. There seemed to be as many of them as there were magpies.
Speaking of Magpies, look who’s coming.
I guess he needed to cool his feet too.
Crocs even work at the dunes. Ahhhh, refreshingly cool water. (Dennis took this one, he came back early from their hike and together we waited in the water for Haden.)
Then he was off in a flash.
Just in time for one tired Haden to return. He made it about halfway up the dunes and headed back. He said for every little bit you go up you have to go back down before you can go up again, like rolling waves, and he got pretty hot up there. The tallest dune is 650’ high.
First of all, those red p.j.'s you asked about are posted for you today at
the end of my peach post...
Now, you're at the sand dunes? Well just drive a few hours north and
west...and ta da, you're at Swampy's. Those photos are awesome. Wow !
And that bird you're asking about? I think it's a peacock.
I can't imagine climbing those dunes...the ones at the beach are difficult
enough! Such dramatic country out there...
Wow. I am just loving your vacation and the photos! So cool! I had no
idea we had sand dunes that large in the U.S. I really want to go see
that.
Wow, now that would be a serious workout for the calves in all that sand!
I think I would have preferred my feet in the stream too!
Isn't serendipity wonderful?
We" discovered"the dunes when we were on a road trip thru that area. We kept seeing a sand storm "up ahead." I had to get out in it, so we stopped at the convenience store and she pointed us to the dunes! It was just at Sunset and so dramatic.
Hey, someplace I've been. We tried using cardboard to slide down the dunes.
It didn't work. No kidding it gets crispy there.
Those deer are looking about as shabby as ours are this year. I guess the
mange is widespread problem. That sparrow (?) is adorable!
Wow, what an adventure to climb those dunes. These were fun shots Lisa.
And I love thos crocs - so vivid!
Great pics. My computer won't upload or donwload any images for now. I'll
get it fixed someday.
That place looks gorgeous. I would love to visit there
HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU GET THOSE BIRD PICS???? Geez, I can hear them, but
can never get a shot. I'm so glad you got to go to the Dunes. We LOVE it
there. I could sit there and watch those "tides" flow all day. NLM and
POOT have made it to the top before. I got half way and called it. Aren't
they just amazing!
I know of course the first bird is a white-crowned sparrow. They are my
most favorite migration watch in spring and fall.
Those are absolutely amazing. I want to go! Seriously.
Thanks for dropping by my blog!
My sister was just at the Dunes over the weekend. She got some great shots
too!
Who knew that there were sand dunes in Co?? She and her hubby made it
to the top of the dunes - she said the view was gorgeous!!
Have a good day!
That deer looked sad! =(
I love the sand pictures with the water! That is soooooooooooooo very
pretty! You have such a GREAT eye for things!
The dunes are such a fun place to visit. I'm glad you visited the places
that you did while you were in CO, you all picked some great places! Not
that I'm biased or anything....