Across the Navajo Reservation

Today, we drove from Joseph City to Chinle, AZ. We stopped in Ganado to tour the Hubble Trading Post National Monument. It was very interesting and is the trading post that has been in existence the longest. It is still a working trading post today, with a small grocery store and a place for the indians to sell their creations. Beautiful Navajo rugs and blankets were everywhere. Baskets galore, jewelry, leather work and silver. All displayed beside the usual tourist t-shirts etc. I loved the blankets and found one that was just right, even the perfect colors. It was only $1600.00!! I am married to a very practical man and he proceeded to tell me just how many miles we could travel on that amount of money - and which would I prefer. Oh well, I would have had to get rid of something if I brought it in the fifth wheel, right?

It seemed like we drove for hours, but we really didn't. We arrived in Chinle about 3pm, went to the Visitor Center and then to the Cottonwood Campground. From everything I had read, we expected the campground to be fairly empty at this time of the year. Wrong!! There were only about 3 or 4 spaces vacant. We chose the longest one that was left and began setting up. The campground hosts came by to remind us that it was dry camping - no water. We were prepared for this. A couple of neighbors stopped by to tell us the low tonight was supposed to be 20 degrees. We are prepared for that also. Wes got out the Wave heater and we got it going. We got the satellite up. Internet is good, but no TV - and no cell phone either. Oh well, we are cozy and warm and will be just fine.

This is a beautiful campground with old cottonwood trees all around. And the leaves are just turning here, so everything is gold and orange. It is really peaceful and quiet.

We have been warned about the "open range" on the Navajo Reservation. Horses, cattle, sheep, goats, dogs and any other "critter" can roam free. The Navajo Dogs evidently belong to everyone. They are various breeds. They are everywhere and appear friendly. They wag their tails and come toward you, but stop about 2 feet away unless you tell them to come on. They are not agressive at all. They appear to be well fed and cared for. At any rate, we were told not to pet or feed them unless we wanted to take them home. We noticed lots of cattle around the area, on the roads, in the ditches, etc. but we are used to that since we lived in Colorado and Kansas. However, we were not used to seeing horses roaming free. You need to be careful and watchful when driving on the roads here. Almost every house and business has a cattle guard at their driveway and fences everywhere - not to keep animals in, but to keep them out.

We are looking forward to seeing Canyon de Chelly tomorrow.

Nov 1, 2006

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