June 15, 2015
The sky was pretty clear
last night and the evening looked very different than the night before.
The sunrise this morning was
rather nice.
We left the hotel at 9:30
and five miles down the road it was 8:30. The Indian Nation recognizes Day Light
Savings time and Arizona does not, so as soon as we were off of the reservation
the time change. This could be confusing – am I an hour late or an hour early?
Next stop was Cameron
Trading Post, a mere 123 miles down the road, which was a good thing. The
temperature got up to 38 C (100 F) and I felt like I was getting dehydrated even
though I was drinking water. Judith was holding up fine.
And as we pulled into the
Trading Post parking lot, as we have been seeing a lot of, a group on Harley’s
rented from Eagle Riders.
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| Two bikes in the picture are different than the rest. Can you find them? |
Why is the Cameron Trading Post here in the middle of nowhere?
A Swayback Suspension Bridge
was erected over the Little Colorado River in 1911 creating the first easy
access over the gorge. Soon after, two brothers, Hubert and C.D. Richardson
established Cameron Trading Post, visited at that time only by the Navajo &
Hopi locals to barter their wool, blankets, & live-stock for dry goods.
A trip to the post to trade
could take days of travel by horse-drawn wagon. Guests were always treated as
family, fed & housed by the trading post during their stay. As traders, the
brothers were more than merchants. Understanding local dialects & customs,
they were trusted by the local Native American people in matters concerning
confusing new American legal & social systems. Over time as roads improved
& interest in the area grew, The Cameron Trading Post ’s convenience to the
Grand Canyon & other intriguing areas made it popular for other travelers
as well. Cameron’s philosophy of hospitality accommodated these changes while
maintaining its role in the local community.
Cameron Trading Post has existed
for nearly a century and the people who work here have done so for generations.
The president of the company is himself descended from the original founders,
maintaining the philosophy of hospitality and respect evident in the operation
of Cameron Trading Post today.
Source: https://www.camerontradingpost.com/history.html
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| The Little Colorado River looks a "little" different than the Colorado River |
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| The Swayback Suspension Bridge back in the day. Photo source: the Internet |
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| Here is the bridge today. It's been replaced by a concrete bridge. |
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| Lots of construction going on. I believe they are adding a second bridge. Not sure how these guys work in 100 degree heat. |
The place is of course a
tourist destination (that’s why we’re here), but the facility is very nice. It’s
a throwback to the early years, but not done in a tacky manner.
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| Just before the tour bus arrived |
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| Tour bus has arrived |
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