GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE

Our 59th Park in our 23rd State was the Great Sand Dunes NP and Preserve near Mosca, CO

That tan area between us and the snow capped mountains is the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado!!

The tallest peak is Star Dune 750 feet high, above what I don't know the Visitor's Center is at an altitude of 8175 feet.  The Dunes cover 330 square miles!!  You are allowed to climb and slide all over it.  Those little specks way up high are PEOPLE.

I wanted to see if my motorcycle boots were really waterproof...they were!!

  

The formation of these Dunes is certainly a "freak of nature".  It is really worth the visit, hike, a picnic, camping, wading in the stream and bring the KIDS, old and young!!  Enjoy !!!!

CAPULIN VOLCANO NM

Our 58th Park in our 22 State was CAPULIN VOLCANO near Des Moines, NM

Capulin Volcano erupted into existence 60,000 years ago and has remained in active.  It is one of the few volcanos that show the "cone shape" rim.  In fact you can walk the entire rim.

The drive to the top provides a spectacular view. 

This is a picture of the Center of the Volcano.

 The are many volcanos that are visible in the area. 

Even the bike enjoyed the view from the top, but asked "Is that a storm in the distance?"

YES! That is a storm and radar showed that it was between us and where we were going.  Time to take cover.

The Park Ranger let us park under the Visitor's Center overhang.  Even the deer were looking of cover.

After about 4 hours of rain, thunder, lightning, wind and HAIL a rainbow appeared.  It was the perfect end to the "perfect storm".

Despite the storm, we really enjoyed over visit to Capulin Vocano.  There is a good explanation of a volcano, abundant wildlife and flowers, nice trail and nice people.  

The 26 mile ride from Capulin Volcano to Raton, NM was unbelievable.  This is a picture of the sunset.  I have never seen such vivid colors.  It was awesome.

As we were leaving the Visitor's Center a car stopped us and told us to watch the HIGH WATER, an accident, and the SNOW PLOW pushing the 6 inches of HAIL off the roads.  In the picture above we are approaching a wreck where a guy slid of the road because of the HAIL.

The temperature dropped from 80 degrees to 46 degrees almost instantly.

Yes, that is the snow plow and YES, that white stuff is HAIL!!

Because we stopped and waited for the storm to pass, we were never in danger.  What could have been fatal turned out be a most gorgeous and exciting adventure.

ALIBATES FLINT QUARRIES

Our 57th Park in our 21st State was ALIBATES FLINT QUARRIES near Fritch, TX

This park was a "bust".  The Visitor's Center was closed while the Ranger went to lunch.  You have to arrange for a tour to see anything.  Peeking through the window of the Visitor's Center I saw some beautifully colored stones.  I assume they were flint.  I think the park is suppose to compliment the Lake Meredith experience and vice versa, but Lake Meredith is so low due to the drought in the area that it is unappealing and almost unusable.  The park is near a boat ramp, from which NO water can be seen!!

WASHITA BATTLEFIELD

WASHITA BATTLEFIELD near Cheyenne, Oklahoma was our 56th park in our 21st state!!  Getting closer to our goal of 50 parks in 25 states in one year!!

As you can see they have a very nice Visitor Center, which has nice displays and a movie.  The site of the battle is only accessible by hiking.  We didn't take the time to do the hike.

At this park they do a good job of presenting the White Man and Indian side.  At this battle they show that Custer exercised bad judgement in the killing of a non hostile Indian Black Kettle and women and children.  However, he felt angered and justified by previous Indian assaults.  Do two wrongs make a right?  You can be the judge.