Desert Story

Long long ago, in what I recall as my 'tweens', my father took us an a particularly long road trip. I visited my father every summer for 6 to 8 weeks, and in my memory he was very fond of road trips. But this one was very long, from florida all the way out to Colorado, and back.

That was a good long trip, and there are a few stories that could be told. But what is of interest today is, what was for me, the highlight of the trip. The Great Sand Dunes National Monument in southern Colorado. Out at the edge the mountains, where they give way to the southern edge of the Great Plains, and just north of the mesas and canyons of northern New Mexico lies 30 square miles, of what for all intents and purposes is the Sahara. Lawrence of Arabia time here, it is just stunningly pretty. Stunningly weird. Stunningly fun, if you happen to like running through sand. And actually quite convenient to dad's old stomping grounds.

They were certainly one of the coolest things I saw growing up. And definitely the best thing about that road trip. And as of this week, I imagine they will be on the itinerary of a much larger number of road trips, because they are now the nations newest national park. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Has a good ring, doesn't it ?

More info at the Christian Science Monitor

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