From Window Rock, in the Navajo Nation ...

On the road again!

We left Scooby Doo protesting at the Dog Hotel before dawn's early light yesterday and scooted down US 491 (the old 666, changed because it was "the Devil's Highway") toward Window Rock, AZ, the capital of the Navajo Nation. It was beautiful seeing the first rays of the sun hit the top of the Sleeping Ute and start to work their way down the slopes.

Unfortunately, however, thin, high clouds diluted the sunshine as we were going south of Shiprock along the Chuskas. I love the morning sun sweeping across the San Juan Basin and highlighting the rock formations and the slopes to the west, but it was not as spectacular as usual.

We turned west on the road to Washington Pass and Crystal, one of my favorite drives in Navajo country, and the sunlight got stronger as we went over the pass. The bottom picture is looking toward Washington Pass from the east, San Juan Basin side. If those are Gambel oaks in the foreground, they're huge! The ones around home never get more than 15 feet or so high.

Navajos say this should be called Narbona Pass; that cliff in the distance may be the one from which US Army Lt. Washington threw Navajo leader Narbona to his death.

After enjoying the beauty of the forests and pastures and fall color in the high country of the Chuskas, we went down the valley to Fort Defiance and then Window Rock, where a friend was coordinating a conference of Navajo traders, emphasizing those who are, in fact, Navajo.

Before lunch, we took a walking tour of the tribal zoo, which is right next door to the tribal museum (top picture). There was a lot of controversy when the zoo was created, because of the caged animals, but it was neat to see a group of young people touring the zoo.

On the way to the zoo, we each bought raffle tickets from a small swarm of red T-shirted Navajo boys who are raising money for their team. If we win, we might get $75, or a "Pendleton Vintage Camp Blanket," or "A load of wood," or "Dinner for 4 @ China West Buffet in Window Rock" or a "Sheepherder's special," which probably includes Spam and lard. (We passed a roadside vendor in New Mexico who was offering Spam and egg burritos!)

Anyway, after hearing the stories and queries of some of the traders (I think I may have gotten some leads for information on my kids' great-grandfather's post at Tothlacon [Sweetwater], we went to see the real "window rock." On the way, we passed quite a veteran's memorial park, which included the pictured bronze statue of a code-talker.

Supper at Denny's after finding three other restaurants closed (including the one at the Quality Inn, which is the old Window Rock Motor Inn that I knew from 30 years ago) and then back to our room to download pictures and hit the hay. tv