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. 

Dollar At ¥159 In Tokyo

Happy April Fool's Day!

Yes, today is April 1 but the following is not an April fool joke. 

As we're in a new month, it is time to take a peek at how the U.S. dollar is faring against the Japanese yen in foreign exchange for those planning a vacation in Japan.

According to The Mainichi:

The U.S. dollar briefly weakened to the lower 158 yen range in Tokyo, as buying on flight-to-safety demand subsided amid speculation of a cease-fire, dealers said.

At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 158.79-80 yen compared with 158.66-76 yen in New York and 159.62-64 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

To read more, go here. 

Six Mile Canyon: The Gate's Open!

Above, the gate to Six Mile Canyon is open. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After our Tuesday morning coffee at Denny's today, I took a detour on the way home to check out the main gate to Six Mile Canyon, known locally as "The Playground."

I am happy to report that the gate is open to allow vehicles (ATV, side-by-side, Jeeps) into the canyon.

So now I can drive the Jeep into the canyon and drive all the way to McGaffey Lake.

1964 Kennedy Half Dollars More Valuable Today

Above, Franklin and Kennedy Half Dollars found in a strongbox. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Around three years ago, I had a strongbox my late dad left opened by a locksmith in Gallup. I had the strongbox in my closet for years, but had no key to open it up to see what was inside.

Inside, were around 20 1964 Kennedy Half Dollars along with several Franklin Half Dollars and $2.00 bills among other items. 

With silver's spot price around $70/troy ounce currently, this find is a lot more valuable. During the time of the strongbox opening, the spot price was around $24.00/troy ounce. The Kennedy Half Dollars were in uncirculated or near-uncirculated condition.  

1964 Kennedy Half Dollars had 90% silver content. After 1964, the silver content was reduced to 40% until about 1970.

Here's a couple of interesting videos on the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar:

 

 

Dealer Picks the BEST Silver To Buy For $1000

 Dealer Picks the BEST Silver to Buy for $1000 video by Silver Seeker and Minot Coin & Bullion.

Summary:

If you had $1000 to spend on silver right now, what would a bullion dealer actually buy? In this interview, we break down real-world stacking choices, premiums, and what makes the most sense for physical silver.

Winchester 1890 Gallery Gun

Above, a Winchester 1890 rifle. NRA photo.

An argument has broken out in one of the Winchester Pre-64 Facebook pages.

A fellow posted photos of his Winchester 1890 and referred to it as a "gallery gun" in his posting. One person replied asking what makes it a gallery gun. 

The thread then took a nasty turn with several members cussing at each other. 

Out of curiosity, I looked up gallery guns and the Winchester 1890 was mentioned several times in the results.

Here's one from The Firearm Blog:

While gallery guns can trace their origins as far back as the American Civil War, the practice of “gallery shooting” has more or less survived to this day. Shooting Galleries were more or less the same thing as the gun ranges we use today for practice. While one could only guess what some of these much older shooting galleries operated like, we do actually know what kind of firearms were most often used.

Some of the most common gallery guns included the Winchester Model 1890. This slide-action (pump-action) 22 caliber rifle was a popular choice for competitors and shooting gallery patrons that could also serve as a pest control rifle as it could accept everything from .22 Shorts (used for gallery shooting) all the way up to .22 Long Rifle. Another popular American example was the Remington Rider single-shot pistol, which was a dedicated offering for those who enjoyed the sport of gallery shooting – with some people going as far as to have a dedicated shooting parlor in their house.

Above, my Winchester 94 and 62A rifles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have a Winchester Model 62A .22 rifle and it also has been called a gallery gun over the years. Some shooting galleries did use these rifles. I inherited it from my maternal grandfather. It was made in 1947. 

It is a pump-action rifle.

Cooler and, Maybe, Wetter

Above, the crabapple tree two days ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that we are in a cooling trend with the possibility of isolated thunderstorms in the Gallup/Jamestown vicinity. It did sprinkle a little bit yesterday afternoon. It lasted only a few minutes.

According to the National Weather Service, the next few days look like this:

Today

Isolated showers before 2pm, then isolated thunderstorms between 2pm and 3pm, then scattered showers after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. West wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight

Scattered showers, mainly after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday

Showers before noon, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between noon and 3pm, then showers likely after 3pm. High near 56. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.

Norwegian Confirms Return of Beverage Packages to Private Island

Above, yours truly having a drink aboard the Norwegian Sky in 2024.

After "holy hell" was raised by cruise passengers and travel partners, Norwegian Cruise Lines is dropping their planned additional drink package for Great Stirrup Cay.

According to Cruise Industry News:

Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that it will continue to honor all of its beverage packages in its private island destination of Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

In statements sent to booked guests, the company announced that it will not implement a new policy requiring passengers to purchase an additional package to order alcoholic drinks at Great Stirrup Cay.

“After receiving feedback from our guests and travel partners, guests with Free at Sea or More at Sea beverage packages will continue to enjoy the same beverage package inclusions as they do onboard,” the company said.

“This means your beverage experience flows effortlessly from ship to shore,” Norwegian added, noting that packages can be acquired up to 24 hours before cruises.

As reported by Cruise Industry News, the company had previously advised travel agents of the change in plans.

The company first revealed that it would stop honoring its beverage packages in Great Stirrup Cay in October 2025.

When Mitch Geriminsky and I took a Bahamas cruise in 2024 with Norwegian, I didn't bother buying a drink package. I just confined myself to have one to two drinks per day out-of-pocket. Following some jet skiing, I bought one cocktail while in Great Stirrup Cay. 

To read more, go here.

Comparing the Model 94 Winchester and 336 Marlin

Comparing the Model 94 Winchester and 336 Marlin video by GunBlue490.

Summary:

While both are flat sided, lever action, tubular fed woods carbines, each have distinct features that have fulfilled the different needs of shooters for 130 years.  See what these distinct differences are and how one of these historic guns may appeal to you!

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 Billy Swan with his 1975 hit, "I Can Help."

From Wikipedia:

William Lance Swan (born May 12, 1942) is an American country singer-songwriter, best known for his 1974 single "I Can Help".

 

Best Campgrounds Along Route 66 Revealed

Best campgrounds along Route 66 revealed video by KOAT.

Summary:

Best campgrounds along Route 66 revealed

The video features my favorite Albuquerque RV park, the Route 66 RV Resort. 

RV Travel: Are Love’s RV Stops Worth It?

Above, a Love's RV campsite in Oklahoma. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There are several chains of truck stops/travel centers around the country. Buc-ee's, Pilot/Flying J and Love's are ones that immediately come to mind.

Love's is making special efforts to accommodate RVers. Some have set up overnight campsites with hook-ups. I saw one of them last December while driving from Des Moines, Iowa to Orange County, California.

RV Travel has posted an article on Love's RV Stops asking if they're worth it.

They begin it with:

If you’ve been on the road lately, you may have noticed that more and more Love’s Travel Stops are putting in accommodations for us RVers. In fact, many of you weighed in on a poll saying that you have already dipped your toes in staying at a Love’s.

The company has committed to RVers with a variety of things, including offering overnight accommodations with hookups at some of the company’s 670 locations in 42 states. These accommodations range from flat pads with water and electric to full RV parks with a number of amenities, including pickleball, dog parks, and laundry facilities.

To read more, go here. 

I Tried To Buy $70 Silver... Here's What I REALLY Paid!

 I Tried to Buy $70 Silver... Here's What I REALLY Paid! video by Silver Seeker.

Summary:

You went to multiple coin shops after silver dropped to $70 and found out what it actually costs to buy in the real world, including premiums and price differences across dealers.

Precipitation Possible Next Week

Above, the crabapple tree is blooming. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like we may be getting some precipitation this coming week, starting tomorrow and Monday with a dry storm. A dry storm is a thunderstorm that produces less than 0.1" of rain. This is according to the McKinley County of Emergency Management.

It won't be long when we'll be in monsoon season.

According to the National Weather Service, the week is shaping up as follows:

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 42. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Sunday

A slight chance of sprinkles after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Light west wind increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the morning.

Sunday Night

A slight chance of sprinkles before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Monday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. West wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then a chance of showers between 9pm and midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Southwest wind 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 3pm, then a slight chance of thunderstorms after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Breezy.

Wednesday

Showers likely, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Wednesday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Snake Season

Above, a bullsnake. Photo by William L. Farr.  

For the past several days, I have been seeing lizards in the yard. This means spring is here and snakes are also out and about.

We have rattlesnakes in New Mexico, although I haven't seen any. We also have bullsnakes and I have seen two of them. One was in the front yard, a rather large adult and the other was in my garage and was a young one. My initial reaction to seeing each was to check the tail. If no rattles, it's a bullsnake.

We respect bullsnakes as they help control rodents such as gophers and mice. Some have even eaten rattlesnakes, but that's rare.

From Wikipedia:

The bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) is a large, nonvenomous, colubrid snake. It is a subspecies of the gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer). The bullsnake is one of the largest/longest snakes of North America and the United States, reaching lengths up to 8 ft.

Geronimo Indian Store "Temporarily Closed"

Above, Geronimo Trading Post in 2018. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the trading posts along Interstate 40 in Arizona is the Geronimo Trading Post in Joseph City.

I stopped there and bought a few things back in 2018 following a clampout.

Unfortunately, there is some sad news about the trading post. It comes from Jack Rabbit Trading Post, also from Joseph City.

They posted on Facebook:

Just wanted to get this out there.  The Geronimo Trading post is closed at this time. We do not know the outcome for this store.

We are not related in any way to this store. The owners have both passed away & for the last year or so, family members have been opening it off & on. But, it has been completely closed since December.  I can imagine how hard it is for family members who are not from here & do not know this business to keep this kind of business afloat.

We have had many customers complaining about them being closed. We try to explain the situation but sometimes people are still upset about it. 

Since we are not in any way connected to this store or family, we cannot assume it is easy. And we are not to blame for them being closed!!

It would be sad to lose this trading post. Hopefully, the family can find a buyer who can operate the store successfully. 

Google indicates that it is "temporarily closed."

RV Travel Poll: Have You Ever Seen A Ghost?

Above, Banquo's Ghost by Théodore Chassériau, 1855.

For those who are interested in the paranormal, RV Travel has up a poll asking if readers ever seen a ghost.

I responded:

Never seen one, but when I was 15, I worked as a dishwasher in a convalescent hospital and saw a metal dessert cup move by itself.

RV Travel posed the question this way:

Ghosts… You either believe in them, don’t believe in them, or don’t believe in them until you see one! Right?

Have you ever seen a ghost? If so, can you say you saw one with absolute certainty or are you pretty sure, but not positive? If you answer yes, you must (and we mean must!) leave a comment and tell us about your ghost experience. We’re dying to know. Thanks!

To read more and participate, go here. 

L.A. One Agenda Item

Above, at the Barstow Tommy's last December.

If I go (chances are I will) to this year's multi-class reunion for those of us from Hawthorne High School in September, there's definitely one thing on the agenda: have a Tommy Burger from Original Tommy's.

I last ate at Tommy's last December as I was driving my ex-roommate Jessica to California from Iowa. We stayed on night in Needles, but we stopped at Tommy's in Barstow before proceeding on to Orange County. 

There, we had breakfast sandwiches. This was the first time Jessica had anything from Tommy's. She liked it. 

I'll have to arrange with friends to go to Tommy's (somewhere) while I am in L.A. 

Class Reunion In September

The last time I was in L.A. was four years ago when several classes of Hawthorne High School held a 50-year reunion at the Embassy Suites in El Segundo.

I just received the following notice on Facebook that we're to do it again this coming September. It will be held at the same place. The last one was a lot of fun. While in town, some of us roamed around old haunts like the Redondo Beach pier and Pancho's Mexican Restaurant in Manhattan Beach. It will be interesting to see what the gasoline prices are in the South Bay.

In case some class members aren't on Facebook, here's the notice. 

Hopefully, the state is still standing by then. 😏