Chriss Horstman & Carol HoffChriss writes:
We started driving today at about 12:30 or so (once again Carol will say it is my favorite departure time) We are not sure exactly where we are headed or will end up. I started driving west on route 160. Carol was navigating as she had all the maps and was calling the shots, just like on the motorcycle. We saw a hugh mountain in the distance. One that appeared to have snow on its cap, sure in August? As we got closer you could see the different rock textures that gave the appearance of a snow capped mountain. See our pictures.
We traveled less than 100 miles on Hwy 160 when we came across a sign that read "Great Sand Dunes National Park." I said "isn't that the national Park that the Andrews family were telling us all about?" Carol said, yes it is so I turned our rig around and pulled into the entrance road and stopped. Carol and I talked it over and agreed "let's give it a try." Later we both will say this spot was one of the high points of our trip. A good choice we made. Although later I will wonder if my spontaneity will put Carol under stress? More on that later.
The park is about 30 miles of sand dunes that are 750 feet high. Although I have some pictures, of course it doesn't really do it justice. A web search will be the best. As seniors we can stay for $7 a night (It pays to be a senior citizen). We also decided to stay for 5 days. This way we won't have to try and find another campground during Labor Day weekend.
The park is about 30 miles of sand dunes that are 750 feet high. Although I have some pictures, of course it doesn't really do it justice. A web search will be the best. As seniors we can stay for $7 a night (It pays to be a senior citizen). We also decided to stay for 5 days. This way we won't have to try and find another campground during Labor Day weekend.
Click......... Here's an updated map of our trip so far.
Carol writes:
Thanks to my son Tom for typing as I dictated last night’s blog to him at his home in NJ. We have no hook ups at the park but I will write a 5 day blog to send out when I can. Later on Chriss will encourage me to call Tom and over my cell phone dictate my days blog while we are perched on a mountain top during our hike.
Our campsite is a beautiful spot in spite of not having electrical or water hook ups. We do run our generator to charge the batteries but it would not be very well thought of in the park if we ran it all the time. So we must haul water in jugs and be very conservative with the use of the RV's battery power. But in spite of these small inconveniences we are very pleased with our site.
We have chatted with many people from all over the USA during our stay at the Dunes. People who walk past our site will stop and chat. I think Chriss and I tend to draw people into conversations, they end up enjoying us and we them. Last evening we met a very young lady named Clair with her dog Ellie. She was kind enough to offer to take a picture of us and in turn we took a picture of her with Ellie too. So intelligent this young lady is, we all had a good chat. later on Clair came by with her dad and Mom. Nice people!
Thanks to my son Tom for typing as I dictated last night’s blog to him at his home in NJ. We have no hook ups at the park but I will write a 5 day blog to send out when I can. Later on Chriss will encourage me to call Tom and over my cell phone dictate my days blog while we are perched on a mountain top during our hike.
Our campsite is a beautiful spot in spite of not having electrical or water hook ups. We do run our generator to charge the batteries but it would not be very well thought of in the park if we ran it all the time. So we must haul water in jugs and be very conservative with the use of the RV's battery power. But in spite of these small inconveniences we are very pleased with our site.
We have chatted with many people from all over the USA during our stay at the Dunes. People who walk past our site will stop and chat. I think Chriss and I tend to draw people into conversations, they end up enjoying us and we them. Last evening we met a very young lady named Clair with her dog Ellie. She was kind enough to offer to take a picture of us and in turn we took a picture of her with Ellie too. So intelligent this young lady is, we all had a good chat. later on Clair came by with her dad and Mom. Nice people!
Last night we went for a walk after dark, and this place gives DARK a whole new meaning. This whole trip has been a series of “WOWs” one wonderful scene after another. Last night’s walk was another one, I saw more stars out than ever before in my life. The milkyway was very clearly visible in the night sky. I even saw a couple of shooting stars. After our walk we just sat in our lawn chairs in the middle of the lane, in front of our camper. This dark spot on the road is where our view was the best, away from any lights from the rest rooms or other camp sites. Unfortunately, we scared one of our fellow camper to death as he was walking up the lane. He didn't see or hear us and was startled when he almost walked over us. He jumped back with a start and shout. Further down the lane this same person screamed out as he took off running off the road and into the woods. He was startled thinking he heard a bear growl next to him. Actually it turned out to be very loud snorring from a fellow camper. Chriss and I started to laugh and could hardly stop.
Each night at 7:00 PM the Rangers give a lecture in an amphitheater not far from us. Usually it is regarding some facet of the park. Last night it was about weeds that grow on the dunes. Last night we missed it but will go tonight and listen to a different topic.Today we plan to investigate our surroundings. Not far from our campsite there is a trail down to the dunes and we plan to try it out soon. So I will return later and continue.
Carol Hoff & Chriss Horstman
