British Couple Visit Bass Pro Shop for the FIRST TIME...

British Couple Visit Bass Pro Shop for the FIRST TIME...We Were NOT Ready!🇺🇸 video by James & Siana.

Summary:

We finally visited a Bass Pro Shops for the very first time as a British couple… and honestly, nothing could’ve prepared us for how wild this place is. This store felt more like a theme park than a shop (in the best way possible!!)

After exploring Bass Pro, we jumped back in the RV and drove through Pigeon Forge on our way toward Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains. Pigeon Forge completely surprised us… neon signs, roller coasters and family attractions everywhere you look. It’s one of those places you have to see to believe.

The drive into Gatlinburg and toward the Smokies was stunning, and we can’t wait to show you what we got up to next.

Democrats Reintroduce ‘Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act’

Above, a typical ammo online ad by Bass Prop Shops.

Those bastards never give up.

The House Democrats reintroduced a stupid bill that, if passed, would ban online ammunition sales. 

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reported: 

House Democrats have introduced H.R. 7166, a bill that would effectively end direct-to-consumer online ammunition sales nationwide by forcing so-called “face-to-face” identity verification for internet purchases.

While supporters brand it as “common sense,” it is not. Unconstitutional in design, unethical in intent and absurd in its real-world consequences, the proposal doesn’t target criminals. The “Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act” targets law-abiding Americans who buy ammunition for self-defense, training, hunting, pest control and competitive shooting.

To read more, go here.

Albuquerque Cabela's Now Bass Pro Shops

Above, the former Albuquerque Cabela's is now Bass Pro Shops. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While perusing for ammunition deals, I noticed that Cabela's in Albuquerque, New Mexico is now Bass Pro Shops.

Cabela's has been a part of Bass Pro Shops, but the name change may mean more goods and some remodeling of the store.  I have only been to one Bass Pro Shops, which is in Fontana, California. It looked like a Disneyland for sporting goods shoppers.

I still have funds available in my Bass Pro Shops gift card. 

A Late Christmas Present

Last Christmas, I received a gift card from my ex-roomie for Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's. I hadn't seen anything I wanted up until now.

It was four boxes (100 rounds) of Winchester AA Target Load Shotshells with Ammo Can for $44.99. 

Since my ammo box is at full capacity, the ammo can will come in handy. It arrived yesterday. 

In the same order, I also got some Hornady .30-30 Winchester cartridges. 

Here's the ammo can:

And, inside:

I thought it was a good deal as each box of shells usually sell for $10-15. This makes the ammo can essentially free.

For ordering, go here.

Forbes: Is Bass Pro An Essential Business Because It Sells Guns?

Above, Bass Pro Shops Fontana, California store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Department of Homeland Security considers gun stores to be "essential businesses".

Unfortunately, some states haven't received the memo or are just plain ignoring it.

Forbes takes a look at Bass Pro Shops who, by the way sells guns. So, does this make them "essential". Bass Pro Shops is a sister store to Cabela's, who also sells guns.

They wrote:

There’s a debate raging across the nation about whether gun stores are an essential business during the coronavirus pandemic, which would make them immune from shelter-in-place orders that have forced thousands of retailers to close their doors. At the center of it all is Bass Pro Shops. 

While the federal government says gun stores can stay open, many states and towns disagree. That has left businesses grappling with a patchwork of government policies to decipher for themselves where they can or can’t stay open. Bass Pro Shops—a popular hunting and fishing chain owned by billionaire John Morris—has fought to stay open wherever it can. Based on its interpretation of a tangle of rules, it has kept about two thirds of its 150 U.S. stores open, according to its website. 

In states like Massachusetts, New York and New Mexico, where there is a ban on gun retailers, Bass Pro stores have gone dark. Meanwhile, at stores in Tennessee, South Carolina and Wisconsin, it is continuing to run “Spring Madness Sale” ads on shoes, binoculars and crossbows. In other states, it has remained open in one town and not in another. That case-by-case approach has caused frustration and confusion at headquarters, as well as among store workers and customers.

To read more, go here. 

Cabela's In Albuquerque

Above, Cabela's in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Right now, I am relaxing at the Route 66 RV Resort in Albuquerque.

I checked in around 12:45 after taking care of business in the city. I am having the last cigar of the Montecristo No. 9 cigars I bought in Havana in April.

Above, The Beast at the Route 66 RV Resort. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

First off, I wanted to check out Cabela's. I have been to one of their sister stores, Bass Pro Shops, but this is the first time I've been to a Cabela's. They have pretty much the same things as Bass Pro Shops except the store is set up in a more "traditional" manner. In comparison, Bass Pro Shops looks more like an amusement park with its set-up.

Above, an aisle view looking towards the firearms department. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Anyway, I wandered around Cabela's for about an hour or so. I stopped in their firearms department and it is big!

Above, one of the display cases in the firearms department. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Afterwards, I wandered around their camping section and then their cooking section. I saw some interesting things there. Since my little heart issue last summer, I am basically on a fish and chicken diet (I will break that tonight at the Thunder Road Steakhouse and Cantina by having some prime rib), so I checked out their spices for chicken. I picked up a couple of different ones. I will try them at home this coming week and if I like them, I will bring them on the Wells Fun Run trip later this month.

Above, a selection of meat spices. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I did find a humorous one, called "Rub Some Butt". I think it's for pork. I took a photo of it.

Above, a bottle of "Rub Some Butt" seasoning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Along with the spices, I did get a box of peanut brittle. I haven't had any for quite a while.

After my visit to Cabela's I headed out of the city to Camping World (which is about 7 miles from the Route 66 Casino Hotel) to get some supplies, including some holding tank chemicals. Once I was done there, I headed to the Route 66 RV Resort for some relaxation. I understand there's supposed to be thunderstorms tonight here. Perhaps I will get a good light show to entertain me. It was raining at home when I headed on the road this morning.

Above, part of the camping department. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tomorrow, I will be seeing my hair-cutter, Michelle (my belle) for a haircut. She's expecting me since I called her up the other day.

Forest Lawn and Pro Bass Shops Outdoor World

Today was spent out in Covina and later Fontana for the funeral services for my cousin Lucia's husband Jeff at Forest Lawn at Covina Hills. To me, the hills will always be known as Kellogg Hills.

The services were set for noon but arrived there at about 10:45 so that I could find the grave of a friend and fraternity brother, Larry Whisenhunt. As I had mentioned previously, I knew Larry since high school and he appeared in the 1972 science-fiction movie, Silent Running as one of Bruce Dern's robot drones. He was profiled in the 1980s show, Real People.

I took down the grave's location from Forest Lawn's website and presented it to the girl at the entrance information booth. She marked the location on a map and after that, I was off.

Above, Larry Whisenhunt's grave marker. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I arrived at the section where the grave is at and it took me about 10 minutes to find it. Once I did, I went back to my car to get a towel to clean Larry's grave marker and took some photos, one of which is above.

Above, Larry Whisenhunt around the time of the filming of Silent Running.

After a few minutes, I headed down to the Church of Our Heritage, where the funeral services for Jeff was to be held.

The services were nice and included a video slideshow of Jeff's life. Following the services, we went to the columbarium to where Jeff's urn would be interred.

Following the internment, we proceeded to my cousin's home in Fontana for a reception. Along the way, I spotted the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World Rancho Cucamonga store. I decided that would stop there before heading home.

This I did and I was impressed with the size of the store. I almost was going to stop in their Memphis store last year, but since I was driving The Beast and was unsure about the parking situation there (the store is in a big pyramid), I decided to skip it.

Above, the main entrance to Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Rancho Cucamonga. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Rancho Cucamonga store has everything for the outdoorsman from boating, camping, fishing, guns/hunting, clothing, restaurants, electronic shooting gallery and displays. I looked around for a while and decided that I would return when I had more time. It was a very impressive store and worth a trip out to Rancho Cucamonga to visit. Their prices were more reasonable than I expected. I bought a Bass Pro Shops baseball cap to wear on my upcoming trip to see the eclipse.

Some more photos of the inside of Bass Pro Shops Rancho Cucamonga store:

Above, it appears the tables were turned for this tourist. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the exit. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the exterior looked like a hunting lodge. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a display of vintage camping equipment. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, there's plenty of apparel for him and her. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, another view of the first floor clothing section. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the upstairs camping department. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a display of mule deer near the camping department. Photo by Armand Vaquer.