New Lost Dutchman ECV Cook Shack

The Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus will have the inaugural clampout this week with the new cook shack.

According to XNGH Tom Garland, it is  24 feet by 8.5 wide.

It is also the right color!

Hickok45: The Last Lever Gun I'd Ever Give Up!

The Last Lever Gun I'd Ever Give Up! video by Hickok45.

Summary: 

Making the difficult decision about which of my lever guns would be the last to give up. Tough choice to make with all these wonderful Winchesters, Marlins, etc.

Remember,  value, rarity, ammo expense, beauty, history,  etc. are not part of the criteria in these videos. It's just what do I think would be the best all-around choice for all the types of shooting I might WANT to do or NEED to do now and in the future.

 

One Of These Are The Best Lever Action Ever | My Lever Action Collection

One Of These Are The Best Lever Action Ever | My Lever Action Collection video by RegularPewPewGuy.

Summary:

I wanted to show you guys my experience so far with Lever actions! I have so far gotten 2 Henry branded ones and a smith and wesson and as sad as it is to say the first Henry Big Boy X completely ruined how I want a Lever action to be. 

 

Guns Called Outdated Now Are Being Hunted

Above, yours truly with the Winchester 94 bought in 2019.

Since about the start of the COVID pandemic, gun sales and their prices have soared. 

A rifle that sold for about $500 before the pandemic now commands prices double, and in some cases, tripled. 

When I bought my pre-64 Winchester 94 in 2019, it only cost me $495. Now, it is priced at double that amount at least.

The Avid Outdoorsman posted an article list guns people once called outdated but are now hunted down like they missed their chance.

It begins with:

Some rifles spent years getting overlooked because they didn’t fit into the “next big thing” category. They were seen as outdated, old-fashioned, or just not as exciting as newer, flashier options. But over time, things change. The same rifles that once sat on gun racks, gathering dust or quietly trading hands at bargain prices, have become sought-after treasures. Collectors, hunters, and shooters who missed their chance to grab one when it was readily available now find themselves hunting down these classic firearms at a premium.

The market shifts, tastes evolve, and what was once considered obsolete suddenly starts to look like a missed opportunity. These are the rifles people once called outdated, and now they hunt down like they missed their chance.

To read more, go here. 

Moon Fly-By Today

Above, Artemis I approaches the moon in December. NASA photo.

The much-anticipated fly-by of the moon will take place today as Artemis II will set a new record for distance from Earth. It will surpass the record set by Apollo 13.

According to NPR:

The crew of NASA's Artemis II will make its closest approach to the moon Monday afternoon after launching from Kennedy Space Center last week.

It marks a critical milestone of the agency's Orion space capsule, sending humans on a mission to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. As the capsule loops around the moon, the astronauts will reach farther into space than humans have ever ventured.

The Orion spacecraft is now in the lunar sphere of influence, meaning the moon's gravity has more pull on the vehicle than the Earth. At 1:46 p.m. ET, the crew will surpass the record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth by humans, which was set by the Apollo 13 mission at 248,655 statute miles from Earth. At 2:45 p.m., the crew will begin making observations of the surface of the moon during the flyby.

To read more, go here. 

New Injection Could Help Reverse Damage

Above, yours truly in a Twin Falls, Idaho hospital after two stents were installed.

Eight years ago, when I had my heart attack (or something very close to it) in Wells, Nevada. It was due to fast action by a friend that got paramedics to me that prevented any heart muscle damage. All I needed were two stents to remedy a coronary artery blockage in Twin Falls, Idaho.

I recovered so well that I was able to go on a cruise to Cuba and do some river rafting in Jackson, Wyoming the following year. I also shed some weight as well.

Above, river rafting the Snake River near Jackson, Wyoming in 2019. Photo by Floatographs

My Lexiscan (and other exams) last summer showed no new blockages. Whew!

Meantime, Fox News posted a story on a new therapy that may repair cardiac muscle damage following a heart attack. I was sent the article by my "honorary sister" Diane.

The article starts with:

Scientists have developed a new therapy designed to repair cardiac damage after a heart attack.

The study, led by researchers at Columbia University and published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, explored a two-step strategy that uses skeletal muscle to produce a healing molecule that activates when it reaches an injured heart.

Unlike many organs, the adult human heart has a limited ability to repair itself after a heart attack, the researchers noted.

 To read more, go here.

Don’t Buy a Lever Gun Before Watching This

Don’t Buy a Lever Gun Before Watching This – Best Lever Action Rifles 2026! video from The Armory.

Summary:

Best lever action rifles 2026 are hotter than ever, and in this video we break down the top 10 lever guns you can actually buy right now. From classic icons like Winchester and Marlin to modern tactical builds with rails, suppressor-ready barrels, and M-LOK systems, this is your ultimate buying guide.

Whether you're a first-time buyer, hunter, or seasoned shooter, we cover performance, reliability, pricing, and real-world pros & cons for each rifle. Discover which lever action delivers the best balance of power, craftsmanship, and modern upgrades in 2026.

 

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. 

In honor of our four astronauts who will be circling around the moon today, we have a couple from Chad & Jeremy, the first one being "Everyone's Gone To The Moon." The other is "A Summer Song." Both are from 1964.

From Wikipedia:

Chad & Jeremy were a British musical duo consisting of Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde, who began working in 1962 and had their first hit song in the UK with "Yesterday's Gone" (1963). That song became a hit in the United States in the following year as part of the British Invasion. Unlike the rock-influenced beat music of their peers, Chad & Jeremy performed in a soft, folk-inflected style characterized by hushed and whispered vocals. The duo had a string of hits in the United States, including "Willow Weep for Me", "Before and After", and their biggest hit, "A Summer Song". After some commercial failures and divergent personal ambitions, Chad & Jeremy disbanded in 1968.

Chad Stuart continued to work in the music industry, while Jeremy Clyde became a film and stage actor. In the early 1980s, the duo reunited to record a new album and perform concerts, including a multi-band British Invasion nostalgia tour. After another long period of separation, in the early 2000s, Chad & Jeremy began performing again and developed a semi-regular tour schedule for many years. Chad Stuart retired in 2016 and died on December 20, 2020, while Jeremy Clyde continues to tour and record as a solo artist.

 

Rifles Buyers Passed On and Now Regretted

Above, rifles on display at Ron Peterson Firearms in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I bought my 1952 Winchester 94 in .30-30 caliber, I was browsing the racks of rifles at Ron Peterson Firearms (photo above) in Albuquerque at the time for something to do. I was wanting to get a pre-1964 Winchester 94 for some time and found it essentially sitting there waiting for me. I put it on layaway as I was going to fly to Fort Lauderdale the next day for a cruise to Key West and Havana. I picked it up upon my return. 

Since I had a particular rifle I wanted, I basically ignored others on the racks. Apparently, many other people have done the same over the years.

That is the topic of an article in The Avid Outdoorsman. 

They begin their article with:

Some rifles sat in plain sight for years while buyers walked right past them. They were too common, too unfashionable, too tied to an older generation, or simply too easy to put off for later. Then later showed up with higher prices, thinner supply, and a whole lot less patience from the market. That is usually how the regret starts. A rifle people once treated like a maybe or a someday suddenly becomes the one they bring up when talking about missed chances.

A lot of these rifles did not change much at all. The steel did not get better. The wood did not get prettier. The actions did not suddenly become smoother overnight. What changed was that buyers finally noticed what they had ignored, and by then the cheap or easy entry point was gone. These are the rifles buyers passed on for years and now kick themselves over.

To see what they are, go here. 

NASA's Artemis II Live Views From Orion

Thanks to RV Travel, I was alerted to the following YouTube video featuring NASA's live feed from Artemis II's trip to the moon,

Summary:

As bandwidth allows, this stream will feature live views from the Orion spacecraft, without commentary, as it makes its journey around the Moon. Viewers will see a blue screen if there is a loss of signal, or if the bandwidth is needed for mission activities. Viewers may see what appears to be a black screen when the vehicle is in darkness. 

This stream started as Artemis II began its ascent into space and will conclude shortly before Orion splashes down into the Pacific Ocean.

24/7 streaming coverage of Artemis II operations and mission updates will be available on our YouTube channel. We're also streaming Artemis II events on NASA+, Amazon, X, Facebook, and Twitch. See the full schedule: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-coverage-for-first-artemis-crewed-mission-around-moon/

5 Iconic Movie Locations For RVers To Explore

Above, yours truly in Monument Valley, famous for several John Wayne/John Ford movies.

Over the years, being a movie fan, I have been interested in movie locations. 

The movies can be of any genre or no genre at all. In fact, I published The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan that features movie locations and giant monster attractions. 

RV Travel has posted an article on five iconic movie locations for RVers to explore and nearby campgrounds.

They begin it with:

I love movies! I love visiting actual movie locations, too!

Here are five great movie sites to visit. You’ll also discover nearby activities and attractions that will make your RV “movie trip” well worth your time. Ready? Action!

To see what they are, go here.

Happy Easter!

 

Tractor Supply Company Is An RVer’s Best Friend

Above, the Gallup Tractor Supply store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Every so often, I will head into Gallup to the Tractor Supply store for different things. It is usually pet supplies that I get there.

Most recently (last year), they had a sale on gallon-sized RV anti-freeze solution. I ended up buying two. I also bought a new lawn/patio chair.

My biggest purchase there was seven years ago when I bought my Bad Boy Zero-turn mower and the Coleman mini-bike.

Tractor Supply has other things available and RV Travel posted an article on why it is an RVer's best friend. I recently noticed that they also sell ammunition.

They begin it with:

If you spend any time traveling by RV, you quickly learn that not all stores are created equal. Some are great for groceries, others for gear, and a select few become go-to stops for just about everything. Tractor Supply Company falls firmly into that last category.

Whether you’re parked at a campground or boondocking off a back road, this retailer is one you’ll want on your radar. 

To read the full article, go here. 

Idaho Advisory On "Official State Gun" Makes Ballot

Above, one of the guns on the list is the Winchester 94 .30-30. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is officially on the November ballot in Idaho.

It is an advisory measure asking Idaho voters on what gun should be named the "Official State Gun."

According to Ballotpedia:

The Idaho State Legislature approved House Bill 932, placing an advisory question on the November 2026 ballot to determine the official state gun.

The ballot question will be as follows: 

“Which of the following guns should be designated as the state gun of Idaho? Please choose only one answer.

(a) Winchester Model 1894 (.30-30);

(b) Winchester Model 1873 "Gun that Won the West" (.44-40);

(c) 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver "Peacemaker" (.45 Colt);

(d) M1 Garand rifle (.30-06);

(e) Colt M1911 .45 automatic Colt pistol (.45 ACP); or

(f) Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle (.30-06).”

The list of gun choices could increase before the 2026 election. House Bill 932 (HB 932) grants the Idaho Legislative Council, which is tasked with providing the Secretary of State with the official ballot language before election preparations, the ability to add options to the list of potential state guns. 

It will be interesting to see which gun is the most favored. A friend joked that if California were to designate an official state gun, it would be a water pistol.

To read more, go here. 

John Moses Browning Inventions Install At U.S. Air Force Museum

 

Hickok45: Is This The Most fun Rifle Ever Made?

Is This The Most fun Rifle Ever Made? video by Hickok45.

Summary:

Hickok45 explores the capabilities of the iconic Ruger 10/22 rifle, demonstrating its function with both Butler Creek magazines and the newer Ruger BX-25 magazines. Various .22 Long Rifle ammunition types are tested against different targets, ranging from plastic bottles to metal plates, to assess reliability and performance.

 

Guns People Swore They'd Never Sell, But...

Above, Colt Python revolvers. Photo by Jeff Dean, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Did you ever have a gun (pistol, rifle or shotgun) what you swore you'd never part with? 

Then, you found that you needed cash badly enough that you sold your prized gun thinking you can later replace it but found the price skyrocketed.

The Avid Outdoorsman posted an article listing several guns that fall into that category. 

It begins with:

There are guns you buy because they make sense, and then there are guns you hang onto because something about them gets under your skin. Maybe they shoot better than they should. Maybe they remind you of a different time, when prices were sane and racks were still full of models people now treat like lost treasure. Either way, these are the guns owners used to say they’d keep forever, and a lot of them meant it.

The rough part is that life happens. Bills show up, priorities change, and sometimes a gun gets sold with the honest belief that another one can always be found later. Then later shows up and the market has gone completely sideways. These are the firearms that turned that lesson into a painful one for a whole lot of people.

To read more, go here.

Pre 64 vs. Post 64 Winchester Model 94 Rifle

Pre 64 vs. Post 64 Winchester model 94 rifle video by Terry Benton.

Summary:

this video shows the difference in a post 1964 and a pre 1964 Winchester Model 1894 rifles. the firearms used as examples in this video are as follows 

Winchester model 94 in 30WCF mfg. in 1949

Winchester model 94 in 30-30 mfg. in 1979

 

Some Americans Find Hawaii Vacations Less Appealing

Above, the Sheraton Waikiki is where I stayed in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have only been to Hawaii once in my life. I mainly stayed in Waikiki on Oahu and Kona, on the Big Island.

That was ten years ago this coming May. It appears that I visited Hawaii just in the nick of time before prices skyrocketed.

Nowadays, some American travelers find Hawaii less appealing as a vacation destination.

MSN posted a slideshow article on why this is so.

They begin it with:

Hawaii is becoming one of the most expensive vacation destinations in the U.S., and travelers are noticing. Hotel rates, flights, and daily expenses have all climbed sharply over the past few years.

What once felt like a special but manageable trip now requires a much larger budget. Many repeat visitors say the overall experience no longer matches the price they are paying.

The islands are still beautiful, but the total cost of getting there and staying comfortably has reached a point where people are reconsidering. This growing gap between expectation and reality is changing how travelers view Hawaii as a destination.

To read more, go here. 

First-Timer's Guide To Joshua Tree National Park

Above, camping at Cottowood Campground in Joshua Tree National Park in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Years ago, Joshua Tree National Park was known as Joshua Tree National Monument. It became a national park in 1994.

I had been there several times since I was a kid. My Boy Scout troop camped there back around 1966. I remember we camped in Jumbo Rocks Campground. We had a great time there climbing the huge rocks.

I last visited it in 2015 and camped at Cottonwood Campground.

Cleveland.com posted a first-timer's guide to Joshua Tree National Park. 

They begin it with:

JOSHUA TREE, California – The trees here get all the glory. But the rocks may be the coolest part of Joshua Tree National Park.

Don’t get me wrong – the trees are also special, with their Seuss-like branches and spiky leaves.

But you can’t climb the trees.

The rocks, on the other hand, are open for exploration.

Unlike some national parks, where visitors are discouraged from getting too close, explorers here are encouraged to hike, scramble, climb up, rappel down and otherwise fully experience the hundreds of igneous rock formations that dot the landscape.

To read more, go here. 

Pre 64 Winchester Model 94 In 30-30

Pre 64 Winchester model 94 in 30-30 video by Terry Benton.

Summary:

This video talks about the Winchester model 1894 that was manufactured before 1964. the firearm used as examples in this video is a Winchester model 94 chambered in 30 WCF manufactured in 1949.

 

Viral: Kid At Launch Nails CNN

 

Government Alien/Human Hybrid Breeding Program EXPOSED?!

Here's a weird story:

Government Alien/Human Hybrid Breeding Program EXPOSED?!

Artemis II Flight

Artemis II is currently in Earth orbit. If all of the Orion spacecraft's systems are functioning correctly, they will fire the Trans Lunar Injection rocket burn to send them on the way to the moon. This will come later today.

From Space.com:

 NASA's Artemis 2 mission is officially underway.

After a successful launch on April 1 (and a slight toilet issue), the four-person crew is now in Earth orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft, settling in for their first night of sleep as ground teams continue to check the vehicle's systems.

Today marks a critical moment in the Artemis 2 mission.

The astronauts are not yet on their way to the moon. Instead, mission teams are preparing for a crucial maneuver later today — the translunar injection burn — which will send Orion out of Earth orbit and toward the moon.

It's a major commitment point for the mission. If all systems are go, Artemis 2 will become the first crewed flight to travel beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo era.

To read more, go here. 

Artemis II Launch Video

It was an emotional moment of pride for many that we're finally sending astronauts to the moon.

The launch of Artemis II yesterday was spectacular. It would have been more spectacular had the camera work of the launch were better. (Compare the launch video below with the one of Apollo 17 I posted yesterday. The camera tracked Apollo 17's Saturn V rocket much better.)

Still, it is great to see the launch. I noticed that political pundits like Glenn Beck and Benny Johnson were covering the launch. 

Here's a video of yesterday's launch: 

I will be at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas this month. They should have some interesting goodies related to the Artemis II flight to purchase.

Lighting Up The Night | The Launch of Apollo 17

If everything goes as planned today, the flight of Artemis II will mark the first time in 50 years since man traveled to the vicinity of the moon.

The last time was in December 1972 when Apollo 17 was sent to the moon. It was the last moon mission of the Apollo program. I remember the flight as I was at the "ripe old age" of 18 at the time. 

Here's the launch of Apollo 11.

Summary: 

On this edition we remember the anniversary of the flight of Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan,  Harrison Jack Schmitt & Ronald Evans.

In the early morning hours of December 7, 1972 the Apollo 17 crew lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center aboard a Saturn V rocket becoming the last astronauts to attempt a lunar landing and bringing a close to the the Apollo program.  Cernan & Schmitt took their Lunar Module called Challenger to a landing in the Taurus-Littrow region of the Moon.  The Apollo 17 crew returned to Earth from the Moon on December 19, 1972. 

 

The Deadliest Lever-Action Rifles Ever Made!

The Deadliest Lever-Action Rifles Ever Made! video by ZeroSight Media.

Summary:

From the Henry 1860 to the Winchester 1873 and modern Henry Lever Actions, this is the complete history of lever-action rifles explained.

Discover how these legendary firearms shaped the American frontier and still dominate hunting today.

We break down every major lever-action rifle, from Civil War repeaters to modern big-bore hunting machines.

If you want to understand lever-action rifles, their power, history, and evolution, this is the only video you need.

Every era. Every rifle. Fully explained.

Lever-action rifles aren’t just guns — they are icons of survival, power, and American history.

Artemis II Launch Today

Above, Artemis II on launch pad. By NASA Headquarters / NASA/Joel Kowsky

We'll have something to watch this afternoon!

Artemis II is scheduled to launch four astronauts to the moon from Cape Canaveral. This will be the first crewed mission for the new spacecraft.

According to NASA:

As the Artemis II countdown moves steadily toward liftoff no earlier than 6:24 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, April 1, launch teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida continue completing a sequence of highly choreographed steps to ready the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the crew’s journey around the Moon. 

The weather forecast for launch day shows an 80% chance of favorable weather conditions with primary concerns being cumulus clouds, ground winds, and solar weather. NASA and weather officers with the U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 will continue to monitor the weather leading up to liftoff. 

Engineers began the day by finishing critical health checks on the rocket’s four RS‑25 engines, confirming that sensors, connections, and diagnostics were all performing as expected. Their readiness marks an important milestone as cryogenic operations approach. 

To read more, go here.