Cody Firearms Museum

Above, just a few of the many rifles on display at the Cody Firearms Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last July, Mitch Geriminsky and I paid a visit (actually, I visited it twice) to the Cody Firearms Museum at the the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming.

If anyone has even a remote interest in firearms, this place is a must-see. 

Above, yours truly at the front of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

According to the official website:

A Must-See Wild West Museum

The Cody Firearms Museum in Cody, Wyoming is a bucket-list experience for a reason. Completely redesigned in 2019, it’s the most comprehensive firearms museum in the United States, with more than 4,000 firearms and over 10,000 total artifacts spanning centuries of history. Step into immersive exhibits that explore firearms in the American West, military history, physics, engraving, and more. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, collector, or simply curious, the museum offers a dynamic and thought-provoking experience that informs, inspires, and sparks meaningful conversations—making it a must-visit destination in the Cody and Yellowstone area. It’s more than a museum; it’s a journey through innovation, artistry, and the stories that shaped history. Plan to spend time here—you’ll want to see it all.

Above, a pull-out cabinet of Winchesters. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The price of an admission ticket allows two visits to the Center museums in a week. 

For more information of the Cody Firearms Museum, go here.

"Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man" Battle

Since today's Halloween, here's a classic scene from monster movie history: the battle between the Frankenstein monster (Bela Lugosi) and the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney Jr.) from Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1943). 

Featured in the following clip are Ilona Massey and Patric Knowles.

Too bad the fight didn't last a little longer, but it is still fun to watch regardless. 

Happy Halloween!

 

The Best Time To Book RV Sites For 2026 Travel

Above, at North Pines Campground in Yosemite National Park in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in November 2015, I got online to book a campsite in Yosemite National Park for April 2016. I was successful in reserving a campsite in North Pines Campground.

I noted the date that reservations are opened and calendared it in my phone. 

RV Travel has an article on the best time to book RV sites for 2026 travel.

They begin it with:

For longtime RVers, securing the perfect campsite isn’t just about picking a date; it’s also about timing, strategy, and knowing how to navigate the increasingly competitive landscape of 2026 RV travel. With peak-season demand growing and digital tools evolving, even experienced road warriors need a smart approach.

To read more, go here. 

Curious Relics #121: Winchester Model 1894 – Part III

Above, the writer's grandfather's Winchester 1894. Writer's photo.

Part 3 of Curious Relics: Winchester Model 1894 has been posted at AllOutdoor.

It begins with:

Dating: Winchester Model 1894

Dating Winchester Model 1894 rifles comes with challenges. Over 7 million guns were produced across 130+ years. A significant portion of Winchester’s factory records were destroyed in a 1959 fire. The hardest part is that getting verified information involves spending money, specifically for factory letters from the Cody Firearms Museum.

Let me give you a personal example. This specific gun has always been in my family’s lore. It is “Grandpa’s 32-40.” As kids, me and my cousins always heard about it. When my grandfather passed, the oldest grandson inherited the 32-40. I made an effort to get the Cody Firearms Museum documentation, and since we all care about this extension of him, I pursued it.

As with part 2, the focus is on dating the rifle and factory records of the 1894.  Some records still exist, while some (as noted above) were destroyed in a 1959 fire. My Winchester 1894 was made in 1962, so records are still available. 

To read more, go here.

Tree Spray

Above, the pine tree and Jeep yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On Monday morning, I got a bottle of 38 Plus insecticide to spray the pine tree (I'm told that it's a blue spruce). According to the arborist/nurseryman, its problem is with mites, not bark beetles. 

That afternoon, I sprayed as much of the tree as I could reach with some emphasis on the trunk along with the branches. Hopefully, it will take care of the problem.

I am also hopeful that the nighttime freezing temperatures will also kill off the mites. 

Theodore Roosevelt, Big-Game Hunter

President Theodore Roosevelt was a man who did many things in his lifetime. 

He was an author, rancher, hunter, explorer and, of course, president of the United States (among other things). He was a proud owner of several Winchesters.

Here's a photo of Roosevelt with one of his kills:

10 Greatest Horror Movies of the Past 40 Years

Above, Godzilla Minus One (2023) made the list.

Ever since I was a kid, I have enjoyed horror movies. You can thank my mom in particular for this. She was also fond of horror movies.

That aside, what are the 10 greatest horror movies to come out of Hollywood and elsewhere (like Japan, for instance) during the past 40 years?

Collider answers that question in a new article.

They start it off with:

If you limit things to the past 40 years, when talking about great horror movies, there are inevitably a whole host of titles that just get automatically disqualified, so RIP to those. Psycho, Alien, The Shining, two versions of Nosferatu, Godzilla (1954), and all the original Universal Monster movies… sorry, y’all. This isn't your time to shine. Go collect some more cobwebs (not necessarily a bad thing, since cobwebs are spooky).

But then focusing on the past 40 years, so everything released post-1985? There are a bunch of iconic titles, and some of them are just old enough to be considered classics (namely, the ones that are more than 25 or 30 years old). And the others will likely be classics, once enough time has passed for them to be defined as such, but either way, all of these are great, and well worth watching if you’re feeling a craving for something scary, be it because it’s Halloween or otherwise.

To see what they consider the greatest horror movies of the past 40 years, go here.

Monday Plinkin'

Above, yours truly at the shooting area last year. Photo by Larry Lucier.

Since winter is just around the corner, the group here in Jamestown decided yesterday to do some target shooting at the shooting area near the community. It may be our last chance to do so before winter weather moves in. 

We plan on doing our shoot this coming Monday. The weather should be optimal for the shoot. My Weather Channel app forecast 72° and, so far, the National Weather Service forecasts "near 68° on Monday.

The National Weather Service forecast:

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 69.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 41.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 68.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 68.

I haven't yet decided which guns I will be bringing. 

Daylight Savings Time Ends Sunday

 

Why Do You Need A Shotgun? (Video)

Video by Hickok45 Clips.

Summary:

This Hickok45 Clips video compares sporting and defensive shotguns. The presenter examines key differences, including barrel length and magazine capacity. Various shotguns are test-fired at different targets, demonstrating their capabilities.

How To Prepare Land For Full RV Hook-ups

Above, during the time I lived in the motorhome after moving to New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I first moved to New Mexico, I lived for about 11 days in my Class C motorhome in my driveway while waiting for the moving company to deliver my furniture and other belongings.

I was able to do so as I was able to use the shower and toilet in the house so that I needn't go to a dump station so often to empty the holding tanks. The motorhome was plugged into the house electricity.

Living on one's own private property full time permanently was not even a consideration, but RV Travel has posted an interesting article on what it takes to prepare private land for RV full time living.

They begin it with:

Turning raw land into a livable RV site takes planning, patience, and a lot of trenching. In the video at the end of this post from the team at Midlife Mile Marker, we follow a real build in upstate South Carolina, from tall grass to a full-hookup pad. It covers site access, utilities, septic, and the layout choices that made move-in day possible.

The RV site sits in the middle of 14 acres. A spring-fed stream marks the boundary with a neighbor on one side. The setting is quiet and green, with space for trails and future builds. The place is being called Camp Tucker for now. The name may change, but the excitement is real.

To read the full article, go here. 

Understanding Quartzsite’s Long-term Visitor Areas

Above, camping in Quartzsite last April. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During the past few years, I have camped in Quartzsite, Arizona three times. Each time it was with the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus. But those weren't BLM sites. The most recent time was last April.

RV Travel has posted an article on understanding Quartzsite's long-term visitor areas and what snowbirders can expect to pay for camping during the winter.

They begin it with:

If you’re thinking about an extended stay in the snowbirding capital of the world—Quartzsite, Arizona—the Bureau of Land Management’s Long-Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) are not only a budget-friendly choice, they are, at least in my opinion, an essential part of the authentic Quartzsite RV experience.

To read the full article, go here. 

2026 WACA Show July 10-11-12, 2026 In Cody

Above, yours truly at the 2025 WACA show. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Last July, Mitch Geriminsky and I attended the Winchester Arms Collectors Association Show in Cody, Wyoming. 

We spent several hours browsing through over 300 tables of firearms, mainly Winchesters. It was the first day of show open to the public. 

Above, some Winchester lever-actions on display. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While everyone was friendly and there were some interesting guns, I found that most seemed to be a bit overpriced. Perhaps if we went on the last day, sellers may be amenable to lower their prices so not to have to pack up their guns and make enough moolah to cover the cost of their tables. 

Above, the 2025 WACA show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I may go back to the show next year. I haven't yet decided. It will be held on July 10-11-12, 2026 at Riley Arena, 1400 Heart Mountain Street, Cody, WY.

If I do go, I may just fly to Cody (it is a long drive from home) and just get a hotel room. 

For more information, go here.

Cruise Ships Seeing Record Number of Outbreaks

Above, bathers in the pool area on a cruise to the Bahamas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following is why I feel having mega cruise ships is a lousy idea, especially since COVID.

I have been on three cruises and I have contracted a virus during two of them. Luckily, they were relatively minor. 

Taking a cruise may seem like a great idea, but having thousands of people in a limited amount of space is bound to spread illnesses. Frankly, cruise ships are floating petri dishes.

This year has been a record year for outbreaks.

According to SFGate:

Cruise ships are seeing a record year for outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses. So far, there have been 20 outbreaks on the vessels, mostly of norovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last year, which was also a record year for outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness, there were 18.

The latest outbreak involved the Oceania Insignia of Oceania Cruises on an 11-day (October 16-27) Montreal to Boston cruise, the CDC reported. The outbreak affected 75 people: 74 passengers out of 637 passengers (11.6%) and 1 crew member out of 391 (0.3%). Those afflicted saw symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. 

To read more, go here. 

Trump Meets Emperor Naruhito (Video)

 President Trump is welcomed at Japan's Imperial Palace in Tokyo and meets with Emperor Naruhito.

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.

This week's entry is "That Lady" by the Isley Brothers from 1973. It should be noted that Jimi Hendrix played guitar on early recordings for the Isley Brothers, most notably the 1964 single "Testify" and the 1965 single "Move Over and Let Me Dance" before forming The Jimi Hendrix Experience. From Wikipedia: 

The Isley Brothers (/ˈaɪzli/ EYEZ-lee) are an American soul group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that began as a vocal trio consisting of the brothers O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley in the 1950s.

Together with a fourth brother, Vernon, the group performed gospel music until Vernon's death a few years after its formation. After moving to New York City in the late 1950s, the group had their first successes during these early years, and rose to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, "Shout", written by the three brothers, which became their first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, and sold over a million copies. In the 1960s, the group recorded songs for a variety of labels, including the top 20 single "Twist and Shout" and the Motown single "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", before recording and releasing the Grammy Award-winning hit "It's Your Thing" (1969) on their own label, T-Neck Records.

The inclusion of younger brothers Ernie Isley (lead guitar, drums) and Marvin Isley (bass guitar), and Rudolph's brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboards, synthesizers), in 1973 turned the original vocal trio into a complete band and led to the group's reaching the height of their success. For the next full decade, they recorded a string of top-selling albums including 3 + 3, Between the Sheets, and The Heat Is On, with the latter peaking at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The six-member band splintered in 1983, with Ernie, Marvin, and Chris Jasper forming the short-lived spinoff group Isley-Jasper-Isley. The oldest member, O'Kelly, died in 1986. Afterwards Rudolph and Ronald released a pair of albums as a duo before Rudolph retired to a life in the Christian ministry in 1989. After multiple lineup changes, the remaining duo of Ronald and Ernie achieved mainstream success with the albums Mission to Please (1996), Eternal (2001) and Body Kiss (2003). Eternal spawned the top 20 hit "Contagious". As of 2025, the Isley Brothers continue to perform under the lineup of Ronald and Ernie.

Pine Has Mites, Not Bark Beetles

Above, the tall pine tree is the one with the mites. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While I was in Iowa last week, I had a local nurseryman/arborist come over to take a look at my pine tree in the front yard.

He looked over the tree and reported that it has mites, not bores (i.e., bark beetles). They carry a product called 38 Plus that should take care of the problem. 

As they are closed on Sundays, I'll have to go into Gallup tomorrow and pick up some 38 Plus. 

Hopefully, the freezing temperatures we've been having at night will help the tree. 

SCOTUS Tackles Marijuana Use & Gun Rights

Currently under federal statute, a person who regularly uses marijuana cannot possess a firearm.

This goes against the Second Amendment's rights afforded to people. 

The Supreme Court will hear a case calling to question the constitutionality of the statute. 

Pew Pew Tactical posted:

More than 90 petitions were submitted to the Supreme Court for consideration, with the justices only agreeing to hear three – one of which will settle the debate on marijuana use and gun possession.

In a six-page orders list, the Supreme Court said it would hear United States v. Hemani – the only gun-related issue to be argued in front of justices this term.

The case aims to get to the bottom of whether federal statute 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3) violates the Second Amendment. The statute currently prohibits the possession of firearms by a person who ‘is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance.’

To read more, go here. 

"The Wreck called Hillary Clinton" (Video)

As Hillary Clinton piped in on President Trump's White House ballroom construction, here's a great parody video called "The Wreck called Hillary Clinton", a take on Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".

Japan's Entry and Exit Fees To Rise

Above, the Tokyo Skytree and Asahi Beer Hall from Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Those taking a trip to Japan will find that doing so will be a little more expensive starting next year.

Various fees will be hiked on foreign visitors to help pay for infrastructure needs and airport security.

Time Out reported:

Japan is an amazing place to visit. It’s bursting with culture, great food, and fascinating history – and its capital Tokyo is home to the world's coolest neighbourhood for 2025. However, if you’re currently planning a trip to Japan for 2026, there are a few things you should know, and a few extra costs you should account for.

As of next year, the government has announced a few changes to visas and fees for tourists. This includes increasing the exit tax, and the cost of single and multi-entry visas. According to Japanese financial newspaper the Nikkei, the money raised will go towards improving infrastructure and security in airports, as well as fund national projects like making high school free.

This will be the first time the exit tax will increase since its introduction six years ago, and the first upping of visa fees since 1978. No official announcements have been made yet about exactly when these new fares will be introduced. 

To read more, go here. 

Godzilla Is Coming To Tokyo's Haneda Airport

 

Above, an artist rendering of the Godzilla display at Haneda Airport.

Godzilla will be greeting travelers at Tokyo's largest airport.

The Big G will be on display at Haneda Airport from December 2025 to December 2026 according to Gizmodo.

They reported: 

The Haneda Airport in Japan is getting a kaiju-sized new feature in the form of a big-ass Godzilla installation. The King of the Monsters is packing his bags to move into position at Haneda Airport Terminal 3 as part of a partnership between Toho Co., Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd., and the Tokyo International Air Terminal Corporation.

To read more, go here. 

Home Again

Above, Jessica and I at the Olive Garden.

Last night, I got home from a five day trip to Des Moines, Iowa to help my ex-roommate Jessica to pack up and and take things to a storage unit. 

To say that the work was tedious and strenuous would be putting it mildly. Especially so or this 71-year-old. But we got it done.

We did have some good times which included dinners a the Wasabi sushi restaurant and Olive Garden.

It was interesting to see snow already over the Rockies on the way home along with views of the Grand Canyon. 

For once, I had no problems with the flights. All were on time and without any incident. Going over to Iowa I flew on Delta Airlines and on Southwest Airlines on the the way back. 

I started the trip by staying Sunday night at the Rodeway Inn in Albuquerque as I had an early morning flight. I ate dinner and a breakfast at the nearby Waffle House. 

A few photos:

Monsterpalooza In Burbank

Monsterpalooza In Burbank

Text and photos by Armand Vaquer

Above, King Kong atop the Empire State Building greeted entering attendees (click on this and the other photos to view larger).

I just got back from Monsterpalooza (and my local sushi bar) that's being held this weekend at the Marriott Convention Center in Burbank, California and I was greatly impressed. There were plenty of things to do and see. There were many stars, past and present, of horror and science-fiction movies and television shows.



Monsterpalooza had scheduled events in the Theater and a Museum of horror figures. There were dealers galore such as Anime Jungle (below) and Monsters In Motion thoughout the venue. Throughout the show, there were monster make-up displays (above). I saw several people in the process of being made up as some ghastly being of one kind or another.



Some of the stars included Julie Adams from The Creature From The Black Lagoon, Margot Kidder (Lois Lane) from the Christopher Reeve Superman movies, scream queen Brinke Stevens, Danielle Harris, Michael Berryman and many more.

Above, Julie Adams and Armand pose with a life-size Creature figure.

It was a pleasure to meet the late Forrest J. Ackerman's assistant, Joe Moe along with Phil Kim (below), the new head of Famous Monsters of Filmland.



I was also pleased to meet the Classic Horror Film Board's "Count Gamula" himself in his guise as mild-mannered artist Kerry Gammill.

The Museum had quite a number of displays. They included...

Boris Karloff in Jack Pierce's make-up chair having tea...



...Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula with Kharis, the Mummy...



...the Alien...



...and, of course, no visit to California would be complete without having Governor Schwarzenegger on hand...



... and Dracula putting on the whammy



Before heading out of Monstepalooza, one more shot of Kong:



Monsterpalooza runs through tomorrow, so if you get the chance to go, do yourself a favor and go. If not, start planning to attend next year's show!

UPDATE: Jim Nolt, who founded the Adventures Continue website, sent me this message:

Your mention of Brinke Stevens sent me looking for a photo taken in (judging from my hair style and waistline) about 1992-1993.

Jim

This is the photo of Brinke and Jim that was attached (he looks like a young Jonathan Frid here):

Japan Considering Hiking Visa Fees For International Visitors

Above, Tokyo's Nakamise Street in Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Foreign visitors to Japan may end up paying more in visa fees.

This is one way the Japanese government is considering to fight overtourism, which, by the way, was of their own making.

Japan Today reported:

TOKYO - Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya says that the government is considering raising visa fees for foreign visitors, as current fees remain low compared with those in the United States and European countries.

The government is reviewing visa fees, Iwaya told a press conference when asked about a report that Japan plans to raise them to levels seen in the United States and Europe as early as fiscal 2026.

"The details of the review are undecided, but we are considering various factors, including a possible impact on inbound tourism," the top diplomat said Friday. "We'll examine the fees set in other countries. I believe Japan's fees are quite low at present."

The number of foreign visitors to Japan from January to September rose 17.7 percent from a year earlier to around 31.65 million, marking the fastest pace on record for surpassing 30 million within a year, a government report showed Wednesday.

To read more, go here. 

How To Find The Cheapest and Best Home-Base RV Properties

Above, I was living in my RV when a snowstorm hit. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One thing about RVing I have never done was to become a full-timer. I can see why some people do so as, on average, it is cheaper living than in a bricks and sticks home.

I lived in my motorhome for about 11 days in my driveway when I first moved to New Mexico. I did so until the moving company delivered my belongings. 

Some full-timers will purchase vacant lots (for home base properties) to park their RV and live in it. This practice isn't legal in many places. 

RV Travel has posted an article on how to find cheapest and best home base properties.

They begin it with:

Tired of guessing where full-time RVers find legal, affordable places to park with peace of mind?

Here, the team from Travels with Dottie shares a simple method to uncover real estate listings in minutes, plus a range of examples from dirt-cheap to resort-level. It is fast, doable, and friendly to beginners.

How to find RV lots fast

• Type RV lots for sale into Facebook and join a few active groups.

• Ask an AI tool for resources to buy land or long-term RV pads with utilities.

• Browse listings on RV-focused marketplaces like RVProperty, then filter by state.

If using technology feels challenging, a librarian, a friend, or a community center can help get you started.

To read more, go here. 

Top 9 Legendary Rimfire Rifles That Last Forever

Video: Top 9 Legendary Rimfire Rifles That Last Forever by Liberty Firearms.

Summary:

🔥 Discover the Top 9 Legendary Rimfire Rifles That Will LAST FOREVER! 🔥 From the precision-driven Anschutz 54 Action to the customizable Ruger 10/22 and the timeless Marlin 39A, we dive deep into the rimfire rifles that have shaped shooting history. Perfect for competitive shooters, hunters, and collectors, these iconic .22 rifles combine unmatched craftsmanship with performance that stands the test of time. In this video, we break down their unique features, strengths, quirks, and why they’re still must-haves in 2025! 💥

Frankenstein Movie Music Suites

Since we're in the Halloween season, here are some music suites from some Universal Pictures Frankenstein movies.

 

   

 

Beloved Royal Caribbean Vessel Now Looks Like A Ghost Ship

Above, Majesty of The Seas docked at Havana Port in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In April 2019, a friend and I took a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba. 

A year later, Royal Caribbean retired Majesty and sold the ship to Seajets in Greece. Then the pandemic hit. Since then, Majesty of the Seas, renamed Majesty of the Oceans, has been sitting unused in Greece. Its future is uncertain.

Above, yours truly aboard Majesty of the Seas. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

The following from Yahoo! Life shows the ship today.

They posted:

When cruise lines like Royal Caribbean build a new cruise ship, they don’t expect it to sail in their fleet forever. Most major cruise lines plan to get about 30 years of life out of each new ship they build, but that doesn’t mean that a ship is scrapped when it’s retired.

Large cruise lines often sell their aging vessels to smaller lines that will refurbish and rebrand them to continue sailing for many years to come. For example, up-and-coming cruise line Margaritaville at Sea is growing its fleet with ships purchased from larger Costa Cruises.

But while Margaritaville at Sea has carried out its expansion plans successfully with refurbished ships, some cruise lines’ plans for acquired ships don’t work out so well.

That appears to be the case for Greek ferry operator Seajets, which bought up eight cruise ships during the pandemic, according to a Cruise Industry News report, including Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas. Some of the ships Seajets purchased have since been sold for scrapping, while others, like Majesty, are laid up and deteriorating in a Greek port.

A recent YouTube video by drone videographer Michael Miller, which was shared in the Royal Caribbean community on Reddit, offers a haunting look at how Majesty now floats like an abandoned ghost ship in a port in Eleusis, Greece.

It is sad that a popular ship is deteriorating away. 

To read more, go here.

What Items Can You Safely Keep in Your RV Over Winter?

Above, the motorhome after a snowstorm. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The calendar says we're in autumn, but right now the outside temperature is in the 30s. I had to crank up the heater in the house. 

The motorhome is in its garage/barn and I have already winterized it. I also keep a heater in the barn so that helps to keep the interior of the RV garage a little warmer.

In relation to RVs and wintery conditions, what is safe and not safe to keep in an RV during this time?

Do It Yourself RV answers that question.

They begin with:

It’s that time of year when RV camping fun turns to winter storage season. It’s a sad day when the RV has to spend some time in storage. Even in a beautiful Southern Arizona winter, while we don’t winterize, we still have to consider what comes out and what stays in.

For us, this will be a busy winter season, so we likely won’t see the RV again until spring. We completely unloaded our Class C and deep-cleaned it after our summer work camping gig in Montana. With two dogs and two humans in a small space for five months, it needed some TLC before being stored.

The question does come up regarding what is safe to leave in the camper and what should always come out. Let’s take a closer look and attempt to answer that question. 

To read more, go here. 

Brrr!

I've been up for about an hour and it feels chilly inside.

I have a space heater going next to me but that isn't helping much. Now I know why.

It is 31° outside.

Brrr!

Japan Visitors Top Over 30 Million

Above, the Godzilla mural at Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is funny how Japan had pushed for more tourism in recent years and the result in many areas is overtourism. It seems Japan is the "victim" of their own success.

Kyoto, for example, is hiking its hotel room taxes to supposedly fight overtourism. 

This year, foreign tourism has topped over 30 million visitors, the fastest pace ever. 

According to the Japan Times:

The number of foreign visitors to Japan in January to September exceeded 30 million, passing the line at the fastest pace ever, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday.

The figure jumped 17.7% from the same period last year to a little over 31.6 million.

It crossed the 30-million mark one month earlier than in the previous year, when the annual total hit a record high of 36.87 million, according to the JNTO

This year, the figure may exceed 40 million for the first time, with the autumn foliage season and winter holidays coming up.

To read more, go here. 

Buy A Chevy Truck and Get A Winchester 94 With It

Here's something from the 1980s.

1985 Chevy K10 Outdoorsman with Factory Winchester Rifle, video by High Caliber History.

Summary:

Get ready to explore one of the most unique special edition trucks ever made: the 1985 Chevrolet K10 Outdoorsman. Built for rugged adventures and hunting season, this rare classic came equipped with a Winchester Model 94 .30-30 rifle, mounted behind the seat from the factory.

In this video, we dive into the history, features, and collectibility of the Chevy K10 Outdoorsman - a true blend of American truck culture and outdoor tradition. Perfect for classic truck enthusiasts, Chevy fans, and gun collectors.

 Imagine the uproar if Chevy did this today. 

Lawless Yosemite Campers Taking Over Campsites During Shutdown

Above, North Pines Campground during the time I was there in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2016, I camped for about a week at Yosemite National Park. I made my reservation months in advance online. I camped at North Pine Campground in Yosemite Valley.

Today, things have gone haywire at squatters are unlawfully camping without permit at North Pines Campground. The Schumer Shutdown is being blamed for this.

RV Travel reported:

RV travelers planning a trip to Yosemite should be prepared for challenges, as lawless Yosemite campers are taking advantage of the ongoing government shutdown.

With much of the National Park Service staff furloughed, some visitors are occupying reserved campsites without permits. It’s creating confusion, safety risks, and frustration for those following the rules.

Lawless Yosemite campers are exploiting the shutdown

A San Francisco Chronicle staff member reported that squatters moved into a reserved campsite at North Pines Campground. These falsely claimed the site was “first come, first served” because of the shutdown.

A ranger later intervened to remove the group, highlighting the lawlessness spreading through the park. Yosemite guides and former officials describe the situation as “like the Wild Wild West,” with only a single volunteer currently patrolling some areas.

To read more, go here.

Will Silver Go To $100?

Silver is now over $52/toz at COMEX. 

Here's the current price:

 

Will it go to $100?