Monahans Sandhills State Park – Monahans, Texas
We made it to Dallas by dinner and had some Texas BBQ.
Our camping spot for the night, turned into a multi-day adventure.
We were at Monahan’s Sand Dunes. These dunes are made of a sand that is unlike any I have encountered elsewhere. That’s because this sand is actually the smallest river stones that you have ever seen. As the Rocky Mountains erode, the stones are tumbled downstream until they are so tiny, that they are carried away by the wind, and deposited here at Monahan’s. Instead of the typical granular nature of sand, this sand is made up of little, tiny balls. If you have ever played in a ball pit, you may have some idea of what it’s like to have a seemingly solid surface seem to dissolve as you put pressure on it. I have seen people sand surfing before, but this takes it to the next level. There is absolutely NO abrasion should you fall!
On the map, it looked like we were in the middle of a vast forest, but I could see to the horizon in all directions. Lizards and snakes were plentiful, but not a single tree in sight. I did a little research and discovered that I was standing right in the middle of a forest of Shin Oaks. Yep, the name says it all. These oaks were only about three foot tall. What was even more astounding than their diminutive size, was that these tiny oaks have the LARGEST acorns! These acorns are the primary food source for many of the creatures that call this place home, but they are also the cause of the decline of rattlesnakes in the region. It turns out that the snakes and ground animals often share the same underground spaces. Mammals bury the nuts, and the hogs disturb and destroy the nests of the rattlesnakes as they dig up the acorns.
I noticed that I had a flat before we left, and when I went to put the spare on, discovered that it had gone flat as well. We were quite a ways away from town, and didn’t have roadside assistance. The park ranger was willing to drive me to town, if I would help him empty the trash throughout the park. He said that he couldn’t justify the expense outright, but if I were to do some work with him, he would consider it compensation. I was happy to help, and grateful for the ride to town.