I have no trouble believing, if they visited GC, that they found a desert in the vastness of the New World. They were familiar with the desert and life drew them to more places like that. You used a Dune quote and now your head is full of thoughts of Arrakis and sand. Such is life. Magical.
Reminds me of The Alchemist...the pyramids and the church in Spain both contained a treasure...
Yeah and if you were sitting in my head watching how the pieces interconnected and lead to this, then this, then this was pretty magical too.
A lot of fun. :)
I have no doubt:)