このこうえんはしゅうまつになるととてもにんきがあります。- This park is very popular on weekends

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The series continues (June road trip):

Last time I left off my recount at Great Sand Dunes National Park. I chose to visit this park because my daughter had not been there yet and because early June is the best time to visit with the creek at its maximum flow. 

In short, the sand dunes consist of sediment from the surrounding mountains blown by winds and then deposited here at the foot of the mountains over tens of thousands of years.

It is hard to describe how exciting it is for people like us living in a landlocked state to be able to walk on soft sand through warm waters. You can walk for several kilometers wading in the water, but most people congregate in one area close to the parking lot.

The creek is too shallow to really soak your body, but some people just lay in it and of course kids have the greatest fun digging in the sand and building channels and moats. It is like a giant, safe beach.

The view of the dunes from below is striking. The people hiking to the top seem so small! Some people bring boards and try to slide down on them with varying success 😄

What I was really fascinated by were the clouds and the changing light hitting the dunes. There were some storm clouds in the distance lurking behind the dunes and it made for really interesting images I thought.

We spent the whole afternoon by and in the creek. I did intend to climb the dunes, but we decided to come back the next day and see the park one more time. But this part of the story will have to wait for the next installment...