American West Bus Tour Day 6/20 - Talking in Code in Tuba City and Canyoning, Grand Style
We started day #6 with breakfast at the hotel. We then loaded bags and got on the bus for another day of adventure. We were off for Tuba City to meet with Peter MacDonald, one of the Navajo Code Talkers from the Pacific Theater of WWII.
On the way, we passed the first of several signs for Cameron Trading Post - our eventual lunch stop.
We arrived in Tuba City and went to the Code Talkers Museum to meet Peter.
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| At 96, Peter is one of only three remaining Code Talkers |
Peter MacDonald was one of the more than 400 Navajo Code Talkers. Peter told the story of how the idea was hatched to use the Navajo language to build a verbal code to be used to communicate secret information via radio in the Pacific Theater of WWII. The Japanese were adept at breaking codes and the hope was that something like the Navajo language would prove unbreakable. The initial 30 Navajo men were recruited and trained by the Marine Corps.
A major issue was that the code needed to include letters along with words. Navajo is a spoken language with no written component so there were no Navajo words for English letters. The group developed a plan to use Navajo words where their English counterpart would indicate the letter being described. Another complication was that there were no Navajo words for the various air and watercraft that the military used. They developed nicknames in Navajo for each piece of equipment.
None of this was written down. Everything was committed to memory. It was tested in battle by the initial group and it proved to be extremely effective as a means to communicate secret information about military movement and specific enemy targeting. This led to an expansion of the Code Talkers to over 400 Navajos.
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| Peter explained that from that point on, all secret and classified radio communication in the Pacific was done using the Navajo Code |
The entire project was classified and the Code Talkers were prohibited from telling anyone anything about their role in WWII other than that they were radio communications men. It remained that way until 1968 when the Code Talkers were officially recognized for the critical role they played in winning the war in the Pacific.
The talk was interesting, engaging, and informational. At 96, Peter has some mobility issues but beyond that, he was as sharp as a tack and an engaging speaker. It was very personal for him and it showed. His love for America was definitely on display and was nice to see.
After Peter's hour-long talk, we headed back to the bus for the ride to the Cameron Trading Post in Cameron, Arizona. Even though we were in Arizona overnight and all morning, we remained on Mountain Daylight Time, even though Arizona doesn't recognize Daylight Saving Time. Why? We were in the Navajo Nation and they do recognize Daylight Saving Time. When we arrived in Cameron, we left the Navajo Nation and just in plain, old Arizona and on Mountain Standard Time. During this time of the year, Arizona is on the same time as the U.S. West Coast, so we flipped one hour earlier.
As we made our way, we started passing through parts of the Badlands and the painted desert.
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| Badlands are so named as the land is "bad" - arid, rocky, and not good for agriculture or much of anything |
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| It sure is pretty, though |
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| Arriving in Cameron |
We started with lunch - Navajo tacos and onion rings.
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| The taco toppings were piled on Navajo Fry Bread - a fried flatbread |
The trading post was big with lots of local arts and crafts, jewelry, and souvenirs. Once everyone was full and shopped out, we headed out for today's main attraction. It had something to do with some kind of hole in the ground.
On the way, we started seeing appetizers - small, rocky depressions in the desert.
Shortly, we arrived at the first of three stops on the Grand Canyon's South Rim - Desert View.
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| The Desert View tower - we didn't climb it as you need a reservation - it didn't affect our view |
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| The views were...well...wow |
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| Photos simply do not do it justice |
We almost lost our tour director, Geoff.
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| Here he is, clawing his way up from certain death |
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| OK, this was staged - he was standing on a ledge just below the edge |
Like many celebrities, it is extremely hard to take a bad photograph of the Grand Canyon.
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| This rock squirrel was busy, running around |
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| He was gathering and chowing down on juniper berries |
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| A side view of Desert View |
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That's the Colorado River - it is responsible for carving out this canyon
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| Arlona was fascinated with the different structures in the rocks |
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| This photo didn't capture all the subtle color variations |
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| We were blessed with cloudless skies and brilliant sunlight |
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| Just look at that color |
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| Some interesting facts about how massive the canyon is |
After too short of a time, we moved on to Grandview - another viewing location.
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| Yup - still beautiful |
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| A lone vulture, or so we thought |
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| Suddenly, the sky was crowded with turkey vultures riding the thermals in the canyon |
We moved on to our final stop, Mather Point.
While we were looking at much the same area from each viewing location, each one offered a different perspective and unique beauty.
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| Our attempt at a shadow heart |
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| We could see just a sliver of the Colorado River from this vantage point |
After consuming our fill of amazing beauty, we were taken to the Squire Resort at the Grand Canyon where we will spend the next two nights. We spotted some elk along the way but they were in the woods.
We were only there a short time as we got on the bus for a return trip into the park. We spotted more elk and another passenger was able to snag this photo of a huge male.
We headed back to Mather Point for the sunset. It isn't what you think. The sun sets behind the canyon. The real magic is in the clouds when they turn to fire over the canyon. Well, that's what happens if you have clouds. We didn't.
We did catch a little light on the rocks, but the whole thing was a bit underwhelming.
But wait! Sunset was at 6:31. As it turns out, moonrise was 6:32, and tonight was a full moon! Not only that, a lunar eclipse was going to happen at roughly 7:10! It was only a 14% eclipse, but still...right?
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| That tower silhouetted by the moon is Desert View Tower |
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| The full moon in all its glory |
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| The eclipse started on the upper left - it was getting chilly so I didn't stay out for more |
The temperature was dropping quickly and we're looking at potential lows in the low 30s overnight. Brrrrr! We will be out tomorrow morning by 7:15 as we have a morning helicopter ride from the South Rim to the North Rim and back. We'll do more touring tomorrow so it will be a full Grand Canyon day.
Day #1 at Grand Canyon is in the books, and it was a great one.
Did a helicopter ride and it was truly something that humbled and amazed.
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