RV Travel and Antique Shops

Above, the John Wayne whiskey decanter I got at a
Payson, Arizona antique store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As a general rule, I will stop at an antique shop while out traveling in my RV if it is a large store with eye-catching items displayed in front. 

I can easily recall two specific antique stores I've made purchases at. One was in Cortez, Colorado (Antique Corral) and the other was in Payson, Arizona (Explore the Attic). At the Cortez store, I bought a wrought iron key holder. At the Payson store, I bought a John Wayne bust whiskey decanter. 

RV Travel has posted an poll article asking readers of they visit antique shops while traveling. I replied, "Yes, sometimes."

The article begins with:

When you’re out with your RV, exploring cities and small towns, do you like to visit antique shops? There are some incredible places across the country and across North America where you could easily spend an afternoon wandering through antique stores, flea markets, and dusty old barns packed with treasures.

And, really, antique shopping and RVing seem to go pretty well together. You’re already traveling through towns you might never otherwise visit, so why not stop and see what’s hiding inside that old shop on Main Street? You never know what you’ll find. It could be a beautiful piece of furniture, an old camping lantern, vintage postcards, Pyrex dishes, records, signs, books, tools… or something completely bizarre that you absolutely do not need but suddenly cannot imagine leaving without.

To read the full article, go here. 

The Most Outdoorsy State In America

Above, Wyoming's Devil's Tower National Monument. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is one state in the lower 48 states that has been deemed the most "outdoorsy" state in the U.S. Based upon my experience with it, I have to agree. It is a fun place to travel in and with plenty to see and do.

Above, whitewater rafting the Snake River near Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

That state is Wyoming. My most recent visit was last summer.

Travel + Leisure took a look at different states and posted which ones are the most "outdoorsy" states to enjoy.

They begin with:

It’s easy to picture coastal states like California, Florida, or Maine when thinking about the best of America’s great outdoors. And while those destinations are undoubtedly stunning and offer tons of water-based activity options, what if we told you the most outdoorsy state in the country is actually completely landlocked?

A new study by RV rental company RVezy analyzed all 48 states in the continental U.S. for which there was available data using five sources—AllTrails, Google Maps, Campsite Tonight, Summit Post, and the National Park Service. It evaluated 12 metrics measuring access to outdoor recreation, with applicable factors calculated per 100,000 residents. Walking trails, campgrounds, and percentage of public land carried the most weight at 10 percent each, followed by hiking trails and state parks at 9 percent; mountain biking, road biking, horseback riding trails, and water sports access at 8 percent; waterfalls and national parks at 7 percent; and ski resorts at 6 percent.

“It’s one thing to have beautiful landscapes, but another to have the infrastructure that allows people to explore them safely and easily,” said RVezy founder Michael McNaught, in a press release. “From my experience, the best destinations are the ones that offer flexibility. You might go for a hike in the morning, paddle in the afternoon, and camp under the stars at night. States that rank highly in this study tend to offer that kind of all-in-one experience, which is exactly what travelers are looking for.”

Wyoming ranked No. 1, taking the top spot in three of the 12 metrics: hiking trails, horseback riding trails, and access to national parks. With the second-lowest population density of any other U.S. state (only Alaska has fewer residents and more land), Wyoming’s population of roughly 590,784 leaves a lot of nature to explore, with not nearly as many crowds.

Above, Grand Teton National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

Everyone Wants a Winchester 94... But They're Missing This

Everyone Wants a Winchester 94... But They're Missing This video by Frontier Files.

Summary:

Ask any hunter which lever action rifle won the West and he says the Winchester Model 94. He is right about the sales and wrong about the gun. The Marlin Model 336 in 30-30 usually wins.

Eight rounds, judged on what a hunter actually pays for. Browning's 1894 lockup against Marlin's solid top receiver. Top ejection that fights a scope against side ejection that never had the argument. Micro-Groove rifling, the 35 Remington, the post-64 collapse, the Remlin years, and the Ruger comeback out of Mayodan. Then the round everyone came for: Roosevelt, Coolidge, Truman, Eisenhower and a hangman's rifle in a museum case.

There is a 30-30 in an awful lot of American closets. Tell us in the comments which one is in yours, then subscribe for the real hardware told straight.

The Gunsmith Who Warned America About the Winchester Model 94

The Gunsmith Who Warned America About the Winchester Model 94 video by Arms Archives.

Summary:

The stories nobody wrote down. Who handed you your first gun, what he did for a living, and why he took that one off the rack. We're putting that world on paper while there are still men who can say it right.

From 1894, the Model 94's receiver was forged from solid steel, machined, polished, and blued to match the barrel. It was a working man's rifle. It cost eighteen dollars. They finished it like that anyway.

By 1964 the receiver was pressed out of powdered metal.

It would not take the same blue.

Between 1902 and 2006, three warnings came and went about that rifle. Not one of them was said out loud. And the first one was given in a drafting room in New Haven, Connecticut — sixty-two years before anybody touched the steel.

This is the story of John Moses Browning, the Utah gunsmith who drew every rifle and every shotgun Winchester sold for nineteen years and was never once on the payroll. No salary, no title, no desk in New Haven with his name on it. He built a gun in Ogden, carried it into the plant, handed it across a desk, took the money, and went home to start the next one. Most of what he carried in was never built at all. Winchester bought it anyway and put it in a drawer, so nobody else could have it. He knew. He never asked.

In January of 1902 he stopped coming. He never explained himself — not to a newspaper, not to the trade, not once in the twenty-four years he had left. Eighteen months later Winchester put its side in writing and mailed it to every dealer in the country: the company would be perfectly able to get along without the Brownings, and would probably be better off without them.

Winchester was right. That's the part nobody tells you.

There's a way to tell which side of it your rifle was made on. Look at the serial number. Under 2,700,000 and the receiver was forged and milled. Above it and the steel changed. You can usually see it without the number — hold the receiver up next to the barrel in good light. If they're the same deep blue-black, it's the old steel. If the receiver reads gray or slightly purple against the barrel, it isn't.

Go find yours and look. Then tell me in the comments which way it went, who handed it to you, and what he did for a living.

 

Reagan and Mike Wallace: Fascism

 1975 Interview: Former Gov. Ronald Reagan with Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes:

Reagan: Socialism In The U.S.

 

If War Starts Tomorrow — The Only Lever Gun That Matters Costs $400

If War Starts Tomorrow — The Only Lever Gun That Matters Costs $400 video by Dale Hutchins.

Summary:

If War Starts Tomorrow — The Only Lever Gun That Matters Costs $400. In a world full of complex tactical gear, expensive accessories, and trend-driven rifles, the true answer for reliability, self-sufficiency, and hard times has been hiding in plain sight for over a hundred and thirty years. Discover why the legendary lever-action chambered in thirty-thirty Winchester remains the ultimate practical choice for your household without breaking the bank.

From navigating used market gems like the J M stamped Marlin to understanding why simple mechanical reliability beats batteries and fragile gas systems every single time, this breakdown cuts straight through the sales pitch to give you the honest truth. Learn the four essential questions every defensive and hunting rifle must clear before you spend your hard-earned money, and why patience in the used market can land you a dependable workhorse for around four hundred dollars.

 

Best Lever Action Rifles

Best Lever Action Rifles video by Pew Pew Tactical.

Summary:

Looking to get a lever action rifle? Whether it’s for hunting, plinking, or winning the West...we’ve got you covered with a handful of our favorites.

20 Facts About the The Winchester 1894 Most Owners Don't Know

20 Facts About the The Winchester 1894 Most Owners Don't Know video by ToolsOfWarII.

Summary:

Turn your Model 94 upside down. The serial number sits on the bottom of the receiver, where it meets the forearm.

That number knows the year your rifle was born and what it's actually worth. Most owners have never read it.

And there's a block of about 100,000 of those numbers that doesn't exist at all.

20 verified facts: the year Winchester built zero rifles, what really changed in 1964, and why the pre-64 premium isn't what you were told.

What year did yours come back as?

 

Wildfire Ahead, Free RVer Tools

Above, smoke surrounds Wizard Island at Crater Lake National Park in 2017. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Considering the fire in nearby Cibola National Forest near our subdivision, this is a bit timely.

It is on free tools that warn RVers that a wildfire is up ahead which may cause road closures and other problems. It was posted yesterday by RV Travel. 

The only wildfire I had to contend with while traveling took place in 2017 during my Great American Eclipse trip. The fires were near Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. Smoke settled in Crater Lake's crater and surrounding areas. 

The article begins with:

Wildfires can scramble an RV trip in a hurry. Your campground may be open, but buried in smoke. The fire may be miles away, but the highway you planned to use could be closed. And the official detour that works fine for a car may look considerably less inviting when you’re towing a 30-foot trailer.

Fortunately, you don’t have to guess.

Several free tools can make RV wildfire planning much easier and give travelers a surprisingly good picture of what lies ahead. The key is knowing what each tool tells you. Fire potential, an active wildfire, smoke and road closures aren’t the same thing, and no single map answers every question.

To read more, go here. 

The Best Pearl Harbor Tour from Honolulu

Above, the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Anyone visiting the Hawaiian islands should include Pearl Harbor as a "must" in their itineraries. 

This especially goes for people who are interested in World War II history. 

When I went to Hawaii in 2016, a visit to Pearl Harbor was included. While there, we screened a video on the Pearl Harbor attack before boarding the shuttle boat to the USS Arizona Memorial. 

DestinationLess Travel posted an article on the best Pearl Harbor tour from Waikiki.

They begin it with:

How do you even begin to understand a place as significant as Pearl Harbor? In my experience, taking a tour makes the experience easier to navigate and more meaningful.

Visiting Pearl Harbor is one of the most important things to do in Honolulu, especially if you want to learn more about what happened on December 7, 1941, and its impact on Hawaii, the United States, and the world.

When I visited Honolulu with my family, we took this Pearl Harbor tour from Waikiki and thought it was a really simple and well-organized way to visit the memorial. So, I’ve written this honest review to share exactly what the tour was like, what I loved, and a few things to know before you book.

To read more, go here.

The Most Dependable 9mm Pistols Ever Made

Above, the Ruger P95 made the most dependable list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I've had both Ruger P89 9mm and Ruger P95 9mm pistols. I had to sell the P89s (my dad bought me one and I inherited his) but I still have the P95. The P95 one is my go-to defense gun that I keep handy. 

The Avid Outdoorsman posted a list of 20 most dependable 9mm pistols ever made and the 'Ruger P95 made the list.

They begin with:

I’ve watched more 9mm pistols choke on a dusty range bench than I care to admit. Most of the time it’s not because the gun is “junk.” It’s because somebody bought something too tight, too finicky, too under-sprung for cheap ammo, or too clever by half. Dependable is boring, and boring is what you want when it’s riding in a console, living in a nightstand, or tucked under a jacket on a gas-station run in the middle of nowhere.

This isn’t a list of what’s hottest right now. It’s the 9mms that tend to keep running after the new-gun excitement wears off, after the first few thousand rounds, after a little lint gets into places you didn’t know existed. Some are big, some are small, some are heavy, and a couple feel like a brick. But when it comes to the guns I’ve seen come back from hard use and still just work, these are the standouts.

To read more, go here. 

20 Lever-Action Rifles That Are Nearly Impossible to Wear Out

Above, your truly out shooting in Arizona with the Winchester 94. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Some manmade items are so well made that they are "impossible" to wear out. 

This goes for firearms. Some are so well made that they have lasted decades. The Avid Outdoorsman has posted an article on 20 lever-action rifles that are nearly impossible to wear out.

They begin with:

There are rifles you baby, and there are rifles you just live with. The lever gun has always leaned toward the second category. They ride in scabbards, bounce around behind truck seats, get dragged through cedar thickets, and still seem to work when the weather turns ugly and your hands turn clumsy.

When I say “hard to wear out,” I’m not talking about museum pieces that never see daylight. I’m talking about the lever-actions that keep cycling after years of  hunting seasons, range days, and honest neglect. Some are slick and modern, some are rough and basic, and a few are heavy enough to make you question your life choices halfway up a ridge. But if you want a lever gun you can actually use, these are the ones I’d bet on.

To see what the 20 rifles are, go here. 

10 Lever-Action Rifles Every American Must Own (Never Sell These)

10 Lever-Action Rifles Every American Must Own (Never Sell These) video by TheFirearmFiles.

Summary:

Winchester closed its New Haven factory in 2006. Marlin closed in 2020. The craftsmen who built these rifles are gone. And a John Ulrich-engraved Winchester Model 1894 just sold at auction for $558,125, a world record. These ten lever-action rifles are quietly becoming priceless. If you own one, never sell it before watching this.

In this video, we count down the 10 lever-action rifles every American must own — from the Henry Big Boy, still in production today, to the Winchester Model 1873 that defined the American frontier and explain exactly why each one is becoming harder to find and more valuable every year.

 

Roadrunning Deb

 

Four Mile Fire Near Jamestown

Above, a zoomed view of the fire from Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A few minutes ago, I got back home from viewing (and photographing) the (now named) Four Mile Fire in the Cibola National Forest southeast of our community of Whispering Cedars.

Obviously, the fire wasn't extinguished yesterday and is looking worse than it did yesterday. 

One of our residents posted the following in our community Facebook page: 

 

At least it is moving away from Whispering Cedars. But we're going to keep an eye on it anyway.

Some photos:

Above, a zoomed view of the fire from the top of Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a view of the fire from the top of Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a view of the fire from Birch loop in Whispering Cedars. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Jeep at Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, an emergency vehicle parked at the top of Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A map of the fire's location:

UPDATE: 

We had some afternoon rain today, they appeared to have put out the fire. Hope so!

20 Firearms That Are Still Worth Buying After Decades

Above, my Winchester 94 .30-30 cal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is looking for a firearm (pistol, rifle or shotgun) that can be considered a reliable shooter, The Avid Outdoorsman posted a list of 20 firearms that are still worth buying even decades after being first introduced.

I have two that made their list: Ruger 10/22 and Winchester 94.

They begin with:

Every few years a new batch of guns gets pushed like they’re the only thing worth owning. Then hunting season rolls around, the range gets busy, and reality shows up. The truth is, some older designs just keep doing the job, and they do it with parts you can find, magazines you can afford, and handling that makes sense when your hands are cold or your heart rate is up.

This isn’t a nostalgia piece. Some of these are heavy. Some are plain. A couple are even a little awkward by modern standards. But if you’re buying used, building a “no drama” safe, or trying to quit cycling through gear you don’t actually trust, these are still smart money decades later.

To read more, go here.
 

Fire Reported Near Jamestown

Yesterday afternoon, we had a fire "scare" (well, not exactly a scare, but something to be concerned about) in the Cibola National Forest that surrounds our Whispering Cedars subdivision in Jamestown, New Mexico.

It was a lightning-generated fire that was located to the southeast of the community. Upon hearing the news, I went outside but saw no smoke. 

Apparently, the fire has been extinguished as no further reports have been made.  Thanks to the McKinley County Fire Rescue and the U.S. Forest Service for the timely response.

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 the Blues Magoos with their 1967 hit, "We Ain't Got Nothin' Yet."

From Wikipedia:

The Blues Magoos are an American rock group from The Bronx, a borough of New York City, United States. They were at the forefront of the psychedelic music trend, beginning in 1966. They are best known for the hit song "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet", their only single to reach the Billboard top fifty.

 

Ronald Reagan Became A Clamper

A little tidbit of E Clampus Vitus and Ronald Reagan history.

The Paradise Post,  November 18, 1966:

Unless I am mistaken, this makes Reagan the first (and only, as of now) President of the United States a member of E Clampus Vitus. 

Satisfactory!

Elvis Presley's Last Movie Night

 

Above, autographed photo of Caroline Munro and Roger Moore from The Spy Who Loved Me.

Here's a bit of trivia for those who are Elvis Presley and trivia fans.

Four days before his death in August 1977, Presley and his Memphis entourage went to a movie theater to catch the latest James Bond movie, The Spy Who Loved Me.

According to the U.K.'s The Express:

When Elvis Presley wasn’t shooting movies or touring, the star would enjoy his own playground at home at Graceland. Being a night owl, The King and his inner circle would head out into Memphis after dark to avoid fans, renting out huge venues in the early hours of the morning, including movie theatres. The star’s step-brother, Billy Stanley, has previously shared precious memories of Elvis’ final visit to the cinema with Lisa Marie and Ginger Alden, just four days before he died.

On August 12, 1977, Elvis planned to get a copy of the new sci-fi hit Star Wars to watch with his nine-year-old daughter. Unable to obtain one, the King asked his Memphis Mafia to track down the new James Bond movie for him. He then drove Lisa Marie and his last girlfriend, Ginger, to the Southbrook Theatre, just south of Graceland, to see Roger Moore’s third 007 movie, The Spy Who Loved Me. His stepbrother Billy, the son of Vernon Presley’s second wife, Dee Stanley, was in attendance as part of his inner circle and shared memories of seeing movies with the star there.

To read more, go here. 

RV Breakdowns: Reality or Myths?

Above, the Minnie Winner in Quartzsite, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following RV Travel article poll is a bit timely.

I've had my 2015 Winnebago Minnie Winnie for 11 years. I bought it new at La Mesa RV in San Diego in February 2015. 

During the years since then, I've only had a few minor problems with it. The bathroom vent cover was "glued" shut. That was taken care of while the RV was still under warranty. Then, in 2018, a roof vent cover broke due to weather-related brittleness. The next problem was about three years ago when the house door lock mechanism broke due to the wind slamming the door shut multiple times in Lake Havasu. I got a mobile repairer I knew to fix it.  

Then, this year, the toilet shut-off valve started acting up along with flushing problems. The toilet had to be replaced. That was the most expensive repair item since I bought the motorhome. I still consider myself lucky. 

I still consider the motorhome the most reliable vehicle I've ever bought. It has provided great service for 11 years. 

It looks like others have not been so lucky from what I am reading in RV Travel. They posted an article explaining that many RV issues fall into the "myth" category and many do not. 

They begin it with:

If you spend time in RV Facebook groups or online forums, you might come away convinced that every RV is falling apart.

Scroll through the comments and you’ll find stories about failed refrigerators, leaking roofs, slide problems, and endless trips back to the dealership.

 To read the full article, go here.

Pre'64 vs Post'64. 5 minute comparison!

Battle of the Winchester 1894's. Pre'64 vs Post'64. 5 minute comparison! video by DadBodOperator.

Summary:

5 Minute quick comparison video of the Pre 1964 Winchester 1894 and the post 1964 Winchester 1894

 

Buc-ee’s Sues A Tiny Ohio store Over Its Beaver

Above, the Buc-ee's travel center near Galveston, Texas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following may be considered another "David and Goliath" kind of battle.

Buc-ee's is suing a small business for trademark infringement. 

Here's the story according to an article in RV Travel and it begins with:

Buc-ee’s is known to road-tripping RVers for enormous travel centers, rows of gas pumps and one of the most recognizable beavers in America. Now that beaver is at the center of a federal trademark fight with a much smaller beaver in Ohio.

Buc-ee’s filed suit July 28 against Beaver’s Mini Mart, a neighborhood convenience store in Beavercreek, Ohio. The Texas-based travel center chain says the store’s cartoon beaver logo and branding infringe on Buc-ee’s trademarks and could lead customers to believe the businesses are connected.

At first, the dispute looked like a classic David-and-Goliath story. Buc-ee’s operates massive travel centers across a growing portion of the country. Beaver’s Mini Mart is a small local store in a city where beaver imagery isn’t exactly unusual.

But Buc-ee’s co-founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III says there’s more to the story.

To read more to the story, go here. 

Haruo Nakajima: Ninth Anniversary

Above, Haruo Nakajima and yours truly at the 2013 Mad Monster Party.

It is hard to believe at how time seems to fly, especially when one gets older. 

I saw a Facebook G-FAN magazine page post this morning remembering Haruo Nakajima. Unbelievably, it was nine years ago today (August 17, 2017) he passed away.  

I first met him at G-FEST 2000 in Hollywood. I saw him several times over the years since then. I served as his "wrangler" at the 2013 Mad Monster Party convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

It would be appropriate to raise a glass in memory of the original Godzilla today!

Silver Rises 3.35% On August 07, 2026

It has been a while since I took at look at how silver is doing. The spot price of silver is up this morning.

According to an article in USA Today:

How much is silver per ounce today?

As of Aug. 7, 2026, at 8:05 a.m. ET, the spot price of silver was $64.22 per ounce, according to the latest market data. That's up 3.35%, a gain of $2.08 from the previous close of $62.14.

One year ago, silver traded at $37.87 per ounce, meaning prices have risen 69.59% over the past 12 months.

To read more, go here. 

What Winchester Never Told America About the Model 94

What Winchester Never Told America About the Model 94 video by Arms Archives.

Summary: 

The Story of the Rifle Winchester Walked Away From.

For seventy years, the Winchester Model 94 was the most trusted deer rifle in America. Born from the mind of John Browning and chambered in the mythic .30-30, it was forged by generations of men in New Haven, Connecticut, and handed down from father to son.

But behind the scenes, Winchester was already betraying the men who bought it. In 1961, executives looked at a century of American heritage and decided it was too expensive to build. They secretly hollowed out the Model 94, swapping forged steel for cast iron and machined parts for stamped sheet metal, cutting the cost by 54% without ever putting a word of warning on the box. It was a calculated corporate decision that started the slow death of the New Haven plant, eventually locking the doors on a working-class town and leaving 7.5 million hunters holding the history a boardroom threw away.

This is the story of John Browning's masterpiece, the quiet 1964 deception that cheapened it, and why the rifle Winchester abandoned became the one gun America refuses to let go of.

 

Open Rodeo Roughstock Buckout

Above, the junior bull riding event. Photo by Armand Vaquer

Last evening, I attended the Open Rodeo Roughstock Buckout at Red Rock Park's rodeo arena. It is part of the weeklong annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. This is my favorite time of the year living in the Gallup-Jamestown, New Mexico area.

Upon arrival, I immediately noticed that a new awning had been built over the south grandstand. It is huge!

Here it is:

The awning will come in handy to shade spectators during rodeos on hot summer days. 

Naturally, I took some photos of the rodeo events.