So, after the Flagstaff Highland Games Saturday I headed across the Navajo Reservation to Hopi to visit my lady. The speed limit on the Rez Road I usually drive (Hwy 89) is 65 mph. But coming out of Flagstaff and hitting the rez I must have missed a speed limit sign.

West of Leupp I'm cruising along at about 75, top a hill into the forward looking radar of a Navajo Nation officer. He lit up his squad car lights and I pulled over while he turned around.

Now, Navajo Nation police officers work alone in a very remote area. They're all business because they can't afford to make a mistake. When he came up to the car he asked if I knew what the speed limit was. Told him 65 mph...he tells me, no, its 55mph. Guess I missed that sign somehow. This is big sky country...would be like Montana or Nevada having a 55 mph speed limit in the boonies...who knew?

So we're doing the drill. We're standing by his squad car with the passenger door open between us for his safety. I'm wearing my hand sewn Cameron Black and Red kilt, a black Jacobite shirt, belt, sporran, black kilt hose and shoes with a mini USMC K-Bar replica for a Skain Dubh. He didn't ask about it so I stood so the knife (actually a letter opener that couldn't cut string) is facing away from him...no need to complicate things.

Its pretty unusual for a non-Navajo to be on this rez road so he's asking me a lot of questions. "Do you have any drugs or alcohol in your car?" No sir, I'm a sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous and a drug and alcohol counselor. "Do you have any weapons in your car?" No. "Do you have anything illegal in your car?" No sir. All the time he's writing the ticket. He looks at the USMC bumper sticker on my car, "Were you in the service?" Yes sir, 1965 &66. He does the math checking the birthdate on my license against my age then.

I explain that I've been in Flagstaff for the Highland Games and am now on my way to the Hopi Rez to visit my lady.

Then, he offers the first social interaction of the encounter, "Who won?"
I wanted to crack up, but knew it wouldn't be wise. So I politely explained what went on at Highland games, and that there was competition, but it was mostly individual and that I didn't stay for the results. He got a puzzled look on his face so I tried again, "Its sort of like a Scottish Pow-Wow." That he understood.

Then he looks at me in full regalia and asks sincerely, "Are you Scottish?"
Again, I kept my composure and said yes.

I signed off on the ticket. Felt lucky it was only $50. The way I've driven on the Navajo Rez over the past five years I certainly owe them a lot more than that. I set my speed control at 55 mph and headed for my lady's house. Of course I got passed a LOT.

But hey, there are still cultural gaps out there. This officer had no clue. He's sure got a story to tell his buddies though.

Ironic, that back in Flagstaff there were two City of Flagstaff police officers working the Highland Games and they wore their uniform shirts, duty belts, and kilts. Got a couple pics. I'll post them on the pics forum soon for all you other kilted law enforcement folks out there.

"Who won?"

Cracked me up...

Ron