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."

Quicksand In Popular Recreation Area

Above, Frankenstein's monster (Glenn Strange) and Dr. Niemann (Boris
Karloff) in quicksand in House of Frankenstein (1944). Universal Pictures.

When I was a kid, it seemed like a lot of movies of that era had a fixation on quicksand. One in particular was not really quicksand, but rather a way to trap humans into an alien spaceship. That movie was Invaders From Mars (1953). It was creepy.

The National Park Service has issued a warning about quicksand at a popular recreational area.

RV Travel posted the following:

The National Park Service is warning travelers heading to public lands in the Southwest about a potential hazard they may not expect: quicksand. Officials at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which spans the Utah–Arizona border, say quicksand has recently been found near shorelines and in drainage areas throughout the park. Be careful!

"Ultimate Time" For RVs On Route 66

Above, burros strolling on Route 66 in Oatman, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since 2026 is the centennial year of Historic Route 66, celebrations will be held along its route. This provide a great opportunity for travelers, especially RVers, to explore "The Mother Road".

RV Lifestyle posted an article that this is the "ultimate time" for an RV adventure on Route 66.

It begins with:

In 2026, America’s most legendary highway turns 100 years old, and Route 66 is preparing for a celebration unlike anything travelers have seen before. Stretching more than 2,400 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, this historic roadway, known as America’s Mother Road, has captured the spirit of freedom, exploration, and adventure for generations.

For RV travelers especially, the Route 66 Centennial is more than a milestone. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the road at its most vibrant, restored, and alive.

To read more, go here. 

11 Best Things To Do In Arizona

Above, Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Living 40 miles from the Arizona border allows me to frequently visit the "Grand Canyon State" for recreation.

There's plenty of things to see and do in Arizona and The Traveler has posted "11 Best Things To Do In Arizona". So far, I have done about half of them.

They begin with:

Arizona is a state of big skies and even bigger landscapes, where red rock deserts, cool pine forests, tribal lands and dynamic cities all sit under the same desert sun. From standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon to wading into turquoise waterfalls, slot canyons and cactus forests, the challenge is not finding things to do but deciding what to fit into one trip. These 11 experiences span the best of Arizona, with suggestions on when to go, how to visit responsibly and how to stay safe in a place where heat and distance can be just as dramatic as the views.

To see what they are, go here. 

Tombstone Film Fest Features Q & A With John Wayne's Daughter

The Tombstone Film Festival this year will feature a screening on January 31 of John Wayne's last movie, The Shootist (1976).

Following the screening, a Question & Answer session with daughter Marisa Wayne will take place.

According to the Arizona Daily Star:

The Tombstone Film Festival is returning for its fourth annual celebration starting Jan. 29, bringing Western films to the famous Wild West town.

This year’s festival features 10 short films and two full-length feature films, including a 50th anniversary screening of John Wayne’s final film, “The Shootist.” The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Wayne’s daughter, Marisa Wayne.

The 2026 festival also introduces a new segment called the pitch competition, where aspiring filmmakers pitch a film for a chance to receive $20,000 to bring it to life.

The festival is being held at Schieffelin Hall in Tombstone throughout the weekend, wrapping up with an award ceremony on the evening of Feb. 1.

To read more, go here. 

California Screws Arizona On Gasoline

Think California's gasoline crisis is confined to just California? Sorry, but it crosses state lines to Arizona (and Nevada).

You can thank Gov. Gavin Newsom and the leftist Democrats in the state's legislature for this. It is all their doing! 

The video below explains it all:

20 Reasons Why RVers Love Quartzsite, Arizona

Above, camping in Quartzsite in 2021. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I moved to New Mexico and joined the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus, I have dry camped with the group in Quartzsite, Arizona three times.

Each time, I found the area to be scenic, restful and interesting history. 

RV Travel has posted an article on 20 reasons why so many RVers love Quartzsite.

They begin with:

For some RVers, Quartzsite is a must-stop each winter. For others, it’s one stop, then never again. Ask RVers who have been there what they think of the place: half will love it, half will say “not my thing!”

For most of the year, Quartzsite is a quiet, dusty (very) desert town along Interstate 10 and U.S. 95 north of Yuma. Its summer temperatures often rival those of sizzling Death Valley — no place for sissies.

In winter, it transforms into one of the most unusual seasonal communities in North America, drawing tens of thousands of visitors, most of them RVers who squat for free or nearly free on the vast Bureau of Management (BLM) lands that surround the town proper.

To read more, go here. 

Stopped At Jack Rabbit Trading Post

Above, the big Jack Rabbit was decorated with Christmas decorations. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I drove home from Lake Havasu City, Arizona after spending Christmas with Holly & Mitch Geriminsky.

Along the way on Interstate 40, I made a few stops. One of which was at Jack Rabbit Trading Post. While there I chatted for a bit with the proprietors Tony and Cindy Jacquez. I has been a while since I last visited. I mentioned that we lost Russell Azbill in October as he enjoyed stopping at their trading post. He liked their t-shirts.  I mentioned that I finally was able to see the inside of the dome of Meteor City Trading Post. 

I picked up a miniature replica sign of their iconic sign that sits out on Historic Route 66. They said that it is one of their biggest sellers.

Above, my new Jack Rabbit Trading Post sign in the den. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After visiting for a while, I then headed off towards home, with a stop at the Tee Pee Trading Post in Lupton, Arizona for cigars. 

A Stop At The Meteor City Trading Post

Yesterday, I drove home from Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Along the way, I made a stop at the newly-reopened Meteor City Trading Post. I stopped a few weeks ago, but they weren't open until 10:00. So I made it a point to stop there on the way home.

I bought a t-shirt from the trading post and before leaving, I took some photos.

Here they are:

Possible Snow Tomorrow In Flagstaff

Above, this is what I want to avoid tomorrow. This was seven years ago.

Tomorrow, I am planning to return to New Mexico.

I just checked the National Weather Service and it appears there's some good chance of rain and/or snow showers in the Flagstaff area. I have to take Interstate 40 through Flagstaff to get home. If I can drive through Flagstaff with no problem, the rest of the way should be a piece of cake. 

According to the National Weather Service for the Flagstaff area:

 Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Southwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Saturday

A chance of snow showers before 11am, then rain and snow showers likely between 11am and 4pm, then snow showers likely after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 41. Southwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday Night

A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 19. West wind 3 to 6 mph.

Plinkin' In Arizona

This morning, Mitch and I (along with a local friend of Mitch's named Pat) did some plinking in a Bureau of Land Management canyon north of Lake Havasu. We went following a stop at The Bagel Bin in Lake Havasu for a bagel breakfast.

I brought along my Winchester 94 and Winchester Model 12 shotgun. The Winchester 94 worked fine, but after getting off one shot with the shotgun, the pump wouldn't work right and wouldn't shoot. I am guessing that since it is a takedown shotgun, it may have gotten out of its configuration. In any case, I will check with the gunsmith in Grants after I get home to see what's going on. It worked fine the last time I used it.

Still it was fun to do some plinking at a new place (to me, that is). 

Some photos:

Above, yours truly with the Winchester 94. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Above, Mitch with one of his shotguns. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Pat with Mitch's shotgun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, our mode of transportation, Mitch's Kawasaki side-by-side. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Made It To Lake Havasu

Above, I took this shot of the sunrise from the entrance to Petrified Forest
National Park. I stopped there for a coffee break. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, I made it to Lake Havasu, Arizona.

I will be spending the Christmas holiday with Mitch & Holly Geriminsky. I have done so for the past several years.

I got into town at about 1:30 in the afternoon. This was after driving around 420 miles from home in New Mexico. I got on the road at 5:30 in the morning. 

Above, a rancher put up this sign on his property ten miles east of Seligman, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Outside of some wind along the way, the weather was good. It did rain in the evening hours in Lake Havasu. 

I decided to go to bed early as I was tired from the long drive. 

Christmas In Arizona

Above, last year at the skeet range. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Next week, I plan on spending Christmas with Mitch and Holly Geriminsky in Lake Havasu, Arizona.

I had a nice chat with Mitch yesterday and expressed my desire to do some skeet shooting with the Winchester Model 12 shotgun. I want to see how it performs. I also am bringing along the Winchester 94 for some plinking at the shooting range there. 

Funny thing, the first time I did skeet shooting was three years ago with a borrowed shotgun. I did better than I expected. The following year, I tried out the Remington 870 Express that I bought there. Frankly, I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with it. I think it was due to the short barrel. Since the Winchester Model 12 has a much longer barrel, I hope to do much better. 

The drive (around 420 miles) will seem like a short drive after driving about 2,000 miles last week from Des Moines, Iowa to Orange County, California. 

Quick Visit To Meteor City Trading Post

Above, Meteor City Trading Post. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While driving across Arizona last week while heading to Orange County, California, I made a stop at the newly opened Meteor City Trading Post that sits on old Route 66. It is located not far from the Meteor Crater turn-off.

Above, the grounds of the Meteor City Trading Post. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When we got there, it was around 9:15 in the morning. The store doesn't open until 10:00 o'clock. I didn't want to wait that long.

Before leaving, I did take a few pictures of the trading post. I donated to the previous owner who, unfortunately, died of cancer. He was planning to restore and reopen the trading post. To help fund the project, he sold t-shirts. So I bought one.

Above, there's something for dinosaur fanatics to see. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fortunately, his estate sold the property and the new owner proceeded to restore and reopen the trading post. Its grand opening took place on Memorial Day.

Since I will be spending Christmas in Lake Havasu, I'll try to stop in either heading to or returning from Lake Havasu. 

Is A Mobile RV Repair Service Right For You?

Above, the door lock assembly that needed replacement last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I've only had to use a mobile RV repair service twice. Both times it was necessary was while I was in Lake Havasu, Arizona.

The first time was in July 2019 (the trip that I had my heart attack in Wells, Nevada). One of the roof vent covers broke apart from weathering. I called a local mobile RV repairer and he came and fixed it in a jiffy as a rain storm was about to hit in a few hours.

The second time was last year, also in Lake Havasu, when the house door lock assembly broke due to the door being slammed by high winds. The same mobile repairer came and fixed that, but I had to stay a couple of extra days as the part had to be ordered. 

RV Travel posted an article on whether a mobile RV repair service is right for you.

It begins with:

Imagine you’re enjoying an RV getaway. You’ve parked your rig in a quiet campground and enjoyed several days of relaxation. Alas! Like “all good things,” the time has rolled around for you to roll out. You push the button to bring in your slide-out, and instead of the reassuring rumble of the slide coming in, you get a “crunch!” and the slide won’t budge. Your relaxation has ended—there’s no way you can head out with an extended slide-out. Is a mobile RV repair service right for you?

In this case, a mobile RV repair service may be the ONLY solution to your problem. But there are other times when having the repair tech come to you will beat having to take your rig to the shop. For full-time RVers, who don’t have any other “home,” being able to stay settled in the comfort of your rig is a blessing.

But there are some things a mobile tech may be great for, and others not. What are those? And how do you find a mobile RV repair service tech? How much will they charge? Let’s tackle those questions.

To read more, go here.

Snowing In Flagstaff & Williams

Above, snow on November 9, 2020. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Snow has started falling this afternoon in the Williams and Flagstaff areas of Arizona. That means it will reach here either tonight or tomorrow. Well, usually.

According to the National Weather Service the brunt of the storm will hit here on Thursday. 

Here's their forecast:

Tonight

A slight chance of showers between 8pm and 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 53. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night

Showers likely, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday

Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Thursday Night

A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

Saturday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers after 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Sunday

A chance of rain and snow showers before 11am, then a chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Winchester Model 12 Shotgun

Last year, I bought a Winchester Model 12 shotgun in 12 gauge. It was made in 1919. 

I tried it out a couple of times at our shooting area and it worked just fine. Next month, I will be heading to my friend's in Lake Havasu for the Christmas holiday. While there, if past times are an indication, we'll be heading out to the skeet range for some skeet shooting. I am anxious to try out the Model 12 on the skeet range. It should be interesting to see how a 106-year-old shotgun does.

Above, the Winchester Model 12 shotgun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The longer barrel of the Model 12 should work out better than the Remington 870 Express. I bought the shotgun through Guns.com.

It is interesting to note that Americans used the Model 12 in the Pacific War against the Japanese. It was highly effective in jungle conditions and the Japanese forces were fearful of them.

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. 

Walk The Streets of Western TV History At Old Tucson

Above, an Old Tucson hotel and saloon set. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the places I've always wanted to see was Old Tucson in Arizona.

Old Tucson is a studio near the city of Tucson, Arizona and Saguaro National Park. Hundreds of movies and television westerns were filmed there. Movies included Rio Bravo, El Dorado, McLintock! and others.

I got my chance two years ago when I was in Tombstone, Arizona. From there, I headed to Old Tucson and spend a good part of a day wandering it.

RV Travel has an article on Old Tucson and it begins with:

Growing up, I always wanted a horse. My wish probably stemmed from the popular television shows of the 1950s and ’60s: Westerns.

My sisters and I sat transfixed while watching Roy Rogers, Zorro, The Lone Ranger, and Bonanza. If the same is true for you, it’s time to saddle up! Old Tucson awaits your visit.

What is Old Tucson?

Old Tucson is a time capsule of past Western-themed television shows and movies. Built as a Hollywood set in 1939, it later opened to the public as a Western-themed park.

Columbia Pictures built a replica of 1860s-era Tucson in 1939 for the feature film, Arizona. Construction crews reportedly erected more than 50 buildings for the movie in just a few weeks.

After more movies and TV shows used Old Tucson through the 1940s and 1950s, the site was refurbished and opened as a theme park in 1960.

Over the decades, Hollywood kept coming back. Old Tucson has been a backdrop for hundreds of film and TV productions. Included in this list are movies like Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Rio Bravo, and El Dorado. Old Tucson also provided the setting for television hits like The High Chaparral and Little House on the Prairie.

To read more, go here. 

7 Playfully Peculiar Towns In Arizona

Above, yours truly with two residents of Oatman, Arizona. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

For those who have a desire to do some travel exploring, the following is an idea. 

World Atlas has posted an article listing seven "playfully peculiar" towns in the the state of Arizona. I have been to several of them over the years and have found them to fun, educational and just plain interesting.

They begin with:

Peculiar is not necessarily positive. Add "playfully," however, and you get some unique towns in Arizona. Rather than repelling visitors with creepy locals and localities, as is the case with many peculiar towns across the country, certain AZ communities are playfully peculiar, drawing tons of tourists with gunfight reenactments, "energy vortexes," pink-hued buttes, Bedrock homes, haunted hamburgers, burro biscuits, and slopeside stairs. Learn where to find these amazing oddities in this am-AZ-ing state.

Above, Tombstone. Arizona's Allen Street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.