Before heading out from Pagosa Springs we looked back across the river and saw steam rising from the various baths. Sort of otherworldly.
A view looking across the river bridge at our hotel. Fair weather ahead.
Diving southeast from Pagosa Springs to dip into New Mexico before heading north again into Colorado and Great Sand Dunes Park and Preserve. Fall in full color, a blaze of yellow around every bend (of which there were many).
Gold and green vistas. We went over more near-11,000 foot passes.
Could be getting boring - NOT! And we're back to having the road nearly to ourselves.
Heading off the main road toward Great Sand Dunes. The sign should clarify that there is also no snowplowing when there is no snow.
The 16 miles to the actual entrance is dead straight, with a 55 mph speed limit - oh, to be sure.
Finally. The sign rising from the arid surroundings as if a mirage, out in the middle of nowhere
Never let a photo op go to waste.
Descriptive signs reinforced that we were looking at lots and lota of sand.
Finally, the visitor center. An informative 20 minute video provided all we needed to know about the formation of the dunes. To simplify, winds from the east are forced upward by the nearby mountains and in the process they unload the sand they carry. Very gradually, over eons.
A part of the dunes in the background, Norm pondering whether he should make like Lawrence of Arabia and join others (infinitesmal dots in the backgound) galloping around in the dunes, or just continue reading.
Pam's panoramic shot as we saw things.
No galloping today. Expert use of the selfie-stick is tantamount to watching how sausage is made.
We pulled off at the side of the road to capture this unique artsy shot, the dunes seen beyond a dead, wind polished trunk. Upon standing in front of it we observed the ground trampled to fine dust. Seems we weren't the only passing pilgrims vying for the pic of a lifetime. There are probably variations of this shot in (icloud) photo albums around the world. We now think that rangers hauled this piece of deadwood here just for this.
Somewhere between Sand Dunes and Denver we stopped to take this photo. Sometimes everything comes together to provide a shot that's a cut above.
Made it to Denver in late afternoon and checked in with Norm's sister Inge. Seven dogs, six of them rescue dogs waiting for new homes, poured out when the front door opened. In addition to her property management business, Inge is deeply involved with the "underground railroad" rescue program that saves dogs awaiting an imminent demise at the hand of abusive or uncaring owners, plus others, and gives the forgotten a second chance. Her vet bills are up there! Her own dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, is the brown pooch hogging center stage. It is a rotating menagerie, never a dull moment. Pam had to be forcibly held back by Norm as he caught her trying to sneak Scraps and Jingles into the Honda.
Drove 402 miles today.
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