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Day 37: Great Sand Dunes National Park

The morning started with interesting conversations at the B&B with the host and some of the other guests over breakfast. One of them was a police chief from Latvia, doing an US road trip on a motorbike. 

After checking out, I drove to the Santa Fe Plaza, the heart of the city and a big tourist magnet. Lots of art galleries and roadside vendors for art, jewelry, sculptures, handicrafts with both Native American and Mexican designs.

 

 

 

 


 

I also went to the Loretto Chapel to see its magic, spiral staircase. There are many mysteries and stories surrounding this staircase and its builder. It definitely draws hordes of tourists like me :-)

Next was a walk around the Saint Francis Cathedral, which borders the Plaza. In the park next to it, there was a big gathering/protest by Native Americans demanding better rights. 

 

After a few hours in the Santa Fe Plaza area, it was a relatively short drive (compared to most other days)  to the Great Sand Dunes National Park.  Stopped for a late, but good Mexican lunch in Alamosa, which is the gateway town for Great Sand Dunes.  However, I chose to stay at an RV park that was close to the visitor center. After checking in, I drove straight to the national park to do the most popular, but challenging hike, the High Dunes Trail.  

It is surprisingly strenuous to climb sand dunes when your feet keep sinking into the sand.  Had to go up and down over several smaller sand dunes, before reaching the top of High Dune, which is roughly 700 feet hgh. Decided to stay back at the top to watch the sunset.

It was a lot easier and more fun to come down from the High Dune.  

 


 

It was dark by the time I reached the car and drove back to the RV park. The Tesla was dwarfed by the huge RVs on either side. It was the first time in this trip that I slept in my car, after folding down the back seats. With the Tesla camp mode enabled, the temperature set to a balmy 70 degrees, I had a reasonably good nights sleep. All through the night, the car got charged via the 240V outlet at the site. The charging was mandatory to get out the next day to a supercharger, and the primary reason I chose to stay here.

The raw numbers for the day:

  • 201 miles driving, 13500 steps walking
  • 1 Tesla supercharger stops, overnight level 2 charging at RV park
  • 2 states - New Mexico, Colorado

Next:   Day 38:  Black Canyon of the Gunnison (Oct 11, 2022)

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