The Sangre De Cristo mountains hold many secrets. The impossibility of being able to learn all these secrets is advantageous, though. With ecosystems abound (tundra, desert, forest and wetlands), these secrets would take a lifetime and longer to uncover. At the base of these mountains are the Great Sand Dunes, one of the best kept of them all. The entire scene is a bit precarious as it may appear to be more of a painting than a photograph. The clouds roll through the nature conservation I'm occupying for the night, and the light catches my surroundings and captures my senses in a most unfamiliar way.
During our stay at the nature conservancy, we had no choice but to ignore our phones and the ranch didn't have T.V., either. None of us minded at all, as sometimes the best way to disconnect is when you have no other choice. The temptation to check your notifications is there, but seeing "No Service" at the corner of my screen was surprisingly comforting. We had communal dinners where I spoke to people from all around, California to England.
Unfamiliar yet strangely known, as if I'm being reintroduced to my first known self. The scents are new and yet remind me of childhood, of clean aspen air and quiet birdsong away from all whirls and blaring aggression of city life. I imagine my life here and a wash of serenity rolls over me like the wind washes the clouds over the dunes. I could happily close up shop here and now and live out the rest of my days in this quiet corner of nature at its purest.
There was a freak rainstorm during dinner, something I'm told is quite the rarity on the ranch. We were greeted with two huge presents, a rainbow along the foothills and a herd of deer running past the dining room. If you look closely, you can see one that stayed behind to have her picture taken.
After a night of stargazing and waking up to a foggy, quiet ranch, it was time to climb the dunes. The rain wiped away all of the smoke and haze from the surrounding fires, so we had clear skies and beautiful views.
I will come back to this wonderful place someday, and I hope it is as magical as the first time I laid eyes on it all. Until that day is here when I arrive back on that quiet, sacred land, I will remember how it felt under my feet. How the wind howled in the middle of a night darker than I'd ever seen. So dark and yet with more stars ablaze if you just turn your gaze upward. We stared until our necks stiffened, and even then we stared just a little while longer. This place holds a special corner of my heart.
Have you fallen in love with any places lately?
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