Shiprock, New Mexico

We're still making our way to Hurricane, UT and stopped in Shiprock, NM for a 4 day hiatus from traveling. Strange name for a town, right? It's named after the huge stone monument which is a sand-colored column that was named by Anglo settlers. It reminded them of a clipper ship, hence the name. The Navajo call it "Tsé Bit' a'í",

or rock with wings. The peak is 7,178 above sea level and 1,583 above the surrounding desert plain, and is the center of three volcanic pressure ridges that pushed the rock skyward thousands of years ago. 

Shiprock is a sacred mountain to the Navajo people. There are quite a few stories about it's significance. One story is that flesh-eating Bird Monsters lived atop the Shiprock. One of the two Warrior Twins, Monstery Slayer, killed two of the Bird Monsters and turned one baby Bird Monster into an eagle, and another into an owl. The rock is even mentioned in various chants and ceremonies. Another tells how a great bird carried their ancestors from the far north to their current homeland in the American Southwest.

The town of Shiprock is on the Navajo Nation land and is called "Naat’áanii Nééz" by the Navajo people, meaning "tall leader", after the San Juan Indian Agency superintendent William T. Shelton who settled Shiprock for the U.S. government.

While we were there we became acquainted with the local police department. We're boondocking at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church, who are kind enough to allow RV travelers to stay in their parking lot for a short time to rest up on their travels. In the wee hours of Sunday morning someone stole Dad's e-bike off the bike rack on the truck. He reported it to the police department and they took down all the information, took pictures of Mom's bike which is almost the same but a different color, and are currently keeping an eye out for it. Mom jokingly accused Dad of hiring someone to steal it so he has an excuse for not going out biking with her. When Mom called our insurance agent to report it he couldn't stop laughing. You have to admit that it's kind of funny that our bike gets stolen from a church parking lot on a Sunday morning. He said we win the claim of the month award for originality!

The Navajo people have many customs revolving around their belief in spirits. One of their practices is to bless homes and businesses against evil influences. Mom saw this sign on the wall at the local laundromat. The name "Dine' " means "the people" in Navajo.

We leave today for Hurricane, UT, where we'll be for the whole month of December. It'll be nice to settle down for a month and get to know the surrounding area better.

--Sammy

Road sign in front of a farm

Mom says they don't look too fat to her