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| 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.
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| They rise to heights of 750 feet |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| The train has first-class parlor service for adult's only, or deluxe tourist cafe seating or class coach cars with bench seating |
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| 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.
