Two days ago we went to the sand dunes with our guests. It was a 2 and half hour drive from home and since we left rather late, we reached there when it was about 5pm when it was almost sun down.
We saw the sign that only four wheel drive (4WD) vehicles were able to enter the area. Since a passing tour guide told us that our guests’ 12 seater van could probably go on the first leg of the dunes and since there were no more tours leaving at this hour, we decided that we would go as far as we could. Nad, the kids and I were in front since we have 4WD and told our guests to signal to us if they feel that they couldn’t go any further.
We saw the sand change to a slightly softer consistency and were wondering if we should stop when ACK! They got stuck!
The back right wheel was just spinning in the loose sand and with every acceleration, it dug a deeper hole and the van was sinking in. It was hopelessly stuck!
A kind passer by came to us and tried to help. We tried pushing but that didn’t work. He said he’ll go get a piece of rope and will be right back. Meanwhile Nad and I (with our kids) drove out to take down the number of the rescue team. They had signs with their numbers on them just outside of the area.
We went back and waited for the man to come back with the rope before calling the rescue team.
Then, we saw these:
There were 4 of the red ones and one white one coming towards us!
They did a parallel park :
Hahahahah we felt like we were in an action movie!
Then men then got to work and they started pushing.
And pushing.
(Note: See Nad wearing his new sweater I knitted? 
)
We were finally freed.
We were so thankful for the rangers’ help. We watched them drive into the sunset:
Hahaha. What an experience! It sure made an otherwise boring day into an exciting one!
We got a nearby tour guide to bring us on a tour of the dunes in their big ass bus after all (my friend paid an arm and a leg for that) and we got to sandboard for awhile in the semi-darkness.
Then it was a loooonnngg drive home.
What an adventure!
