If anyone wonders why I left Commiefornia, here's a great reason:
This was at a Conoco station today in Gallup.
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Sunday, February 22, 2026
Plinking Weather This Week
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| Above, yours truly with the Winchester 94 at the shooting area of the Cibola National Forest last November. Photo by Larry Lucier. |
It looks like we're done with snowy weather for a while.
This week looks to be sunny and warmer. The Wednesday and Friday high temperature will reach 65°, according to the National Weather Service.
I am considering doing some target shooting on either Wednesday or Friday. I have accumulated around 20 one-gallon plastic jugs for shooting. As they're taking up some room (I have them in boxes), going out plinking is in order.
I'll see if the rest of the gang is interested in joining in on the fun.
Route 66: What To Avoid and How To Plan
Where I live in New Mexico, there are several segments of Route 66 with easy access nearby. If there is a traffic jam on Interstate 40, I'll drive on Route 66. If I have to bring my 1952 Jeep to Gallup, I take Route 66.
Much of Route 66 was obliterated by Interstate 40, but there are some segments still drivable.
For the average automobile, Route 66 is safe to drive. But it is a different story for big rigs.
RV Life posted an article on what to avoid and how to plan a drive on Route 66 during the 2026 Centennial Celebration.
They begin with:
America’s most famous highway turns 100 in 2026, and towns from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, are planning cruises, parades, rallies, museum events, and neon-lit celebrations.
For travelers in larger motorhomes, fifth-wheels, or travel trailers, exploring Route 66 is both a bucket-list dream and a logistical challenge. Much of the “Mother Road” is a two-lane patchwork of state highways, city streets, preserved alignments, and sections that have been absorbed by interstates. Most of it is manageable in a modern RV if you approach it as you would a a big-rig trip, not as a “follow every Historic 66 sign” scavenger hunt.
The safest way to do it: use interstates for the long hauls, drop onto Route 66 only for wide, easy segments, and treat tight towns as park-and-play stops, which means drop the RV elsewhere and explore in your tow vehicle or dinghy.
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| Above, the gateway to the former Fort Wingate Army Depot is 100 yards from Route 66. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
To read more, go here.
Jeff Goldblum On "King Kong vs. Godzilla"
Actor Jeff Goldblum's favorite movie as a kid was King Kong vs. Godzilla. It was released by Toho in 1962 and the edited American version was released in 1963 by Universal Pictures.
Interestingly, his excitement about going to see the movie echoed what neighborhood kids and I felt in Los Angeles.
My parents took me and two friends to the Balboa Theater in the Vermont Avenue/Manchester Blvd. area of Los Angeles. The movie was paired with the John Wayne South Seas light comedy Donovan's Reef.
We can laugh about King Kong vs. Godzilla now, especially the gawd-awful King Kong suit.
The Japanese version was played as a satire on big business. Unfortunately, that aspect was muddied up in the American version.
Still, for pre-teens back in 1963, the movie was fun to watch.
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Winchester 30-30 Roundup
Winchester 30-30 Roundup video by Aviation AZ Rancher.
Summary:
Winchester 30-30 is still a great round. Come along and we'll shoot a few of these lever action rifles.
Explore a collection of vintage and modern Winchester Model 94 lever-action rifles. Aviation AZ Rancher details each firearm's history and unique features. Then, they demonstrate the rifles' accuracy with a pop can target practice.
Norwegian Slammed For Changing Dining Dress Code
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| Above, shorts, flip-flops and deck shoes in a Norwegian Sky restaurant. |
Two years ago, a friend and I took a cruise to the Bahamas aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky. I packed only shorts and no slacks on that cruise.
Aboard ship, we were able to dine in casual attire (shorts, flip-flops and deck shoes) in the ship's restaurants. It appears that Norwegian is changing their restaurant dress code and now is being slammed by its customers.
According to the New York Post:
That ship has sailed.
Norwegian Cruise Line is facing a torrent of backlash after appearing to tighten its once-laid-back dining dress code rules, which some furious travelers declared “idiotic.”
Passengers hoping to dine inside six of the ship’s ritzy restaurants — Palomar, Ocean Blue, Onda, Cagney’s, Le Bistro and Haven — are banned from wearing shorts and flip-flops, according to its policy page.
The popular cruise line, which expects to host 3 million guests across 34 ships in 2025, champions a “freestyle cruising” culture where travelers can wear casual attire at certain restaurants. [I think they meant to say 2026. - A.]
To read more, go here.
The Weather Outlook
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| Above, having some coffee before "Uncle Bob" arrived. |
Yesterday morning, we had a "squall" of snow come through. For about an hour or two we had something close to blizzard and whiteout conditions.
But, fortunately, it moved out of the area so that plenty of time for thawing out took place. This allowed me to head into Gallup for my usual Friday dinner at Jerry's Café.
The streets of Gallup were clear of any ice and snow. There were piles of it at different businesses after it was shoved.
At first, the restaurant was about two thirds full, so I was able to get a table for myself and "Uncle Bob" as soon as I walked in. Then the restaurant got packed.
Looking out this morning, there was no new snow on the ground. This was the first in three days that we didn't get overnight snow.
The upcoming week will be a warmer one, almost spring-like, with highs reaching into the 60s. That's according to the National Weather Service.
The week's forecast:
Friday, February 20, 2026
5 Reasons Why Pre-64 Winchesters Still Hold Their Magic
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| Above, my three pre-1964 Winchesters. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Prior to 2019, the only Winchester I owned was a Model 62A .22 cal. pump rifle. I inherited it from my maternal grandfather. It was made in 1947.
Since then, I have bought two more pre-1964 Winchesters. The first was a 1962 Winchester 94 .30-30 rifle. The second was a Winchester Model 12 shot gun in 12 gauge made in 1919.
Collectors of vintage Winchesters seek them out as they were manufactured better (in their view).
MSN posted a slideshow article with 5 reasons why pre-1964 Winchesters still hold their magic.
They begin it with:
Firearm enthusiasts often speak about the legendary status of older rifles with a sense of reverence and nostalgia. The term pre-64 Winchesters specifically refers to model 70 rifles manufactured before the company changed its production methods in 1964. These vintage pieces represent a high point in American gun making that many believe has never been equaled since that time. Collectors and hunters alike pursue these firearms because they embody a level of industrial art that modern mass production rarely achieves today. Understanding why these specific rifles command such high prices reveals much about the history of manufacturing.
To read more, go here.
Cartridges Families Keep using Because They Still Work
Some cartridges (bullets) come and some may go.
There are some that no longer are available as there are some guns that have been discontinued. There are some whose staying power transcends decades of use and are still popular today.
MSN posted a slideshow on cartridges families keep using because they work.
They begin with:
In a world where everything is in metamorphosis by giving new cartridges a name, those very cartridges that tend to endure do it the old-fashioned way: they continue to solve problems. They appear in battered ammunition cans, in boxes with labels half torn off, and in rifles, which still reek of grease and autumn.
Hardware is not the only thing that is inherited. It is a combination of options that have been tested out in practice: low recoil to learn with, power to common game, easy guns that never go dead, and calibers that will be available long after the initial owner has given up climbing ridgelines.
To see what they are, go here.
12 Illegal RV Practices Still Common On U.S. Roads
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| Above, camping out near the Tehachapi Loop in California. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
RVers come in all shapes and sizes. There are also smart ones and dumb ones.
MSN posted a slideshow list of 12 illegal RV practices that are still common on U.S. roads. The offenders are the dumb ones.
Fortunately, for everyone on the road in my vicinity, I don't engage in any of them. But it is a good idea to review them so that they are avoided.
It starts with:
RVs are a popular way to travel across the U.S., with approximately 11 million households owning one. The RV sector has experienced substantial growth, as evidenced by the 2.8% increase in RV sales between 2025 and 2026.
While RV travel offers freedom, it also invites unsafe and illegal behaviours. Most RV owners unknowingly violate laws, which can lead to fines, accidents, and environmental damage.
Part of these practices is quite widespread on American roads, and although the government is putting all its efforts into regulating them, breaches are still falling outside the net. This is a list of 12 of the most common offenses and why you need to avoid them.
To see what they are, go here.
Snowing Again
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| Above, this morning's snow (so far). Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
When getting my morning coffee today, I took a look outside and, sure enough, it is snowing.
This storm, on top of what we received yesterday, will accumulate to probably around 2 to 3 inches deep. It isn't what is received in the midwest or the northern eastern seaboard, but it is welcome.
According to the McKinley County Office of Emergency Management a few minutes ago:
Blustery Pacific cold front to cross W central, NW, and N central NM this morning with moderate snow squall: wind gusts up to 45 mph, visibilities around 1/4-1/2 mile, and ~1" of snow in about 1 hr. It will be cold enough for the snow to stick making driving hazardous.
I had to go to the post office yesterday in Continental Divide. It was a windy drive and a trucker ahead of me was swerving around. Thankfully, the driver got the tractor and trailer under control. Still, a lot of them are driving to fast for road conditions.
Hopefully, the wind and snow will taper off by this afternoon so that I can go into Gallup this evening for my Friday dinner at Jerry's Cafe.
Top Deer and Varmint Cartridges of All Time
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| Above, the .30-30 Winchester cartridge made the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Whenever I see (or hear) the word varmint, I tend to think of Yosemite Sam or Elmer Fudd from the Looney Tunes cartoons.
Anyway, the reason I am bringing that up is that NRA Women has posted a list of the top deer and varmint cartridges of all time.
They begin it with:
We all love top 10 lists, but there’s a problem when it comes to determining the “best-selling” cartridges: Ammo manufacturers don’t like to share sales data, and who can blame them. When it comes to picking the top-selling cartridges, we’re forced to rely on other factors, like how long a cartridge has been around, how many rifles have been chambered for it and how popular those rifles are, inventory rankings from retailers, industry surveys, search demand data, and more.
So I asked ChatGPT to give me a list using the best data it could find, and it spit out the following list (but rest assured, the expository information is mine, not AI-generated). If I had been asked to come up with a list off the top of my head based on my best guess, it would have looked pretty much exactly like this, at least until we got to the end—a lot of these choices are obvious to hunters. That said, there’s no way to guarantee that this list is 100 percent accurate or in perfect order by volume, but it’s a good best estimate. It also lines up pretty darn well with this 2014 list of sales data from Federal.
So, without further ado, to read the list, go here.
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Backyard Snow
Now that we got some daylight, I was able to see and photograph the backyard from my bedroom window.
This is the first real heavy snow since I cut down the brush in the backyard.
By the way, that's a deer butchering/skinning rack at center left foreground.
Here's a photo:
Experts: 7 Best Cruise Lines For Foodies
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| Above, the lobster tails I had aboard the Norwegian Sky two years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Outside of hanging around a cruise ship's pool area, using exercise rooms or drinking adult beverages, cruisers main activity is eating.
Most cruise ships have several restaurants or other eateries on board to choose from.
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| Above, a friend and I dining aboard the Norwegian Sky. |
Travel + Leisure posted what they consider the seven best cruise lines for the "foodie set" of travelers.
None of the cruise lines I've cruised with made the list.
They start it with:
While cruise ship cuisine used to get a bad rap, a lot has changed over the years. In fact, today, some onboard culinary programming can rival what you’d find on land in any major food city. Moreover, many cruise lines are taking food seriously, partnering with Michelin-starred chefs and the James Beard Foundation, using regional ingredients, and bringing respected land-based restaurants to sea. Some have reworked the traditional cruise model, folding what once counted as specialty dining into the base fare; others up the ante even further with culinary excursions and themed sailings spotlighting local flavors.
From mainstream brands to small-ship luxury lines, we take a closer look at the cruise companies that are truly delivering when it comes to food, with insight from cruise experts.
To read more, go here.
New Mexico Democrats’ Gun Grab Collapses
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| Above, the New Mexico State Capitol "The Roundhouse". Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Thanks to a boatload of amendments to Senate Bill 17 in the New Mexico legislature, the bill died a well-deserved death just before the legislative session ends.
According to Pinon Post:
In the final stretch of New Mexico’s legislative session, two sweeping gun control measures championed by progressive Democrats have effectively collapsed — a major victory for New Mexicans’ Second Amendment rights.
Senate Bill 17, the so-called “Stop Illegal Gun Trade and Extremely Dangerous Weapons Act,” was rolled indefinitely in the House Judiciary Committee, halting what critics described as one of the most aggressive gun control packages ever introduced in New Mexico. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 261, which sought to dramatically expand so-called “gun-free zones” around polling places and ballot drop boxes, failed to advance out of the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee after Ranking Member Rep. John Block forcefully exposed what he called “massive holes” in the legislation.
According to reporting from the Santa Fe New Mexican, the bill’s sponsors admitted the bill’s effective death, with state Sen. Debbie O’Malley telling the outlet, “There’s not enough time to hear it again.”
With time running out in the session, Democrats were unable to muster the momentum needed to ram the bills through — despite heavy pressure from national gun control groups. Pro-gun groups, lawmakers like Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park), concerned citizens, and others were instrumental in the death of the radical bill — described the most far-reaching anti-gun measure in the entire country.
It is said that radical leftist Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will call for a special session to try to revive the bill.
To read more, go here.
Snowy Morning
It's nothing like waking up to a yard that is snow-covered.
That's exactly what I woke up to this morning. The deck table has about four inches of snow that fell overnight. This snowstorm started yesterday afternoon/evening. That was on top of the freezing winds we also had.
It looks like I have some snow shoveling to do today.
I took a couple of quick shots of it:
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
4 Excellent .22 Rimfire Rifles For $200 or Less!
4 Excellent .22 Rimfire Rifles For $200 or Less! video by mixup98.
Summary:
Ruger, Savage, Rossi and Derya (Rock Island) all make excellent .22 rimfire rifles that are inexpensive yet reliable and accurate. The Ruger is one of the most accurate .22 rifles that I have ever owned, shooting 3/4" groups at 50 yards with CCI MiniMag 40 grain round nose ammo.
mixup98 reviews four .22 rifles costing under $200, including a Ruger 10/22. Each rifle's features, performance with different ammo types.
Trump Marks 5th Anniversary of Rush Limbaugh's Death
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| Above, Rush Limbaugh awarded the Medal of Freedom by Melania Trump in 2020. |
Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of the passing of legendary talk show host Rush Limbaugh.
These five years flew by fast. For many out in radioland, Limbaugh's passing was a life-changer as they began their days listening to his radio show.
President Trump lauded Limbaugh yesterday in a video.
Mediaite posted:
President Donald Trump commemorated the five-year anniversary of the death of conservative radio giant Rush Limbaugh on Tuesday with a video message mourning the loss of “a really great man.”
Trump spoke directly to camera in the video, which was filmed with Trump seated at his desk in the Oval Office and posted to Truth Social. The president praised Limbaugh, who died of cancer in 2021, as “somebody that loved our country.”
“Well, this is the fifth anniversary of the loss of a really great man, a great conservative, somebody that loved our country, loved his family, loved a lot of things, but he was a friend of mine, Rush Limbaugh,” said Trump.
To read more, go here.
Got Some Snow
Yesterday morning, I was awakened by strong winds hitting my bedroom window and a bathroom vent cover. This was about 3:00 in the morning.
About an hour later, I heard rain hitting my bedroom window. Sure enough, it was raining outside. Then, around 4:30, it started snowing. In all, we received about an inch of snow until it ended a few hours later.
The rain/snow were welcome. That, plus the rain we received last week, is a big help to the trees out in the yard. One pine tree is starting to revive.
I took the below photo after doing a little shoveling. It was almost melted away by late afternoon. We're supposed to get more in a couple of days.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Eets Snowing, Señor!
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| Above, the deck is covered with snow this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
A snowstorm has moved into the area this morning. I took the above photo a few minutes ago.
It started out with high winds and rain and then it turned into snow flurries. At this time, we have about a quarter inch on the ground.
We'll have to brave it to drive to Denny's this morning for our Tuesday coffee.
According to the National Weather Service, the week's forecast in the Jamestown/Gallup area is as follows:
Is Silver Investing Too Risky In Retirement?
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| Above, a 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar (AU) reverse. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Investing one's money in stocks, bonds, treasury bills, CDs and other things is prudent if one is retired or are about to retire.
What about silver investing for retirees? Is it too risky?
CBS News has posted an article on the pros and cons of investing in silver by experts for retirees.
They begin with:Silver saw a pretty big run-up in 2025, and that price trajectory continued into 2026, with the price of silver even surpassing prior records and climbing past the $100-per-ounce mark. However, prices have moderated a bit recently, leaving precious metal investors wondering if silver is still a smart investment.
And, for retirees or seniors nearing retirement, the silver's ups and downs in price may be even more concerning, as there's rarely room in people's retirement budgets for copious amounts of volatility. That begs the question of whether silver is just too risky a bet in retirement these days.
Timing, goals and your overall portfolio all play a role in the answer to that question, but there are important factors to consider before buying silver once your working days are up. Here's what experts say you should think about before buying silver in retirement.
To read more, go here.
Bringing Back a Piece of History: Winchester 94 Preservation
Bringing Back a Piece of History: Winchester 94 Preservation video by Outdoor Tactics.
Summary:
I’m preserving a 1915 Winchester Model 94 in .30-30 in this first episode of the One More Hunt series. This rifle is 110 years old and has seen better days—but it’s not done yet.
We’ll fully disassemble, clean, and preserve the rifle while leaving its history intact. There will be no rebluing or heavy sanding. We will just give this lever gun what it needs to get back to the field.
The Best 30-30 Winchester Hunting Loads of 2026
The .30-30 Winchester cartridge has been around since 1895. It was the first to use the newly-developed smokeless powder.
It is still a popular cartridge and Field & Stream has posted their list of the best .30-30 Winchester hunting loads for 2026.
They begin with:
It all began in 1895 when a 0.30-caliber cartridge was introduced in Winchester’s now iconic 1894 lever-action rifle. It was America’s first sporting rifle cartridge designed for use with smokeless powder. Originally marketed as the 30 Winchester Smokeless, it was also known as the 30 WCF (Winchester Center Fire) but is now simply known as the “Thirty-Thirty.” The cartridge was originally loaded with a 160-grain bullet, but it wasn’t long until 150- and 170-grain loadings became more popular. Today, bullet weights ranging from 125- to 190-grains are available.
Though the 30-30′s 150-grain bullet at around 2300 fps is big-game capable at modest ranges, the desire for more reach has pushed most hunters to more modern cartridges and bolt-action rifles. Still, the 30/30 Winchester has remained popular because it works, and because of the svelte lever-guns it’s available in. Toward the end of the 20th Century, ballisticians began to apply modern bullet technology to this 100-year-old cartridge, and the loads available today offer greater versatility and enhanced external and terminal ballistics. More than 125 years after its introduction, the 30-30 is still with us and is a better hunting cartridge than ever. Here are some of the best 30-30 loads you can buy for tagging almost any critter in North America.
To read more, go here.
Monday, February 16, 2026
Happy Presidents Day!
Today is Presidents Day.
This being a federal holiday, banks are closed and there's no mail deliveries today. So, we can relax a bit and save some money and not have to stress about receiving bills in the mail.
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| Above, Ronald and Nancy Reagan at the Town & Country Hotel in San Diego in September 1979. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Having A Second Amendment Right To Carry Doesn't Mean You Should
Recently, while en route to Gallup, New Mexico for our weekly Saturday morning group breakfast, two friends and I got to talking about the Alex Pretti killing by ICE in Minneapolis.
We all agreed that while we may have the right to bear arms, even at protests, under the Second Amendment, it is not a good idea to do so. This is especially so if law enforcement will be present.
The San Luis Obispo Tribune came to that same conclusion in an opinion piece they posted.
They start it with:
In recent weeks, the conversation around protests and immigration enforcement has taken a sharp turn.
Some voices on the left are no longer just criticizing ICE or calling for policy changes. They are openly asking why “Second Amendment people” aren’t showing up at protests and, by implication, why they aren’t armed. That framing turns a constitutional right into a political challenge and ignores how these situations actually play out in the real world.
I believe in the Second Amendment, and I will defend it without hesitation. The right to keep and bear arms isn’t a slogan you pull out when it’s convenient. It’s a serious constitutional protection that comes with responsibility and judgment. Having the right doesn’t mean you should use it in every situation. Defending that right doesn’t mean pretending every use of it makes sense or leads to a good outcome.
Read more at: https://www.sanluisobispo.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article314692906.html#storylink=cpy
Classic Rock Music Monday
The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.
To start off the week, we have Don McLean with his hit from 1971 "American Pie".
From Wikipedia:
Donald McLean III (/məˈkleɪn/; born October 2, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Known as the "American Troubadour" or "King of the Trail", he is best known for his 1971 hit "American Pie", an eight-and-a-half-minute folk rock song that has been referred to as a "cultural touchstone". His other hit singles include "Vincent", "Dreidel", "Castles in the Air", and "Wonderful Baby", as well as renditions of Roy Orbison's "Crying" and the Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You".
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Ten Million Page Views!
The ol' Rancho blog of mine has been around since 2008.
Today, it has reached ten million page views. It appears that I am doing something right as it has appealed to viewers from around the world.
Accordingly, I have updated the header reflecting the new milestone.
My thanks to all who have dropped in for a look-see!
30-30 Winchester Has Been Around Since 1894 — Why Shooters Still Use It
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| Above, two .30-30 Winchester cartridges in use today. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The .30-30 Winchester cartridge (also known as .30 WCF) has been around for over 100 years and it is still a popular cartidge.
MSN has posted an article on the .30-30 Winchester cartridge.
It begins with:
In 1894, a groundbreaking piece of history emerged – the 30-30 Winchester cartridge. It debuted alongside Winchester’s Model 1894 lever-action rifle, forming a perfect tandem that revolutionized the firearms industry.
This duo didn’t just mark the introduction of a new cartridge but also the first commercially available smokeless powder round, a significant leap forward from the black powder ammunition of the day.
What’s in a Name? The Origins of “30-30”
The name “30-30” might sound cryptic at first, but its origins are straightforward. It refers to the .30-caliber bullet propelled by 30 grains of smokeless powder.
Interestingly, the naming convention borrowed from older black powder cartridges like the .32-20 or .44-40, which indicated caliber and grains of black powder.
Winchester’s decision to carry this naming tradition forward while embracing modern smokeless powder was a clever nod to its heritage.
To read more, go here.
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