GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK

This is our first visit

Spent a night at Pinon Flats Campground in the Great Sand Dunes National Park.  We squeezed into one of their 88 sites made for 35' vehicles with our 38' motor coach with car in tow and had a wonderful view of the sunset. The dunes are nestled against the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains and are the focal point of a wild natural system of high mountain peaks, sparkling streams, forceful winds and billions of sand grains.  It was beautiful.

They rise to heights of 750 feet

Our view from the coach

Did you know that the Great Sand Dunes are North America's tallest and sits on a 330-square-mile deposit of sand?  The park was one of nicest National Parks we've visited.  Well maintained, clean, offered a dump station with fresh water and air for your tires.  The kiosk was lit by solar panels. One of the Rangers came around and asked if we wanted safety cones for our slides. The visitor center offered a movie which explained in detail how the dunes were formed and why they are forever changing.  Interesting.

The view coming into the Park

The next day we were heading to New Mexico and almost drove passed Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama, New Mexico which I had just read about in 1,000 Places To See Before You Die.

The sign caught my attention

Built in 1880, the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad was part of the Denver and Rio Grande extension into the silver-rich San Juan Mountains near Silverton, Colorado.  Service was discontinued in 1969, but the railroad, equipment and buildings, was saved by the states of New Mexico and Colorado.  It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012 and is the longest, highest and most complete example of late 19th and early 20th century narrow gauge railroading in the nation.  Unfortunately, we didn't get the opportunity to take the 64-mile adventure. Maybe next time, we'll board the narrow gauge train pulled by one or two powerful steam engines over trestle bridges, along steep canyons and past long-deserted pioneer homes.  

The train has first-class parlor service for adult's only, or deluxe tourist cafe seating or class coach cars with bench seating

The visitor center provided an opportunity to ham it up with this mountain lion

Hope you enjoyed our latest adventure and glad you took the time to stop in.

HAD TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU

I know I'm on a blogging sabbatical but I had to share with you our photos of Georgia.  We've met up with friends and made new friends here.  We visited two historic sites in the area; Jimmy Carter and Andersonville.

Don't get to see one of these every day

Spending time with the Carter's

Walked the property of Carter's boyhood farm

Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Smith got married at this church on July 7, 1946

Bill Carter's service station - the museum was closed

Tasted the best home made peanut butter ice cream at Plain Peanuts

Andersonville National Historic Site was a very sad experience.  The Site is the only national park to serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war.  It was once filled with desolation, despair and death.  The prison site is where nearly 13,000 Civil War soldiers died in 14 months, mostly from disease and starvation.  The National Cemetery brought to reality just how many died and were buried shoulder to shoulder.

Entrance to the museum - got my National Park book stamped at two places today

The first prisoners arrived in February 1864

This area depicts what the prisoners used as shelter from the heat and the 15-foot-high stockade wall surrounding the 16-acre pen

The cemetery was overwhelming

We had a few happy hours with old and new friends.

John and his wife (oops, I did it again)

Ken and his wife (Mary Kay LOL)

Randy and Sherry

Bill and Susan Rasmussen our gracious hosts

Larry and Gail enjoying the beautiful blossoms

Thanks for stopping in.