tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post8959567225545014691..comments2024-03-18T20:48:54.829-04:00Comments on Reflections Around the Campfire: Great Sand Dunes National Park - Playing in the Biggest Sandbox I've Ever Seen (National Parks Trip #2)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-54766024380406307292019-04-06T12:35:27.561-04:002019-04-06T12:35:27.561-04:00Both White Sands and Great Sand Dunes are complete...Both White Sands and Great Sand Dunes are completely different from the views out our respective windows at home, aren't they?! Keep having tons of fun, Joe, because I'm enjoying your trip vicariously through your and Helen's adventures!MARYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06717399651012721086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-25901452171908799212019-04-06T11:15:01.197-04:002019-04-06T11:15:01.197-04:00Hi, Mary,
This Park resembles White Sands National...Hi, Mary,<br />This Park resembles White Sands National Monument a lot. I'll read more about it, but I assume it has much of the same geology. I loved seeing kids sledding down the dunes at White Sands. Great picture of you and Alan!Joe in TNhttp://www.easingalong.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-1250953177738872072019-03-20T08:11:13.773-04:002019-03-20T08:11:13.773-04:00I gave a lot of thought to your comment before rep...I gave a lot of thought to your comment before replying, Mike. The short answer is that I've never written about these adventures before either on the blog or elsewhere, except for bits and pieces in our Christmas newsletter. Before you start researching old folks homes, though, let me assure you that I don't write strictly from memory, although memory is a big part of it. For every trip, I use Publisher from the Microsoft Office Suite to create a calendar, then I note each day's planned mileage, travel time, planned activities and that night's campground. So, it's easy for me to go back to see where we were and, generally, what we did on any given day. After that, I scroll through our photos from the trip to get a better idea of the day's details and choose any I want to use in the post. (The folder for that 2nd cross country National Parks trip contains 2,941 pics. If they don't jog my memory, nothing will.) Aside from that, I believe the fact that I spend so much time researching a trip simply allows some of the details to embed themselves in my subconscious, making them easier to recall. And those cross country adventures with our kids were some of the happiest experiences of my life - yet another reason I think the details stick with me. As for why I'm recounting the trips (not that you asked but in for a dime, in for a dollar), part of it is just that I enjoy the creative writing aspect and keeping my readers entertained and informed. Another reason is that my journaling will provide a memoir of sorts for the kids. (My posts are also saved to a Word document which I plan to eventually print out and bind.) As youngsters, they had a great time traveling; I think when they're older, they'll realize just how fortunate they were to see so much of the country and will appreciate a record of those travels. At least, that's what I'm hoping! So, there you have it. I think you were just responsible for the longest reply to a comment I've ever made! MARYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06717399651012721086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-52603057530338194922019-03-19T22:06:30.459-04:002019-03-19T22:06:30.459-04:00Nice post! Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see...Nice post! Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see any mention of these posts as being reprints of earlier ones. And I couldn't see in this platform where you had posted them previously, so I'm wondering if you wrote about these older trips concurrent with the travel or are you writing about them now from memory or notes? If it's the latter, then you need to leave your brain to science, and I need to check myself into the old folks home. Inquiring minds want to know.Mike Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com