Santa Fe : Part 5 - Bandelier National Monument

River kinda likes his dad :)

Best View of the Hike, 

On our last day we visited Bandelier National Monument, just outside of Santa Fe. It was a fun place to explore. River and Skyler especially loved it because of the more difficult and adventurous pathes, where you inch between Rocks, navigate narrow paths with drop offs, and climb ladders into old Rock dwellings and caves. I was holding my breath at some points worried about River, but Skyler had so much confidence in his son and his abilities and was right there to back him up if he needed. The best was when he got into one of the caves, River took it as an opportunity fro his own personal rock concert and was singing the Geronimo song at the top of his lungs. I took the opportunity and climbed up there too with Robin strapped to my chest. It was very interesting to see how the Native People their constructed their home using the cliff walls. It was quite ingenious.

Don't you just love that last picture?? It's my favorite!! Of course it's of my favorite people too!!

Santa Fe : Part 2 - Grand Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, CO - Day 2

The next morning we came back for more, and we discovered a completely different world from the day before. The sun appeared, burning off the morning cloud cover and heating up the sand. It became too hot to walk around without shoes on. River was so tired from the day before he just laid down and made a "sand angel". The water was calling to him, so we waded into the cool mountain run off and found relief. 

Water must be River's element because it restored his energy and he was off running and splashing again. Him and Skyler chased each other and Robin squealed joyfully as she bounced around in the pack. I loved soaking my feet in the cool water. Eventually I pulled Baby Girl out of the pack so she could get in on the action too. At first she wasn't too sure, but then I think the Hawaii memories came back and she loved the water again. Smiling and splashing her feet, getting us both wet. 

River is a true explorer. He never backs down to the new challenges out travels present. Sometimes he gets nervous, but as long as his daddy is near, he charges forward with out fear. Sometimes this gets him into a little trouble, but luckily he bounces right back and keeps going, and we all laugh along the way.

The magic of the Sand Dunes danced in our heads and the phantom current lulled our bodies as we drove the lonely, isolated, beautiful road to Santa Fe, and the kids slept the most of the way. Ok River did, and Robin was entranced with Barney, Baby Bop and Friends. 

Santa Fe : Part 1 - Grand Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, CO

*warning: photo overload*

See little River on the bottom left? We let him out of the car and told him we were going to go see those dunes, and he took off running for them. We couldn't call him back. Eventually Sky had to chase him down to bring him back 

This place. I mean ... THIS PLACE. 

It was other worldly. None of it made sense to me. It didn't play by the rules all other landscapes do, and we loved it. High altitude sand dunes butted up against beautiful alpine snow-tipped mountains? The ever changing sky, sand, wind, water flow, and temperature made me feel like I was exploring an alien planet. The sand even had a magnetic property to it. It was unreal and it was a true adventure. I got lost in it's magic. We all did.

To get to the Dunes we had to cross a wide spread river/creek. The water ebbed and flowed as the sand blocked the water and then let it go, creating these surges of water. They were gentle, but noticeable.

Once we got to the other side, River didn't stop running and exploring the whole time. I was surprised at how far his little legs carried him. We had to keep calling him back to us, his excitement and curiosity unbridled. He stayed right up with Skyler, dipping down into the dunes, walking along their crests, and scaling steep sandy sides. We walked barefoot with the sand giving way under our footsteps. Robin kicked her arms and legs with so much fervor we lost both socks somewhere in the dunes. She had just as much fun if not more than the rest of us. I wondered if the bjorn would hold her.  

It was amazing and overwhelming beautiful and new. I saw the hunger in Skyler's eyes to keep going deeper into the dunes. I think we all felt the pull. We left with sand everywhere and a renewed sense of adventure.