Planes, Trains, & Automobiles may make you think of the hilarious movie starring John Candy and Steve Martin. Throw in mules, and suddenly you are talking about all the ways the United States Postal Service uses to get mail to the people. While we grapple with the reality of 5-day a week mail delivery, there is a group of Americans who are already used to it, but are grateful for the mules that make it happen.

Without a doubt it's the most remote mail route in the country, and you'll find it in neighboring Arizona. The USPS uses mule trains to deliver mail to the Havasupai Indian Reservation, a village of about 500 tribal members who live far below the south rim of the Grand Canyon. The only way in and out of Supai is an eight-mile trail that can be navigated on foot, mule, or horseback. Once you reach Supai you will find no paved roads, no cars, and no street lights.

(flickr-irene)

The mule train makes the 3-hour trek -one way- 5 days a week - and keeping with the spirit of the mailman, even through wind and rain. The post office in Peach Springs, Arizona actually has a walk-in freezer for food destined for delivery to the bottom of the Grand Canyon by mule train.

We can learn a lesson from the Supai. They don't complain about slow mail delivery. They are just happy to get it - when they get it.