Tonelli's Travels

While camping near Guadalupe Mountains, Crystal reached out, asking if I perhaps wanted to camp together and visit White Sands with her. Crystal with the cute dog, yes, of course. And now I had Bryan and Natasha too, so a whole group was forming. What a splendid, unexpectedly lovely sequence of events. So I left Guadalupe at dawn, eager to beat high winds, complete errands, and join us with my new friends.

When I finally arrived at Dog Canyon for camping, Crystal was eagerly waiting. Our connection was instantaneous and fulfilling. She hopped in my van for some shade and the conversation flowed easily. It’s such a gift to find people in life who you belong with. Time slipped away from us as we chatted, and Bryan and Natasha eventually showed up to grow the party.

It was a blazing hot day, with no shade to be found, so we set up Crystal’s awning and eased in to an afternoon of relaxing. We made plans to head to the park for sunset and just chill until then. Eventually Bryan had had enough relaxing, and as an aspiring and naturally talented wildflower photographer, set off in search of a subject to capture on camera. Soon he returned, requesting my hiking pole in order to coax a rattlesnake from under a bush, and he was off. At first we all hesitated to follow him, but curiously got the best of us. We soon found him thanks to the loud shaking of the snake’s tail. Crystal, Natasha, and I watched from a distance, terrified and intrigued at the same time. We stayed until Bryan was done, wanting to make sure he was alright. And he was, thank goodness.

With my adrenaline quota filled for the day, I set about making dinner for us all. My friends are all camping in their various cars and haven’t had a good meal in a while. I was happy to serve them, feeling needed. Seasoned chicken breasts and green beans were like a gourmet meal to them and each diner was beyond grateful.

Then we sped off for White Sands, the most magical place in the middle of the desert. Out of nowhere, after miles of brown, dry ground with dusty shrubs, white dunes appear as if dropped from the heavens. We drove into the park, down the winding road, with the blazing sun sinking towards to the tops of the white hills. Life doesn’t get much better than that.

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We parked in time to watch the sun give it’s final show, reflecting golden and orange and blue off the distant dunes. Something about this place calls to your inner child and you can’t resist. Cartwheels in the cool, soft sand ensued. We wandering around barefoot, chased Max back and forth, sat and admired. A peaceful and energizing place.

Before the park closed, we strolled down the nature path under the blinking stars, looking for wildlife and soaking up the silence. Then we hopped back in the cars, bringing plenty of sand along, and zoomed back to our campground.

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No one was ready for bed yet. The stars were just beginning to shine. So we all laid down and admired the universe above. Shooting stars zipped by us, I counted six in all. Each time I reflected on how privileged I am to be in this place, with these people, and this moment. Thank you universe for bringing us together.

We all eventually went to bed and morning arrived before anyone was ready. Bryan said goodbye to go hunt Gila Monsters, Natasha set up to work from her car, and Crystal and I prepared for a day together enjoying White Sands again. It was hard to say goodbye, but I know we will find a way to connect again.

The rest of that day, with Max in tow, Crystal and I walked the trails at White Sands. The tiny crystals that disintegrate to create this beautiful space are magical. That’s the only word that fits! And someone how, in the middle of this desert, life persists. Trees grow, shrubs flower, lizards skitter about. We stayed and read and watched until the sun was high and hot. Then we departed for lunch and rest, but promised to return for one more sunset.

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Lunch was followed by a side trip to the largest pistachio in the world! A store, farm, and winery, a giant pistachio statue was the main attraction. A homage to the founder of the business, it stands tall by the side of the road. We admired it, and laughed, while enjoying some pistachio almond ice cream. We couldn’t pass that up, now could we?

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That night we drove all the way to the back, where the shrubs on the dunes disappear and white waves stretch for as far as you can see. We pulled out the red sled I bought earlier, waxed the bottom, and ran (until we wouldn’t) up the dunes. Let me tel you, running up loose sand is hard! Exhausting! Especially as you get close to the top and it falls away, slipping you backwards a bit, with each step. But we made it, and it was totally worth it. Taking turns, making a path, we slid down the dune, letting out shrieks of joy. Gosh, was it fun! I also rolled down the hill, made sand angels, and made pictures in the sand. Crystal and I were out uninhibited selves and it felt amazing.

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We stayed until the sun was gone, the night dark, and Crystal’s truck the only vehicle left. We stayed until the last moment, soaking up the serenity, and then slid down one last time. We may have technically been two minutes late leaving the park, but it was totally worth it. After all, I had made a new lifelong friend.

The next morning, before going our separate ways, we had breakfast together and planned our next legs of the journey. While we were parting for now, we both new it was only temporary. We’d be talking again before we knew it. Full hearts.