Going north from Van Horn, TX, this is the view of the Chihuahuan desert.
Image online here
When the dream began, I was in an RV. Out the window I watched the landscape change as we wove our way up from the desert floor, through Guadalupe Pass, and into Guadalupe Mountain National Park. Unfortunately, I never got to see or interact with the people I'm with on this trip.
View from a rest stop below the Guadalupe Mountains National Park headquarters. El Capitan peak is in the foreground.
Image online here
As soon as we arrived, we found a trail, and began to explore. Immediately we were rewarded with birds; most not expected there. The first two we encountered were a male Northern Cardinal and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Northern Cardinal (Cardualis cardualis) - male in pines
Image online here
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
Image online here
After a few turns up the trail I encountered a Bluethroat of all things. And, finally a male Indigo Bunting among the high country pines of west Texas.
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
Image online here
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
Image online here
The farther I went the more things got... weird. After exiting a particularly shaded grove, the trees gave way to a large open space of grass covered with sea creatures. Yep, you read that right. Anemonies, sea slugs, jellyfish, groupers, flounders and those freakish deep-sea things practically carpeted the small meadow. This was a potently vivid dream, and it continued repulsively into this last scene. On the bright side, at least the rest of the dream was breathtakingly beautiful.
