Great Sand Dunes National Park

May 3 - 6, 2021

With a vow to be back, we left South Dakota, my how I loved it there and what fun we had. Oh well, on to new adventures as that is what this is all about. We headed south making two overnight stops toward our next destination: The Great Sand Dunes National Park.

The first stop was at Cabela's Campground in Sydney, Nebraska, home of the International Headquarters of Cabela's. Those of you who are into camping, hunting, fishing, etc will know the name of this chain of stores. We have been to the one in PA and what a store it is. Besides everything one could want and didn't know they needed for exploring the great outdoors, there is a wildlife museum, shooting gallery, and restaurant. We expected similar in Sydney as again World Headquarters but we were quite disappointed. Just a big store, no extras, and the small cafe they had was closed. Jeesh!

    

 But the campground itself was well laid out, level graveled sites with full hookups, clean facilities. There was a separate tenting section, large playground, and even a equestrian park with exercise ring. There was a nice walking trail and large park in front so we were happy. Relaxed, refreshed and hit the road in the morning.

Our next stop was Falcon Meadow in Falcon, Colorado, just outside Colorado Springs. Odd campground with sites stuck in seemingly helter skelter as it expanded. Clean, but odd, owners appeared to be super friendly, old hippies though not that old LOL As with a lot of campgrounds these days, quite a few that seem to have made a permanent stop. Onsite store, gas, propane and laundry facilies, true one stop shopping. Had some dirt trails in the back so got to get out and walk a bit. Interesting place to stop for a night. Not a whole lot to take pictures of.

The ride was through mostly flat lands with not a whole lot to see to the left. Except we we went through this one area where there had to be thousands of Turbines, they stretched out in all directions for miles as far as the eye could see. Right out of a SciFi movie! 

Of course, the great Rockies stayed to the right of us which had us reminiscing our trip across as we made our way to Alamosa, Colorado where we stayed at the KOA by the same name. Nice campground as per typical of KOAs, though sites could have been a bit further apart in our opinion. The usual amenities: store, pool, cabins, outdoor games such as horseshoes, mini golf, etc but these were still not open due to COVID. The facilities clean with hot water and good pressure, aahh the important things in life. Staff helpful and friendly. We stayed a couple of days so as to explore.

The Great Sand Dunes National Park. 

WOW, what a mind blowing experience. There in the middle of nowhere with snow covered mountains in the background, prairie in the front is this giant sand dune! The tallest sand dune in the county with peaks over 750 feet, another surreal feeling when there. We climbed a bit and sat watching many sand boarding (yep, snow boarding on sand). The fun was having to cross the Medano Creek which had just started running again with the warmer weather melting the snows of surrounding mountains. Crossing back over feels real good after hiking up a sand dune in the heat! Great trail across the road the takes one through forested areas which we also did. Would love to be there during the Sand Crane Migration but not this time. This is certainly somewhere to put on the bucket list, amazing, simply amazing.

Enjoy our visit to the Great Sand Dunes!

Westward Ho!!

Custer State Park, South Dakota

April 25 – May 3

We had a lot of fun exploring Custer State Park in several ways: Scenic Drive, Hiking, and a Jeep Tour!

I talked about the drive a bit in prior posts, with the crazy tunnels, twisty curves, but the views!! Oh my the views. I'll post some of what I took at the end of this post. So many breathtaking vistas. The other fun part of the scenic drives where the animals: Buffalo, Antelope, Deer, Donkeys, and even some wild Turkeys. Oh and a distance view of Elk.

     

Played tourist and took a Jeep Tour of the park which got us up close and personal to the Buffalo and Donkeys (affectionately known as the Begging Burrows). Got to go to those places in the park where cars can't. The driver/tour guide was very informative, being the 4^th generation on the ranch he lived on gave him great insight and knowledge of the history of the land, park, and animals. If you ever get there and do the tour, ask for Roger.

It was Roger who explained the difference between a Buffalo and a Bison. It depends on which side of the fence their in, LOL. If you are from there they are Buffalo, if you are from elsewhere they are Bison. Actually, they are the same animal, the scientific name for the American Bison or Buffalo is Bison bison, but hey have you ever heard of Bison, NY?? or how about Bison Bill?? nope. Buffalo was the name the French gave them for the shaggy mane: Buffles. In the Sioux-Lakota language, it is “Tatanka” which means “He Who Owns Us.” By any name they are big, incredible strong, and surprising fast with a speed of 35 miles per hour: Truly majestic animals with soulful eyes.

Did several short hikes which were, one up to the Fire Tower and memories of some very important people in my life growing up. My dad, Uncle Bill, Uncle Andy, Harold; they were all part of the NJ Forest Fire Service and great men. I grew up with State Fire Truck B-25 in my backyard and got to go up in the Fire Tower in Jamesburg often. These men as well as others taught me the love of nature, the woods, and a healthy respect for what is there and of fire. I have been honored in knowing them.

Onward to Sylvan Lake. Beautiful area.

What an entertaining, surprisingly challenging hike it was. According to the write up it was just hike around the lake, that sounds nice, and yes, it was nice but its what they didn't tell you that made it, umm, interesting. Started out nice and easy wide pathway. 

Go around the bend and oops, first obstacle, a large patch of slushy snow/ice to get through. Okay, not so bad, just take your time. 

Continued on, go down to the end and follow the trail around those rocks, HA, that brings you to a narrow tunnel covered in ice. Oh goody. Does that stop us, of course not, fortunately the walls are close enough to help. 

Get through in one piece and come around to the back of that mountain of rock, other WOW!! Okay now just a scramble up and over those rocks there, ha piece of cake. 

Cool slit through there and just a bit further up the scramble, yep, another WOW!

 

Over the rocks and down the hill it evens out a bit until, well more scrambling! Hey, Look, I made it!! Playing a bit of peek a boo is always fun. More great views and a deserved break!

This bench says it all!!

TA