Day 15, Sunday 9th August, Great sand dunes National Monument to Denver
This morning we regrouped outside the Great Sand Dunes National Monument Visitors
Centre (a National Monument is one declared by the President, whereas a National
Park is declared by Congress), Jim and Pam having left camp early to have a look at
the centre. The Great Sand Dunes were created by winds blowing toward the north east
across the San Luis Valley. Sands carried by the winds were deposited at the foot of
the high Sangre De Cristo Mountains. The dunes have been built to a height of
nearly 750 feet and cover approx. 39 square miles.
We stopped briefly along the sandy track a bit to climb a particularly high steep
part of the dunes on foot while Spielberg played cinematographer and director once
again. Little Blue performed extremely well on the sand tracks, a combination of wide
road tyres, sorry tires, light weight and adequate power made it a lot of fun in
spite of an ominous sign declaring the point of no return.
We continued on for a couple of hours on a very pleasant track through changing
vegetation, many creek crossings, and past fellow 4WD campers into the Sangre De
Cristo Mountains heading for Medano Pass. Not long after lunch Donald and Maggie
heard a noise coming from the front axle of Juanito, it sounded like a failed
bearing in the diff. Donald decided to drive in reverse for awhile as this had
worked once before. With Red in front, er, behind Juanito, well leading the way
anyway, and Blue as T.E.C. we drove the next four or five miles until Donald tried
the more conventional method of driving once again, his neck must have been getting
very strained I think, and would you believe it, no more noise. I bet I couldn't
get away with that on the Rangie.
We travelled along past Wolf Springs Ranch with its amazing sign warning would be
trespassers that they should have a lot of money, a good lawyer, or both if caught,
and onto sealed roads and into Colorado Springs, the second largest city in Colorado
, to have a quick look see and refuel before heading toward Denver. It started
raining very heavily as we left Colorado Springs. These conditions are when the
soft top is at a disadvantage, visibility, except for the windscreen, is just about
zero and unzipping side curtains takes two hands at the best of times. It makes
driving in freeway conditions in pouring rain quite a strain. We turned off the
highway during a break in the rain and stopped at the Crazy Creek Bar for drinks
and to decide whether to bush camp tonight or head back to Denver and crash on the
floor at Casa de Bushducks. Due to further threatened precipitation the latter
option was chosen.
Day 16 Monday 17 August
Amazing to wake up in a place where the walls and roof don't flap in the breeze for
the first time in a couple of weeks. After breakfast and showers all except Maggie
clean up the hired Jeeps. Maggie has arranged to take Juanito to the Jeep dealer to
have his suspect front diff seen to. A hire car is provided by the dealer and what
a stroke of luck, it's a Dodge Ram 1500 Clubcab which seats six. This means we can
all go to Buena Vista to return Blue and Red, which we do.
After a hamburger lunch in Buena Vista we turned off the highway for an alternate
route to Denver through the very trendy ski village of Breckenridge. We all had a
look at the shops, made a few purchases and before leaving happened to drive past
the Police Station, surprise, surprise, the cops here drive Discoveries, about 13 or
14 of them being on hand, quite a coup for Land Rover in the land of American iron. The police probably find that parts and accessories for the Land Rover are not as common as parts for Jeeps in this area.
Back to Denver on more of the scenic route and out to a Mexican restaurant for
dinner.
Day 17 Tuesday 18 August.
In the morning we say our goodbyes, it's been an unforgettable 16 days, with the
best of companions touring the most spectacular countryside imaginable. The Jeeps went
well, I think we missed our Range Rovers a bit, but the agile little Jeeps proved very adaptable. Roger and
Julie are flying to Idaho later today to meet with eldest daughter Amanda who will
show them Yellowstone National Park, they are undecided on accepting youngest
daughter Sally's invitation to fly to Lima, Peru and accompany her to Lake Titicaca.
Donald and Maggie have plans for next weekend in Wyoming. We fly to San Francisco,
spending five days there before hiring a car to travel down highway 1 on the coast to
Los Angeles, camping along the way, more beautiful scenery and places to see.
We have thoroughly enjoyed America and the people have been most hospitable. We would love
to come back some day.
Jim and Pam Patterson
©Days 1-5, Roger and Julie Smith 1998
©Days 6-10, Bushducks 1998
©Days 11-17, Jim and Pam Patterson 1998
Photos - © Roger and Julie Smith, Bushducks 1998
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4WD Adventures: Colorado
This book lists 70 backcountry trails to help you explore the Colorado backcountry.
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