So for some reason, we decided to take the replicants on a spring break “driving vacation” that led us west. Our ultimate destination was Utah, where we planned to explore Bears Ears National Monument, as well as Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. We made some stops along the way to visit with friends and family, and conveniently enough, there were some things to see here and there. All photos are by my better half, unless otherwise noted.
For example, they have this thing in St. Louis, Missouri.
We spent a couple of days in Colorado Springs (I have people there), where we visited Garden of the Gods, a National Natural Landmark, which apparently is a thing. The weather wasn’t great (12” of snow predicted for that night), but we were still able to explore the park before conditions went too far south.
Verdict: Very cool, although the replicants liked the Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest better, due to it’s climb-on-ability.
Anyway. The weather cleared on our getaway day, and we got a great sunrise shot of Pikes Peak, with Garden of the Gods in the foreground.
Then it was time to head south, then west. The replicants captured a Pokemon Go gym in Walsenburg. Just north of US-160 in the San Luis Valley, we reached our next destination, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. To be honest, I never knew this place existed until planning this trip. I saw a spot on the map and said, “Great Sand Dunes? What the hell is that? Let’s go there.” Established as a national monument in 1932, it was upgraded to a national park in 2004. While it may be small in area, this park has some amazing scenery, not to mention the highest sand dunes in North America (depending on your source, 700’ to 750’).
It’s pretty weird to see sand dunes here, with the Sangre de Cristo mountain range rising in the background. A large prehistoric lake and associated flood plain in the valley eventually dried up (you know, once upon a time), and the resulting sediment was carried by westerly winds to the foot of the mountains, where it was deposited. Dune formation continues to this day, with the weather constantly building and reshaping the dunes.
We saw a lot of wildlife, including a herd of mule deer, as well as couple of pronghorn antelopes (!!!!!!). I never thought I’d see an antelope in the wild (maybe my expectations are too low). Of course, I thought the same way right before I saw a black bear, an alligator, a manatee, and that cottonmouth on Ocracoke. Anyway…
Heading west, through southern Colorado. We passed Chimney Rock National Monument, which features an impressive rock formation as well as some (reportedly) amazing primitive ruins. My eldest saw the Chimney from quite a distance, and he shouted out, “Look! It’s Colorado’s wang!” Sigh. I don’t know where he gets that. We were on a tight schedule, unfortunately, so we couldn’t stop to check the place out. (Full disclosure: I didn’t even know there were ruins there. Research your trips. As experience has shown, side trips are often better than the main attraction.)
After pausing in Durango for lunch and to stock up on supplies/groceries (more on that in the next installment, maybe), our next stop was Mesa Verde National Park (also a World Heritage Site), home to extensive Pueblo cliff dwellings. The park was created in 1906 by President Ted, and it protects 4,000 to 6,000 archeological sites (depending on your source), as well as 600 cliff dwellings. The area was seasonally inhabited starting around 7,500 BCE, with the big cliff dwellings constructed around 1,200 AD. It is thought that social and environmental conditions (war and drought) caused the inhabitants to relocate around 1,300 AD. (Please keep in mind that I’m really dumbing this down for the sake of brevity.)
It can take 45 minutes to drive from the front entrance to the southern limits of the park, so plan accordingly. Also, be wary of idiots you meet along the way who want to argue about the dumbest shit imaginable. For example, some jackass engaged me when I told my youngest to leave the juniper berries (actually modified cones) alone because some kinds are poisonous (junipers are endemic to the area). One variety is used to flavor gin, so they’re all OK, apparently (despite the kidney damage, risk of miscarriage, etc.). Of course, he was probably fired up because my nanobot saw the guy’s bumper stickers and loudly announced that no one should put a rapist’s name on his car, and what was wrong with these people. Very proud, but he needs to work on his tact.
The above four photos are all from the Fewkes Canyon, which is packed with cliff dwellings. These pics just don’t do it justice. You can purchase tour tickets for ranger-led hikes into selected ruins, but we were a week early for that (sales started April 9).
On the way out of the park, we were surprised by a coyote surveying the road, but unfortunately we didn’t get a pic. A minute later, I saw a pair of dark objects climbing a distant hill, and we got out to take a picture with my wife’s uber-zoom lens. I thought they were bears, but on further review, they were wild horses! I still can’t understand why my kids were so disappointed and annoyed, especially after I started singing.
After that, it was off to Utah and Bears Ears. On the way, we tried to visit Four Corners Monument, as the replicants really wanted to stand in four states at once, but it closed at 4:30 PM! What the fuck?!? The sun was still high in the sky when we got there at 6 PM, but the gate was closed and several other travelers were parked there, staring in apparent disbelief. Four Corners, you have made an enemy.
Next: Bears Ears National Monument, if I ever get around to blogging it. We’ll see...