RV Internet

Above, Route 66 RV Resort with one of its cell towers behind my RV. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whenever I go RV camping, I usually bring along one of my laptops. I connect to the Internet with my AT&T mobile hotspot.

I've had it for seven years. I got it when I moved to New Mexico from California and it, generally, has been reliable. When on the road, all I need is a nearby cell tower for the device to connect to it. 

RV camping and the Internet is the topic of a new article in RV Life.

It starts out with:

Starlink has received a ton of press the last few years, and for good reason. I had a great experience with Starlink when testing, though that is not always the universal opinion. Like almost any RV internet solution, your mileage may vary. Pricing and plans for Starlink seem to fluctuate frequently as the system continues to grow and change.

The curiosity around Starlink is justified. However, it often diverts attention from existing, affordable solutions that already exist on the modern 5G cellular network. If you frequently camp outside the vast data network dominated primarily by AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, you should consider Starlink. The number of RVers that actually do that however, is smaller than you think.

To read more, go here. 

Oops! "In Harm's Way" Jeep Blooper

 A little while ago, I noticed something on Facebook. It is a video clip from the 1965 movie, In Harm's Way starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas.

It shows a Jeep approaching Wayne and George Kennedy. It is supposed to be a South Pacific base during World War II. The Jeep shown did not exist at the time. It is a Willys Jeep M38A1 that was first produced in 1952. I should know, I have one.

It was spotted by the front fenders. I have the movie on DVD, but I never noticed this until today. 

Here's a screenshot of the Jeep from the movie:

Here's my 1952 M38A1:

The Jeeps during World War II all (different models) had flat fenders. It is anachronistic for the era.

Gun Ownership By State

I don't know how accurate the following map is, but it is interesting to view. 

This map shows gun ownership rates of people by state.

Travel Ordeal of Flights To Cruises

Above, cruise ship departure from Miami cruise terminal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last summer, a friend and I booked a flight out of Albuquerque to Miami to take a cruise to the Bahamas.

We booked a flight that arrived in Miami in the wee hours of the morning of our cruise departure date. We had no problems getting to Miami, but the flight was a long one as we had to catch a transfer flight from Salt Lake City, Utah to Miami.

Getting to the cruise terminal from the Miami airport was a different matter. We pre-paid for a shuttle service, but that never arrived. We called them several times and got no response. Ultimately, we took Uber to the terminal.

TheStreet posted an article on the pitfalls of airline flights to reach a cruise departure port. 

They start with:

Sometimes, even when you think you’re playing it safe with your travel plans, what can go wrong does go wrong.

Even if you’re an experienced cruiser with plenty of smooth sailings under your belt, your streak of good luck can easily be broken by circumstances outside of your control.

If you’re flying to your cruise departure port, your chances of a flight delay impacting your arrival at the port are pretty significant. On average, more than 20% of flights experience some kind of delay, according to U.S. Bureau of Transportation statistics.

Booking a flight that arrives on the same day as your cruise is risky and generally not recommended due to the unpredictability of air travel. Most expert cruisers recommend always flying in the day before your cruise departure. But sometimes, even that isn’t enough.

Frankly, flying is no longer enjoyable for me. Too many flight problems have cropped up over recent years. I am now avoiding airlines and just going to travel with my motorhome. At least I have more control traveling that way.

To read more, go here. 

Spring Snow

Above, the deck and deck furniture shortly after the snow started. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We got a bit of a snow-dusting yesterday afternoon/evening in Jamestown, New Mexico. It looks like we received about an inch of the white stuff from what I saw this morning. 

It was pretty much expected. But it was also needed as the winter has been mostly dry. 

We may be getting more tonight through Saturday according to the National Weather Service. At least I am not located in the southern part of New Mexico. They've been having dust storms like crazy.

Here's the forecast for the next several days:

Today

Scattered snow showers, mainly after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tonight

Scattered snow showers before midnight, then isolated flurries after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday

Scattered snow showers before 3pm, then scattered rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.

Friday

Snow showers likely, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Friday Night

A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Saturday

Snow showers likely, mainly after noon. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night

A 30 percent chance of snow showers before midnight. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Winchester Model 12 Overview (Video)

 By The Hunting Gear Guy.

Japan's "Golden Route" For First-Timers

Above, Osaka Castle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who have never been to Japan, there are several websites that will greatly aid in one's vacation planning. 

One such site has posted an article on "The Golden" route that is aimed to first-time visitors. It was posted by Japan Today.

It begins with:

TOKYO - The Golden Route is the quintessential travel itinerary for first-time visitors to Japan. It traditionally includes Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and (sometimes) Hiroshima, offering a well-rounded introduction to Japan’s modern and historical sites. This route is ideal for first-time visitors as it provides a mix of modern cityscapes, historical sites, natural beauty and cultural experiences. The entire journey typically takes 7 to 14 days, depending on how long you stay in each location.

The Golden Route is well-connected by the Shinkansen, Japan’s high-speed bullet train, making travel between major stops fast and convenient. Local train lines, buses and subway networks will also make accessibility a breeze in each city. Many travelers opt for the Japan Rail (JR) Pass, which offers unlimited travel on most JR trains, including Shinkansen services, making it a cost-effective option.

This guide provides a summary of each destination in the order you would travel, including practical travel information.

To read more, go here. 

Dollar At ¥149.62 In Tokyo

We're now in a new month (no, this is not an April Fool's joke) and it is time to see how the U.S. dollar is faring against the Japanese yen in Tokyo trading.

According to Jiji Press:

As of 5:00 p.m. on the 1st, the yen was trading at 149.62 to 149.63 yen per dollar on the Tokyo foreign exchange market, down 48 sen from the previous day (149.14 to 14 sen).

This is still great for American travelers to Japan as their dollars will get them more yen.

To read more, go here. 

Gamera Day Yesterday

Above, yours truly in line to get into the theater.

Since it was windy outside and that drives my sinuses crazy, I stayed indoors for most of the day.

I decided to revisit Gamera The Brave (2006), a reboot of Daiei/Kadokawa Pictures Gamera character.  I attended the premiere of the movie on April 29, 2006 at the Picadilly Theaters in the Yurikucho Mullion Building in Chiyoda, Tokyo. 

Above, yours truly at the souvenir table in the theater lobby.

Later, when I bought the Japanese DVD of the movie, there was an extra showing the premiere and I was seen waiting to enter and at a souvenir stand in the theater's lobby. I was at the "ripe old age" of 52 at the time. Hard to believe, now that I am 71. Where did the time go?

Above, the JR Central Towers at JR Nagoya Station were
 featured in Gamera The Brave. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 2014, I planned to visit Nagoya, where much of the action of Gamers The Brave takes place, but a snowstorm caused me to modify my Japan visit. In 2007, while taking a train down to Kyushu, the train stopped at JR Nagoya Station and I got a photo fo the JR Central Towers featured in the movie.

Later, during dinner, I decided to watch Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe (1995). It had been a long time since I watched it as well. A few months before my dad's passing in 1999, I loaned my parents the DVD of it and they both enjoyed it.

Above, the Fukuoka Dome in 2007 was featured in Gamera:
 The Guardian of the Universe. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 2007, I did pay a visit to the Fukuoka Dome that was featured in Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe during the attempted capture of three Gyaos birds. 

The locations mentioned were covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.