Above, the West and East Mittens. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Since 2016, I have been to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park three times. The first was part of my cross-country trip to Metropolis, Illinois.
Each time, I've done something different. During my first visit, I took a two-hour afternoon tour. On My second visit, I took a sunrise tour. Then, three months ago, I did some horseback riding.
Above, the Sun's Eye. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Monument Valley is only a few hours away from home and I have enjoyed it each time I've been there.
Only In Your State posted a photo collection of what visitors can see in Monument Valley.
They begin with:
Welcome to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. This area of Utah was originally settled by Puebloan peoples, who lived here for 1,000 years,hunting and growing crops until roughly 1250 A.D.
Above, inside a Navajo hogan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Above, the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Rodeo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
The cost of living in New Mexico was much better before the Biden Administration took office in 2021. Still, the state is much cheaper than in California where I moved from.
WorldAtlas has posted a list of eight cost-effective town in New Mexico for retirees.
Gallup is included in the list. I live 18 miles east of it.
The article starts with:
Move over, Florida, because New Mexico is becoming the go-to retirement destination! The temperate climate, lower taxes, and stunning blend of mountains and plateaus puts this Western state on the map for one of the best places to spend your golden years. These towns offer all the benefits of living in the Land of Enchantment but with a much lower cost of living. So, if you’re looking for the perfect spot to settle down and live life to the fullest, these 8 cost-effective New Mexico towns will help you live the good life without draining your 401k!
Here's what they posted about Gallup:
The Old West is still alive and well in Gallup! With its vintage shops along the tree-lined streets and friendly locals, it won’t take you long to become a local here. With an average home price of around $239,000 and the cost of living 22 percent lower than the national average, it’s a surprisingly affordable town to call home. Everything seniors need can be found downtown, from highly rated hospitals like Rehoboth Mckinley Christian Health Care Services to the RMCHCS Rehabilitation and Wellness Center.
Take in the magnificent beauty of Red Rock Park and hike the accessible trails that take you through red rock canyons and rock formations, where you can even catch a glimpse of Fort Wingate in the distance. Gallup is also near the Zuni Mountains in Cibola National Forest. There, you can hike over 25 miles of rolling plateaus and flowering meadows. With its senior-friendly facilities, affordability, and natural wonders, there are so many reasons to pick Gallup as your forever home.
Above, I-40 near Williams on December 28, 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
It looks like Flagstaff, Arizona may be getting some rain and snow showers starting Tuesday night (Christmas Eve).
From the National Weather Service for Flagstaff:
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 26. North wind 3 to 5 mph.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 16 mph.
Tuesday Night
A slight chance of rain and snow showers between 11pm and 3am, then a slight chance of snow showers after 3am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Christmas Day
A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. West wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Fortunately for me, I will have driven past Flagstaff before the storm arrives and will already be in Lake Havasu.
I checked Jamestown, New Mexico's weather for next week first and noted that a 30% chance of snow showers is forecast for Christmas Day.
The weather should be okay for the drive home after Christmas.
Above, new .30-30 Winchester (left) and traditional. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
First introduced to the gun-buying market in 1895, the .30-30 Winchester cartridge revolutionized ammunition.
It is the first small-bore sporting rifle cartridge designed for smokeless powder.
But, is it relevant today? According to an article and two videos in Ammoland.com, new technology has given it new life and fans. I have purchased some new (introduced around 2005) Hornady .30-30 LEVERevolution ammo, but haven't shot any yet.
They begin with:
Nostalgic. Old-school. Underpowered. The 30-30 gets called a lot of things, but new technology and a rabid fan base are breathing new life into this venerable round.
Does Grandpa’s 30-30 Winchester still have the juice to get the job done by today’s cartridge standards? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn hit the range to find out. They fire three loadings – one old and two new. Will they be impressed or let down by the results. The gel blocks, an old rifle, a few shells, and these fine gentlemen tell the tale in this episode of — Cartridge Talks.
In this episode, Mark and Ryan put this new technology to the test, compare it to traditional rounds, and answer the question, “Is Grandpa’s 30-30 better than ever?”
To see the videos and read the rest of the article, go here.
KOB Channel 4 News posted the following video of the new eateries at the Albuquerque Sunport.
It looks like travelers will get more choices for food while at the airport.
Unfortunately, the Rio Grande Brew Pub will not be back. According to sources, it is permanently closed. It was there that I discovered Alien Amber Ale.
Above, Grand Teton National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Did you know that if you are just a tourist or a news organization, you don't need a permit to photograph or shoot videos within our national parks? But if you are doing so commercially, you need a permit.
That is the crux of a new lawsuit against the National Park Service by two commercial photographers. They claim that the permit requirement violates their First Amendment rights.
According to PetaPixel:
Two photographers have sued the National Park Service (NPS) claiming that its photography permit requirements violate First Amendment rights.
Nature and sports photographers Alexander Rienzie and Connor Burkesmith filed the lawsuit against NPS, with the aim of overturning its “unconstitutional permit-and-fee scheme that charges Americans for the right to film in public spaces.”
According to the lawsuit, Rienzie and Burkesmith wanted to film athlete Michelino Sunseri’s attempt to break the record for the fastest climb up the Grand Teton in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming in September.
The filmmakers planned to have only two or three people, using small handheld cameras and tripods, on the 16-mile route for the shoot — less gear than the typical climber going up the mountain.
Under current law, the NPS does not require everyday visitors or news photographers to have film or photography permits.
Above, Tokyo Tower as seen from Roppongi Hills. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
A new record was set in the number of foreign visitors to Japan in January to November of 2024.
According to Kyodo News:
The number of foreign visitors to Japan topped 33 million from January to November, setting a new annual record, driven by a tourism boom and a weak yen, government estimates showed Wednesday.
The total stood at 33,379,900, surpassing the previous full-year high of 31.88 million set in 2019, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
In November alone, foreign visitors rose 30.6 percent year-on-year to 3.18 million. Each month this year has recorded at least 30 percent growth compared with the same period last year.
With airline routes to Japan recovering to 2019 levels, November visitor numbers were further boosted by increased demand during the fall foliage season.
The January 2025 issue of American Rifleman arrived in the mailbox yesterday.
The issue has many good articles, but one caught my attention: "An Unlikely Hero". It is the story of the gray squirrel and racoon named Peanut (or P'Nut) and Fred. It is definitely a must-read.
A Texas whistleblower named Monica Keasler New York's State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and their thugs acted like stormtroopers when they confiscated the innocent animals. She reportedly bragged about it.
The article compares their tragic ends at the hands of bureaucrats when they were confiscated and killed (to allegedly test them for rabies) and gun owners. The article asks, "How often we seen harmless violations of bureaucratic requirements [...] escalated to the point where livelihoods, freedoms or even lives were unnecessarily lost?"
The outrage by people to this incident possibly added to Donald Trump's victory margin, it is said.
When it comes to tyranny by government bureaucrats, "We are Peanut."
Above, the firearms department of the Albuquerque Cabela's. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
It is often said that the political party who best reflects the views of the voters will win.
That is especially true when it comes to the Second Amendment. President Trump's campaign pollster has found that Americans want leaders and judges who strictly follow the Second Amendment.
The Reload reported:
The company that ran President-elect Donald Trump’s polling operation has released a new poll showing widespread support for judges and politicians to prioritize gun rights.
The poll, conducted by McLaughlin and Associates and sponsored by the Second Amendment Foundation, was released on Tuesday. It found 77 percent of voters agree it’s “important” that federal judge appointments make it “a priority to try their best to strictly follow the 2nd Amendment.” Another 76 percent said it’s “important” for national political leaders to “protect and defend the 2nd Amendment Rights.” Fewer than 20 percent of respondents said neither was important to them.
“Americans continue to cherish their Second Amendment Rights as the results of our recent national survey clearly show,” Jim McLaughlin, CEO of the polling firm, said in a statement.
Additionally, the poll found 63 precent expect Trump to prioritize protecting their gun rights and 59 percent believe Republicans will do a better job protecting those rights than Democrats.
In today’s video, we’re diving into the top 6 most iconic lever action rifles of all time. From the legendary rifles that shaped the American Wild West to modern designs offering superior precision and functionality, this is the list no lever action enthusiast should miss!
Above, this made me wait out in Ehrenberg and Kingman two extra nights.
So far, it looks like the weather for Christmas week will be sunny with no snow in the Flagstaff, Arizona area.
As of now, this is what Monday and Tuesday looks like for Flagstaff according to the National Weather Service:
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. West wind 6 to 8 mph.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind around 6 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Flagstaff is midway to Lake Havasu from Jamestown, New Mexico. I will be heading to Lake Havasu for Christmas.
A few years ago, I had a heck of a time getting home from Lake Elsinore, California after spending Christmas at my cousin's. I had to wait it out a little in Ehrenberg and Kingman, Arizona for Interstate 40 to thaw out from a heavy snow storm. The above photo from the Arizona Transportation Department shows what Interstate 40 in Flagstaff looked like then.
One can be sure just as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west that Democrats will do everything they can to erode our Second Amendment Rights.
Radio station 770 KTTH has posted an article on what their anti-Second Amendment game plan is in 2025.
They begin with:
When it comes to legislative priorities, Democrats in Washington State are nothing if not predictable. Yet again, they are making another play for our guns and infringing on our Second Amendment rights.
Their latest policy agenda, lifted straight from the Alliance for Gun Responsibility (AGR) as highlighted by the Washington Observer, is a master class in hypocrisy, confusion and misplaced priorities. They plan to tax ammunition and firearms, ban guns from more locations, enforce a permit-to-purchase guns requirement and end state pre-emption on gun laws, which would create a patchwork of varying gun laws that will effectively turn gun owners into criminals.
If any of their anti-gun ideas advance, Washingtonians will again lose constitutionally protected rights. But when it comes to the constitution, Washington Democrats ignore the parts they don’t like.
Above, cruise ships docked at Nassau, Bahamas last August. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
It is the most wonderful time of the year, according to the holiday song. This goes especially for cruise line companies.
They are basking in the surge of new bookings, the most since the pandemic.
Yahoo! Finance reported:
The early post-pandemic days were rough for cruise lines. Passengers—with the horror stories of people being stuck in their cabins and unable to dock at ports fresh in their mind—largely avoided sea travel, resulting in steep discounts and empty decks. Today, the story is a much different one.
Cruising is back in a big way. Bookings are at their highest levels since the pandemic, and reservations for trips in 2025 are running 10% to 15% above historic levels, according to the Wall Street Journal.
That’s causing a bit of a problem for people who typically book during the holiday season, when, historically, the best promotions have been available. This year, "wave season" is still rolling along, but the offers aren’t quite what they have been. Instead of discounts, travelers are seeing offers like dining upgrades or drink packages.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) may have to face the U.S. Supreme Court over its regulations on emissions including those that could effectively ban the sale of new motorized motorhomes.
RV Travel reported:
The Supreme Court and motorhomes? Is there a connection? Possibly, because the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging the authority of a California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulation. While the regulation is not specific to the one that will effectively shut down the sale of new motorhomes in California, decisions in the case could have a bearing on motorhome sales.
A Dallas-based startup company is planning to make available retail ammunition vending machines. They will be placed in grocery stores.
According to Newsmax:
A Dallas-based startup has rolled out a plan to put retail ammunition vending machines in grocery stores, but some are worried it could lead to impulse bullet buying, especially for those wanting to do harm to others or themselves.
American Rounds opened its first automated retail ammunition machine at a Fresh Value grocery store in Pell City, Alabama, late in 2023, The Washington Post reported Sunday, selling various brands of rifle, shotgun, and handgun ammunition. The company also has vending machines in Oklahoma, according to its website, and Texas, and it reportedly is seeking to expand its business into Colorado.
The company advertises its machines as a safer, more convenient way to buy ammunition than at a large retail store or online.
Above, President Dwight D. Eisenhower in hunting gear at Ichauway Plantation in south Georgia.
Yesterday, I stumbled upon an interesting article at the American Rifleman website. It was about U.S. presidents and their guns. The article is from 2016.
Many presidents were avid sportsmen and hunters. Some of their guns have been put on display at special exhibitions and museums.
The article begins with:
It wasn’t that long ago when firearms were not only welcome in the executive mansion, but at least eight of our Chief Executives* were proud of their NRA Life member status. One Commander in Chief, Ulysses S. Grant, even served as President of the NRA following his tenure in the White House.
With Presidents Day upon us, let's take a look at some of the fascinating firearms owned and used by a few of the former presidents of the United States.
The three horses were back today at the Flying J Travel Center in Jamestown, New Mexico.
They were grazing on brush along the Interstate 40 barrier fence. They show up every so often at the Flying J. I am guessing they are from the Navajo Reservation nearby.
Above, John Wayne takes aim with his Winchester 1892 carbine. IMFDB photo.
The 1969 True Grit is the beloved movie that garnered John Wayne his one and only Oscar.
However, there are some goofs in the movie when it comes to firearms.
True Grit was also a breakout movie for actor Robert Duvall as the outlaw Ned Pepper. In the movie Pepper carries a Winchester 1894 rifle. There's only one problem with this.
Above, Robert Duvall fires his Winchester 1894. IMFDB photo.
The story was set in 1880, before the Winchester 1894 was made.
Duvall wasn't the only one in the movie who carried a Winchester 1894. Actor Myron Healey also carried one during the scene where Rooster Cogburn (Wayne) unloads a wagon of prisoners.
A U.S. Marshal helping unload outlaws from the Indian Territory is seen armed with a Winchester Model 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine. He is seen with it in hand when telling Mattie to wait another day to talk to Rooster Cogburn. Later in the film, Ned Pepper is seen with a '94 rifle and fires it into the air to let Rooster know where he is. It clearly has a longer receiver and the more complex lever system under the gun helping tell it from an 1892 rifle. It is anachronistic for the film, which is set in 1880.
John Wayne carried a Winchester 1892 carbine in the movie. That rifle wasn't also around in 1880.
At least Glen Campbell used the correct rifle for the period.
According to the IMFDB:
La Boeuf (Glen Campbell) uses a Sharps 1874 Cavalry Carbine as his rifle of choice throughout the film.
Above, Glen Campbell and his Sharps 1874 carbine. IMFDB photo.
Hollywood is notorious for having props that were wrong for different eras. Some sharp-eyed fans have spotted that wrong Jeeps were used in Patton (1970), for example.
Golden Earring were a Dutch rock band, founded in 1961 in The Hague as The Tornados. They achieved worldwide fame with their international hit songs "Radar Love" in 1973, which went to number one on the Dutch chart, reached the top ten in the United Kingdom, and went to number thirteen on the United States chart, "Twilight Zone" in 1982, and "When the Lady Smiles" in 1984. During their career they had nearly 30 top-ten singles on the Dutch charts and released 25 studio albums.
The band went through a number of early personnel changes until settling on a stable lineup in 1970, consisting of Rinus Gerritsen (bass and keyboards), George Kooymans (vocals and guitar), Barry Hay (vocals, guitar, flute and saxophone), and Cesar Zuiderwijk (drums and percussion), which remained unchanged until the band broke up in 2021 when Kooymans was diagnosed with ALS. A number of other musicians also appeared in short stints with the band over its history.
For vacationing this summer, I am considering heading up to Wyoming and western South Dakota (the Black Hills region).
During this trip, I am thinking about starting off in Cody, Wyoming. I may have driven through it at one time, but I am not too sure. But Cody is worth a visit if one is interested in firearms. There is the Cody Firearms Museum - Buffalo Bill Center of the West. The museum features an extensive collection of firearms. The Winchester Arms Collection is the heart of the museum. See video above.
Also in Cody next year, is the Winchester Arms Collectors Association Show that will be held on July 11-13, 2025. This show looks to be worth attending. I have three Winchesters: Winchester 62A that I inherited from my grandfather, Winchester 94 that I bought in 2019 and a Winchester Model 12 that I bought last April. If I decide to go on this trip, I'll time it so that I can attend the show.
About the Winchester Arms Collectors Association (WACA):
The Winchester Arms Collectors Association (WACA) is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation with a worldwide membership of over 3,000 individuals. WACA was organized in July 1977, incorporated February 21, 1978 in the State of Montana and has been NRA affiliated (#G8143) since 1978.
Our members are devoted to the preservation, understanding and collecting of Winchester firearms and related products as well as the role these products had in forging America’s heritage.
The Winchester Collector, a quarterly publication, is dedicated to the collecting of Winchester Firearms and related Memorabilia. It includes Winchester related articles, highlights from our shows and events, as well as calendar updates and classified ads. We encourage our members to contribute to our publications, as we showcase our members’ favorite Winchesters.
We currently produce the WACA Show in Cody, WY, and as an association attend shows in Wilmington, OH, West Springfield, MA, and Las Vegas, NV.
For more information on the Winchester Arms Collectors Association, go here.
During the summer, there is the Cody Nite Rodeo. Cody calls itself the "Rodeo Capital of the World". The Cody Nite Rodeo is an amateur rodeo held every night from June 1 through August 31.
I am thinking about starting the vacation in Cody, then head east to the Black Hills.
Above, the battleship USS Missouri and the USS Arizona Memorial. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Back in 2016, I visited Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Prior to the visit, I got tickets beforehand. They included the bus rides to and from Pearl Harbor. Everything went smoothly.
There are mistakes that families make at Pearl Harbor. MSN lists five and how to avoid them.
They begin with:
Planning your first family trip to Hawaii can be thrilling. There’s so much to see and do, and one must-visit spot is Pearl Harbor.
It’s not just a beautiful place—it’s a site filled with history and emotion, marking important events that changed the course of American history.
Having been to Pearl Harbor and Oahu many times, I’ve picked up on a few common mistakes families often make when visiting this historic site.
I’m here to share these insights so you can avoid them and have a memorable, respectful visit.
President-elect Donald Trump wants to dump Daylight Savings Time. That is something I wholeheartedly support. It is a pain in the butt to have to change clocks twice a year.
AZ Central has posted an article on this proposal. Arizona does not recognize Daylight Savings Time except for the Navajo Nation, which can be confusing.
They begin with:
While the rest of the country adjusts their clocks forward and backward each year, most Arizonans sleep soundly, knowing daylight saving time doesn’t affect them.
However, during the next presidential administration, the other 48 states could follow Arizona — and Hawaii, the only other state that skips seasonal time changes — and opt out of daylight saving time.
President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that he plans to work toward ending daylight saving time, supporting the long-debated effort to end semi-annual time changes.
Trump stated his intention to make standard time permanent — a change that would require congressional approval — and said the Republican Party will make its best efforts to abolish daylight saving time.
Above, Lower Yellowstone Fall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Over the years, I have been to Yellowstone National Park three times. The place never ceases to amaze me.
The crowds in recent years have gotten worse. The last time I was there, it was a zoo. I couldn't wait to get out.
The best time to visit, in my opinion (and experience) is before summer vacation begins in late May or early June. Instead of driving into the park, I found it better and more enjoyable to take a bus tour and leave the driving to someone else.
USA Today has posted an article on five facts of Yellowstone National Park.
They begin it with:
Of all the beautiful places across America, Yellowstone National Park is particularly special.
Yellowstone’s mesmerizing hydrothermal features and spectacularly varied landscapes make it abundantly apparent why the land should be protected. As a plaque near the park’s Madison Information Station reads:
“Here at the junction of the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers on September 19, 1870, members of the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition gathered around a campfire on the last evening of their historic exploration of the Yellowstone country and discussed the astounding natural wonders they had seen. There emerged an idea, expressed by Cornelius Hedges, that there should be no private ownership of these wonders but that the area should be preserved for public enjoyment. Others shared these views, and on March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Act establishing Yellowstone as the world’s first National Park.”
But there’s more to that than it seems. Here are five things park lovers should know about Yellowstone National Park.
The other day, it occurred to me that I will be at the same age as my dad next year when he passed away 25 year ago today.
He passed away from lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that develops in the lymphatic system. He had it for about two years.
That is why I decided to help the John Wayne Cancer Foundation with their Grit Series half marathons in Ridgway, Colorado. The first time I was there, I was talking with Patrick Wayne and mentioned that we both had the commonality of losing dads due to cancer.
In memory of my dad, I have also made donations to the Foundation. I have also done so in honor of Wellington "Bill" Wilson and Mike Hobbie, who also were casualties of cancer.
The John Wayne Cancer Foundation targets their efforts in cancer research and the training of oncologists. The JWCF funds novel and innovative programs that improve cancer patients' outcomes and save lives through research, education, awareness and support.
Above, following my dad's funeral at Riverside National Cemetery.
After the pandemic ended, RV sales had sunk, especially motorized ones.
Finally, after months of being in the doldrums, RV sales have bounced back.
According to an article in RV Travel:
RV dealers have been singing the blues for a long time. High interest rates were killing them—having to pay “flooring” for unsold units. Customers were a seeming threatened species. Finally, a break. Statistical Surveys Inc., the industry bean-counter that tracks retail RV sales, says that for the first time in more than a year, more new RVs were sold in a month than in the same month a year ago. RV sales are up—kind of, sort of.
RV sales are up—at least for a month
There were 27,114 retail registrations in October 2024, a 2.6% increase compared to the 26,403 total in October 2023. Of course, things aren’t going to completely change overnight. Year to date, 318,193 new rigs have sold, based on retail registrations in 2024. That’s an 8% decrease versus the 345,988 total for the same period in 2023—to offset some of the sweet news.
