Dodgers Win World Series, But...

Above, the last Dodger game I attended was on September 1, 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While I am glad that the Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2024 World Series in Yankee Stadium last night, I can't get past the fact that I am done with them and Major League Baseball in general. I did not watch any of the games.

The reasons were their support for the Black Lives Matter Marxist group. I stated my outrage here. That was later reinforced when Major League Baseball pulled the All-Star Game from Atlanta in 2020. I wrote about that here.

Then, the Dodgers did something even more stupid last year:

From Newsweek:

But inclusion for some has come to mean exclusion for others. As part of their Pride Night celebrations, the Dodgers invited, then uninvited, then reinvited the "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence," a self-described "Order of queer and trans nuns" who "use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry."

Their target is frequently the Catholic Church. The group's roster includes such faux-religious ribaldry as Sister Risqué of the Sissytine Chapel, Father Fellatio, Sister Missionary Position, and other less printable mockery of traditional Catholic figures and beliefs. Their motto: "Go forth and sin some more!"

The Dodgers saw fit to bestow the team's Community Hero Award on the group, despite a fairly pedestrian record of actual impact; per their documents filed with the IRS, the group offers modest grants, between $50,000 and $60,000 to community groups each year. Backlash ensued, but after an initial backtrack, the team reinvited the "Sisters."

The news came as a betrayal to many longtime Dodger fans, who remembered devout Catholic Vin Scully melodically commentating games for 67 seasons, the "Nuns Days" that used to fill Chavez Ravine with (real) wimples and habits, and the Catholic Bronze Star recipient Gil Hodges playing at first base. The Dodgers seemed content to throw that history away, to the dismay of Catholics like Bishop Robert Barron, until recently an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who called for a boycott of the team.

Since I was already done with the Dodgers and Major League Baseball, I didn't bother to comment on that.  

I will always treasure being a Dodger fan while the team was owned by Walter and Peter O'Malley. But, I am no longer a fan under the current ownership. 

Happy Halloween!

 

Above, Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's Monster in Son of Frankenstein (1939).

Story Behind Trump's Garbage Truck Ride

 Former President Donald Trump explains about the garbage truck.

Trump's Garbage Truck

 "This truck is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden," Donald Trump.

After His Fraudulency Joe Biden's major gaffe in calling Trump supporters "garbage", with a devilish sense of humor, former President Donald Trump arrived at his Green Bay, Wisconsin rally in a garbage truck and wearing s sanitation worker vest. 

Which Cell Service Provider Is Best For RVers?

During my RV travels, the only problem with coverage I encountered was when I was driving to Crater Lake National Park from central Oregon. There was no coverage. That's why I keep a CB (citizens band) radio in my RV.

This was back in 2017 during my Great American Eclipse trip. Then, as now, I have T-Mobile phone service. I am generally happy with it.

But what is the best cellular service provider for RVers?

That question is looked at in an article in RV Travel.

They begin it with:

For RVers venturing across the United States and Canada, dependable cell service is essential. Traveling often means relying on robust coverage that extends to remote areas, plus reliable data for navigation, communication, and entertainment. The best cell phone providers for RVers also offer plans with mobile hotspots, keeping us traveling RVers connected wherever we roam.

Here’s a look at the top cell phone companies that deliver the best connectivity for RV travelers.

To read more, go here. 

Daylight Savings Time Ends Sunday

 

Snow Showers Coming This Weekend

Above, the GOCO Beast Barn after a 2019 snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday morning, we had a cold rainstorm come through Jamestown and Gallup.

It ended while we were having our Tuesday morning coffee gathering down at Denny's. That allowed me to head into Gallup for some grocery shopping.

Before grocery shopping, I stopped at Tractor Supply to pick up some RV anti-freeze for the pipes and holding tanks. What I found there was the anti-freeze was on sale. The sale was two gallons for $6.00. So I bought two. 

It is a good thing that I did so since we have been getting nightly sub-freezing temperatures. 

That's not all, we're to get snow showers starting Sunday night and that will continue to Monday night. Just hope the weather is pleasant enough on Tuesday's Election Day.

I'll have to get the snow shovel out of the garage.

Here's the forecast from the National Weather Service:

Sunday

Scattered rain showers before noon, then rain likely, possibly mixed with snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night

Rain and snow showers likely, becoming all snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday

Scattered snow showers before 11am, then scattered rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday Night

Isolated snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

"Godzilla Minus One" Re-Release November 1

For those who have missed the initial run of Godzilla Minus One or want to see it again, here's your chance to see it on the big screen. Yes, it's the Toho feature that garnered an Academy Award for Best Special Effects.

It will be re-released to U.S. theaters November 1.

Here's the re-release trailer:

Horses At The Flying J

A couple of days ago, as I was leaving the Flying J, I saw three horses grazing. They seem to be hanging around the Flying J for the past several days. 

I suspect they may be from the Navajo reservation.

I stopped and took the photo below. 

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Above, movies to watch on a cold day. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Right now, according to my phone's WeatherBug app, it is now 28° outside. 

The forecast today for Jamestown, New Mexico is 45° according to the National Weather Service. But the daytime trend is upwards. But the nighttime temperature will still be sub-freezing. 

I am running my heater and having a space heater near me. 

It looks like I'll be spending most of the day indoors. This will give me a good opportunity to watch some John Wayne movies I bought last week in Winterset, Iowa. I've already watched Trouble Along The Way and Circus World. I have Blood Alley, Sea Chase or Legend of the Lost to choose from.

The forecast:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 45. West wind 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 24. West wind 10 to 15 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 58. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 31. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 34.

 

Biden: Trump Supporters "Garbage"

First, it was Hillary Clinton calling Trump supporters "deplorables" in 2016. Now, it is His Fraudulency Joe Biden calling them "garbage". 

Yup, desperation!

 

Over 74 Million Americans voted for Donald Trump in the last election.

In an virtual event in support of Kamala Harris, Joe Biden called Trump supporters “garbage”

When you go to Vote, remember this. pic.twitter.com/KiaIFqxf7P

— America (@america) October 30, 2024

New Jersey: The Shape of Things To Come?

 

Republican early votes now exceed Democrat votes in New Jersey, normally a Democrat-leaning state! https://t.co/0eZQjVNlM6

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 30, 2024

Still Sub-Freezing Tonight

Above, the front yard four years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The forecast for tonight has been revised by the National Weather Service.

Tonight's low is expected to reach 29°. It's still sub-freezing, though.

But, at least we won't be getting any snow. That may come this weekend.

Here's the weekend forecast:

Sunday

A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.

Sunday Night

A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday

A chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday Night

A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday

A chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Since one garage door is "out-of-order", I put the Jeep into the garage where I normally park the Mustang and leaving the Mustang outside. It can weather the weather better than the Jeep, particularly if there's rain.

Today Is National Cat Day

Above, Sierra Claire Vaquer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At my house, everyday is National Cat Day. 

But officially, today is National Cat Day.

From Wikipedia:

National Cat Day is celebrated in various countries. In some areas it is an awareness day to raise public awareness of cat adoption. 

The National Cat Day website states that the holiday was first celebrated in 2005 "to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of cats that need to be rescued each year and also to encourage cat lovers to celebrate the cat(s) in their life for the unconditional love and companionship they bestow upon us."

I adopted my cat Sierra from the Hawthorne, California animal shelter in 2015. 

Kamala Harris Has Already Shown Who She Is

It is very hard for a candidate for any office to hide their past, particularly their statements and policy positions with videos and documents surfacing.

Such is the case of Kamala Harris. She is trying to run away from her anti-Second Amendment past and the NRA-ILA has posted an article on her "big problem" as she has already shown who she is.

The article begins with:

At a town hall event on October 21 in Royal Oak, Michigan, Democrat presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris was asked how she would make “impactful and immediate progress around gun violence” if she was elected with a Republican majority in Congress.

In her by-now classic “word salad” style, Harris responded that she thinks of the issue “through the lens of many experiences,” then touched upon the “direct trauma for those who have been directly affected by gun violence,” and ended up at “the macropoint” – namely, the “false choice” between thinking that one is either in favor of the Second Amendment or that “you want to take everyone’s guns away.” She offered herself as living proof of this “macropoint” because she’s not only a gun owner “in favor of the Second Amendment,” but believes in “assault weapons bans, red flag laws, universal background checks” and other “common sense gun safety laws.”

It was made obvious at the start of the October 21 event that it was tightly scripted. Moderator Maria Shriver told an audience member that only questions that had been “predetermined” would be permitted, with no spontaneous questions from the floor. Even within this forced and stilted setup, Harris fell flat. It took her until the last few seconds of the over five-minute exchange to actually deal with the question. “We need common sense gun safety laws and I will continue, I’ve done it throughout my career, work with all of our colleagues across the aisle and I know that we can make progress,” she said, “but I’m not trying to take anyone’s guns away from them.” 

The explanation for Harris’ emphatic new identity as a gun enthusiast and supporter of constitutional freedoms is that she is struggling to put her past under wraps, a past in which she wholeheartedly embraced extreme gun bans and confiscation, and which has now come back to haunt her.

To read the rest of the article, go here. 

American Rifleman: Election '24 Issue

The latest issue of the National Rifle Association's (NRA) features former President Donald Trump immediately following the assassination attempt in Butlet, Pennsylvania. It is now hitting mailboxes nationwide.

This is one issue all members (and non-members) who value their Second Amendment rights should read as it is on next week's election. 

Here's the cover:

Expect More Lawfare By Dems If Trump Wins

If Donald Trump wins the election next week, Democrats will likely try to use the January 6 case to do what Russiagate did for them eight years ago. | @AndrewCMcCarthy https://t.co/njrzmZ5132

— National Review (@NRO) October 29, 2024

A Little Problem With The Garage Door

When I got home last Friday from the Iowa trip, after unpacking, I went to get the Jeep out of the garage so I could go down to the post office at the Flying J to get my mail.

Above, the garage door after hitting it and getting it fully opened. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After starting up the Jeep, I started backing. Looking with the rear-view and side-view mirrors, it was clear for me to back out of the garage, or so I thought. Then, suddenly, bang! The top of the Jeep, where one of the roll bars is located, hit the roll-up garage door. I thought I opened it completely, but about 18" of it was still down. That's what I hit. 

The Jeep hit the bottom door crossbar and bent the bottom panel. It knocked the door off one of its tracks. I did manage to fully open the door thanks to a handy crowbar. After getting the Jeep out, I went to the post office and got my mail. There was no damage to the Jeep (thank God).

I decided to keep the Jeep out of the garage and parked the motorhome up near the door so nobody could get in (not counting critters). I then called some garage door repairers and arranged to have one look it over. He came over today and said the door was repairable. He also managed to get the door all the way closed. He will be back to do the repairs in a few days.

When I first called him, he asked me how long have I lived there. I told him over six and a half years. He replied, "And this is the first time you hit the door after six years?!" Apparently, this is a common occurrence. A friend, who shall remain nameless, backed into his garage door twice. 

I then put the motorhome into the GOCO Beast Barn so that it would be protected from the cold night we're expecting tomorrow night. The temperature is expected to go down into the 20s.

Since the garage door is now securely closed, I can go to Gallup for some grocery shopping tomorrow.

Oh, well. Shit happens! 

UPDATE (10/30/24):

The door was fixed this morning for under $100. Whew!

Australia's Sky News Sees Democrats' Desperation

The lamestream media (MSNBC, et al.) and the Harris campaign are trying, in their desperation, to compare former President Donald Trump as a Nazi. Most recently, comparing his Madison Square Garden rally last night to the Nazi rally there in the 1930s. This is likely to backfire on them.

As we cannot get a fair, unbiased view of the campaign from our media, Australia's Sky News sees things as they actually are: desperation.

They pointed out that Trump lives in New York City and Madison Square Garden is the premier venue for sports and non-sports events.

MSNBC Shameful Coverage of Trump NYC Rally

‘Shameful’ MSNBC blasted for splicing Nazi rally clips into coverage of Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally: ‘Incitement’ - Bo Snerdley.

Definitely a sure sign of desperation!

Obama last week: "How did things get so divisive?"

MSNBC last night: pic.twitter.com/gGzVUvuu9m

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) October 28, 2024

What Happens When The TSA Intercepts Firearms At US Airports

Above, the TSA checkpoint at the Albuquerque Sunport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Bringing a firearm through airport security (TSA) can be a major problem if one does not follow proper procedures. I've never had the need to bring a gun while traveling by air.

It is legal to bring a firearm in one's luggage as long as it is locked unloaded in a hard-sided case and declared with the baggage officer.

But not following the procedures can get one heavily fined, arrested and the gun confiscated.

Here's the official TSA procedures for transporting firearms and ammunition.

MSN posted an article on what happens. 

They start with:

As US travelers take advantage of their Second Amendment rights, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) frequently discovers firearms at security checkpoints throughout the US. By not declaring their firearms, travelers can potentially face legal issues for not following the proper procedures.

While the TSA does not confiscate or seize firearms if a passenger attempts to bring one through the security checkpoint or packs one in their carry-on luggage, the TSA will contact local law enforcement to take possession of the firearm safely. The passenger may be arrested or issued a citation, depending on local laws.

To read the full article, go here. 

Sub-Freezing Temperatures Tomorrow Night

Above, the front yard on October 28, 2020. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We're in for a plunge in temperature tomorrow night.

The National Weather Service forecasts a low of 26° Tuesday night in Jamestown, New Mexico. No precipitation is forecast. 30 mph winds gusts may be in store for the area.

But, we have to prepare for the cold snap in any case. I'll have to plug in the motorhome and run the holding tank heaters. Thankfully, all vehicles have plenty of anti-freeze in them.

The forecast:

Tuesday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Windy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Trump Coming To New Mexico

 From the Republican Party of New Mexico:

IT'S OFFICIAL!

President Donald J. Trump is coming to New Mexico!!!

When:

Thu, October 31, 2024

12:00 pm (US/Mountain)

Doors Open: 08:00 am

Where:

Albuquerque TBD

Make New Mexico Great Again!

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 and finish off October, we have ZZ Top with their hit from 1983, "Legs" from their Eliminator album released in March 1983. They were one of my dad's favorite bands.

From Wikipedia:

ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969. For 51 years, it consisted of vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard and bassist-vocalist Dusty Hill, until Hill's death in 2021. ZZ Top developed a signature sound based on Gibbons' blues style and Hill and Beard's rhythm section. They are known for their live performances, sly and humorous lyrics, and the matching appearances of Gibbons and Hill, who wore sunglasses, hats and long beards.

 

Should You Invest in Silver Bullion?

Above, the current COMEX silver spot price.

Silver is currently over $33.00/toz. This is good news for silver investors who bought the precious metal when it was down in the lower $20s.

Is silver a good investment? 

There's an old saying, "Buy low, sell high." That certainly applies to silver today. I bought plenty of it while it was low. But I am holding on to it as the spot price has been up for the past several weeks.

Investing News takes a look at the pros and cons of investing in silver. 

They begin with:

Investing in silver bullion has pros and cons, and what’s right for one investor may not work for another.

Interest in the silver market tends to flourish whenever the silver price increases, with investors beginning to wonder if it is the right time to add physical silver to their investment portfolios.

While silver can be volatile, the precious metal is also seen as a safe-haven asset, similar to its sister metal gold. Safe-haven investments can offer protection in times of uncertainty, and with tensions running high, they could be a good choice for those looking to preserve their wealth in difficult times.

With those factors in mind, let’s look at the pros and cons of buying silver bullion.

To read more, go here. 

By the way, the U.S. dollar is under threat by the BRIC alliance. That's a good reason to invest in precious metals. To find out more, go here.

The Week's Weather

Above, October 19's snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Temperatures at night are about to plunge in Jamestown, New Mexico this week.

The plunge will lower nighttime temperatures down into the 20s starting Tuesday. We may get some rain, but at least no snow is forecast.

According to the National Weather Service: 

Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.

Monday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Southwest wind 15 to 20 mph.

Tuesday

A 40 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Windy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Breezy.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 48.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 58.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 33.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 60.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 33.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 59.

Exploring Grand Canyon National Park

Above, at the South Rim's Trailer Village. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been a few years (2017 to be exact) since I last visited Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona. 

We stayed at the South Rim's Trailer Village, which is the only campground with full hook-ups for RVs up to 50 feet in length. 

Above, a view of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV Life has posted an article on the "ultimate" RV adventure of exploring Grand Canyon National Park.

They begin it with:

There is nothing more awe-inspiring than your first view of the Grand Canyon. It’s a bucket-list, must-do RV trip you should be compelled to put on your next RV adventure planner.

This national landmark is 277 river miles long and up to 18 miles wide with stunning views, wildlife, and great opportunities to get out and have an adventure. Just the wonder of this park with wildlife and beautiful vistas is nothing short of awesome.

Plan Your Grand Canyon RV Adventure

You will want to plan your trip well ahead of your scheduled dates. Plan to make your reservations about six months to a year out. The south rim of the Grand Canyon is the most popular tourist area, and of course the busiest. A great time to visit is between March and May or September and November when the temperatures are cooler and the crowds are smaller. In 2023, the park had some 5 million visitors.

The North Rim of the Canyon is also an option if you want to take in the beauty of nature in a quiet atmosphere. At the North Rim you can hike 14 miles into the canyon on the North Kaibab Trail. If you choose to utilize your RV at a North Rim Campground you won’t find any hookups. You could choose to stay at the Grand Canyon Lodge with a nearby gourmet restaurant and a large indoor veranda. Some say it is one of the best places to stay in the park.

To read more, go here. 

Probably Done With Air Travel

For the past several years, whenever I have taken a trip by plane I can get to my destination from home without any problem. But getting back home has been a whole different story.

Flight delays and flight cancellations due to weather or other causes have been the norm. 

That was the case again last week when I was trying to get home from Des Moines, Iowa. I was set to fly home last Thursday evening via American Airlines with an arrival at the Albuquerque Sunport around 11:00 PM. But the flight got delayed due to mechanical issues in the plane's cockpit. 

Well, it is better to discover a problem on the ground than at 35,000 feet in the air.

Above, at the bar at Des Moines Airport waiting for my flight to be rescheduled. It was later canceled.

First, it was to be delayed and hour. Then, as time passed, departure time was updated several times to 5:00 am. Then, the delay time was reversed backwards. Finally, the flight was canceled. We were given vouchers for a hotel room (mine was for the Quality Inn near the airport) and a meal. 

I also had my flights rescheduled for the next day. That should have been the end of it, but it wasn't. 

My morning flight from Des Moines International Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport was delayed an hour of some oil issue with the plane. This delay caused me to reach the airport just after boarding for my flight to Albuquerque ended.

Well, I went over to American Airlines' customer service desk and got flight to Albuquerque scheduled to depart hour and a half later. This was fine, except my luggage was aboard the flight that I missed. It was waiting for me at the baggage area at the Albuquerque Sunport. 

Above, waiting at the Des Moines Airport hotel shuttle area
for the shuttle to the Quality Inn. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Flying has become more of a nightmarish chore than a pleasure. The only flights in recent years that had no problems was my trip to and from Miami in August for the Bahamas cruise. We did get a half hour delay for our connector flight from Atlanta, but that actually worked out better as passengers from our Miami flight took their sweet time getting their overhead carry-on luggage and getting off the plane. I actually had to say something to spur them on. We made it to the gate before boarding started.

I am either never flying with American Airlines (they seem to be the worst) again or not flying altogether. I have had enough of this.

Airlines need to have passengers with connecting flights seated towards the front of the plane so they can get out faster. They also need to not have short layover times in case of delays. 

"McLintock!" Poster

Above is the John Wayne/Maureen O' Hara poster from the 1963 movie, McLintock!.  

McLintock! is a western version of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" 

The poster is not an original, but it is a nice poster that I will have framed. I bought it at the gift shop of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum. It was only $10. As I spent over $100 there, I was given a cloth carry bag, which I gave to my ex-roomie Jessica.

The John Wayne Birthplace Museum

 

Above, the John Wayne statue at the main entrance courtyard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Along with having John Wayne's birthplace, Winterset, Iowa also has a museum with many movie artifacts from Wayne's career. The Museum had its grand opening on May 22-25, 2015. I visited both this last Thursday.

While not as extensive as the John Wayne: An American Experience exhibit in Fort Worth, Texas, fans visiting the museum will come away not at all disappointed. There's lots of stuff to see.

There is a theater that shows a short film with Aissa Wayne on her dad's life and career. When she was a youngster, she appeared in several of Wayne's films including The Comancheros, The Alamo and McLintock! 

There is a big gift shop in the museum. I picked up several DVDs to fill some gaps in my collection along with a poster from McLintock! (below).

One can walk directly from the museum to the birthplace house through a room containing a chuckwagon from The Cowboys. 

There is also the "courting cart" from The Quiet Man along with a model of the Alamo. One of Wayne's customized station wagons is on display. (There's another one in Fort Worth at the John Wayne: An American Experience.) Many movie wardrobe items are also on display. A collection of coffee mugs Wayne gave to cast and crew members of his movies upon their completion are also on display. A cannon used in The Alamo is also on display.

The main entrance courtyard is dominated by a huge statue of John Wayne.

Here's a sampling of my visit:

Catty-corner from the Museum:

John Wayne's Birthplace

Above, the birthplace of John Wayne. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As Jessica was busy doing other things, I went solo to the John Wayne Birthplace & Museum in Winterset, Iowa yesterday.

I rented a car and headed there. It was about 45 miles away from Jessica's. 

The house where Wayne was born was acquired by Winterset around 1983 and restored. The furnishings inside were from the period, early 20th Century. 

Wayne's daughter Aissa and her husband head to Winterset every May to celebrate her dad's birthday and meet with her dad's fans.The museum has many movie artifacts from Wayne's films. It is not as extensive as the John Wayne: An  American Experience in Fort Worth, Texas, but it has plenty to not be disappointing.

Wayne and his family lived in Winterset for two years following his birth. It is a pretty small town, especially with the trees in their autumn colors. 

I was talking to the docents and they were not aware that the John Wayne Cancer Foundation holds marathons in different locations (like Ridgway, Colorado). I showed them photos of  Patrick and Ethan Wayne and me. They were quite fascinated. I told them I would try to have the Foundation contact them about promoting the marathons.

Of course, I took some photos while there: