Day 28 #TeslaRoadTripUSA

Moab to Grand Canyon Village via Navajo Nation off reservation Trust land. 479 miles

The Index of all 30 posts from day 1 of our #TeslaRoadTripUSA is HERE.

The Tesla navigation has been great. Today it hiccuped. Our original route was to Grand Canyon village, about 370 miles. But then unexpectedly the Tesla Sat nav decided we didn’t have enough juice to get there, so it rerouted us through Holbrook. (This was wrong. We had more than enough as it turned out.)

Happily, that route adjustment that diverted from the planned route took us to a place we would not otherwise have visited. Indian Route 15. Adding two hours to our journey. Giving us a tour of the Navajo Nation land.

We were in Navajo Nation off reservation Trust land. I was reminded of driving through South Africa during Apartheid. How the Bantustans had the worst land; while the whites enjoyed the best areas.

We drove about 200 miles down the Indian Route 15. It appeared to me that this was some less ideal land than that we have enjoyed thus far on this drive. The housing was extremely low income. We have seen many low income hamlets along the way. This appeared to us, from the car, to be the poorest we have seen.

Trailer communities looking run down. Far from any services or amenities. Many abandoned homesteads. The road was ragged. Infrastructure spending has bypassed this road for many years now. Potholes abound.

Apparently some 400,000 Navajo populate this area. We saw hexagonal structures. Called Hogans. Traditional Navajo structure. Most in these trailer communities seem to have horses and work in ranching. Didn’t see much agriculture. Wide open space with nothing at all. The feeling is very much of an economically disenfranchised population living on very little.

We past through Many Farms District. More Hogans.

After Indian Route 15 we got to Holbrook. Route 66 signs everywhere.

In the Navajo territory we saw many churches. It seems odd that the Navajos would choose to have so very many churches all over their land.

Alongside signs saying ‘We support our troops” and “Troops welcome Home.”

Religion is big business. Wherever you go. Was a bit surprised to see so much of it popular with the Navajo people.

After a long day of driving we reached the Grand Canyon. South Rim.

video of the South Rim view

Pictures of South Rim.

Tomorrow. Hiking the Grand Canyon.