American Towns Tourists Ruined

Above, Key West, Florida was one of the towns named. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The term overtourism is something I first heard about in articles about Japan. Besides Japan, it now is applying to U.S. towns.

World Atlas has posted an article on American towns ruined by tourists. I have been to several of them over the years (Key West, Sedona, Moab, Jackson, Carmel-By-The-Sea, Estes Park) and I have to agree with their conclusions on them.

They begin with:

Ask people in a dozen American resort towns how they feel about tourism, and you will hear a version of the same story. Moab traded uranium mining for the crowds heading into Arches, and three million visitors a year now overload its water and sewer systems. Bar Harbor capped cruise disembarkations at 1,000 a day and has defended that limit in federal court since 2022. In Nantucket, the median home now runs about 3.5 million dollars, and the workers who keep the island running commute in by ferry. Each of these ten towns ahead bets on tourism, and each is now wrestling with what it won.

To read more, go here.

Taking A Road Trip and States To Avoid

Above, camping next to the Colorado River near Moab, Utah. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is planning a summer vacation road trip, some states are better than others.

That is the crux of a new article posted by KRQE (originated from KTLA in Los Angeles), an Albuquerque-based station. Minnesota came in first and Utah came in second for best states for road trips.

The article looks at cost as well as other factors the article was being researched.

They begin with:

(KTLA) – Going on a summer road trip is always a “fun” time – but new research suggests that some places may be better than others when it comes to packing up the car and hitting the road. 

WalletHub, a personal finance company, recently released its 2026 Best and Worst States for Summer Road Trips report, which compared costs (including gas, car repairs, average hotel costs and others), safety and activity options to determine its ranking.  

And what did those findings reveal? You may want to target the lakes and not the oceans.

To read more, go here. 

The Most Common Class C RV Problems

Above, at the Moab (Utah) KOA Kampground last summer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The motor home I have is classified as a Class C. It is a 2015 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 22R. To date, it has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned.

The only problem I have had with it was only recently when the flush valve to the toilet started acting up necessitating the need to replace the toilet. All things considered, I'm very pleased with it. Still, not bad for an eleven-year-old vehicle.

Do It Yourself RV has posted an article on the most common Class C RV problems owners run into. So far, none of the problems listed I have encountered.

They begin it with:

Class C RVs are easy to fall for. They feel more approachable than a large Class A, roomier than a camper van, and familiar enough from the driver’s seat that many new motorhome owners feel comfortable right away.

That first impression is part of the appeal, but it does not tell the whole story. Once you start loading the storage bays, driving in wind, using the cabover space, and keeping up with service, the tradeoffs become easier to see.

A Class C can still be a great RV. The key is knowing where this style of motorhome tends to ask for the most patience.

To read more, go here. 

Why Campground Rates Keep Rising

Above, at camp at the Moab, Utah KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Inflation has touched many things in our lives. 

A lot of products and services are more expensive, for varying reasons. This also includes campground rates. 

RV Travel has posted an article why campground rates are going up. 

They begin with:

Campground rates keep rising—even for RVers who don’t use the extras. From campground Wi-Fi upgrades to glamping units and luxury amenities, parks are spending more to attract new campers, and longtime RVers are increasingly picking up the tab.

If that sounds blunt, think about the last few years. You roll into a park you’ve used before and the price is up again. The sites are the same size. The hookups work… mostly. But now there’s a shiny new check-in system, a promise of “high-speed Wi-Fi,” and some kind of new “premium” lodging on the edge of the property that looks like it came out of a boutique hotel brochure.

Meanwhile, you’re sitting there thinking: We’re in an RV. We already brought our house.

To be clear, this isn’t an argument against reliable Wi-Fi. Many RVers want it, use it, and depend on it—especially those who work on the road or stay longer than a weekend. Solid infrastructure is part of modern camping. The question isn’t whether Wi-Fi belongs in campgrounds. It’s whether Wi-Fi—and other upgrades—are being used to solve the right problem.

To read more, go here. 

2025 Review

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

2025 is nearly over. Overall, it hasn't been too bad for me.

But it did start off on a sad note as long-time friend and fellow G-fan Richard Pusateri passed away on my birthday in February from cancer. I did honor his memory in September by making a donation to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation at the Foundation's marathon near Moab, Utah. I directly give the donation to the Duke's youngest son Ethan.

Above, with Ethan Wayne with my donation to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation in Richard Pusateri's memory. 

I did a lot of traveling during the year. The first was to the spring clamp-out of the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus in April. The clamp-out was held in Quartzsite, Arizona. 

Healthwise, I am doing fine. I had a Lexi-scan this year and my coronary arteries have no developing plaques. That's a relief!

Above, Mitch and I about to dine at the Irma Hotel in Cody, Wyoming.

Next on the travel agenda, Mitch Geriminsky and I took an RV trip up to Cody, Wyoming to attend the Winchester Arms Collectors Association's gun show and visit the gun museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Both were enjoyable. From there, we went to the Little Bighorn Battlefield in Montana where Custer and his troops met their demise. After that, we headed to Devils Tower in Wyoming and then to  the Black Hills of South Dakota. We stayed at a KOA Kampground in Deadwood and visited Mount Rushmore and Chief Crazy Horse Memorial. It was a trip I wanted to do since 2020, but the pandemic put a nix on those plans.

Above, yours truly at the Winchester Collectors
Association gun show in Cody. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

I then headed to Des Moines to help my ex-roommate Jessica with packing some belongings and putting them in storage in October. I returned there two weeks ago to help her move from Iowa to California and drove about 2,000 miles to Orange County, California in a U-Haul truck with a car carrier trailer. That trip took about a week. 

Locally, our group did some target shooting at the shooting area next to our community on two occasions. We get together on Tuesdays at Denny's at the Flying J in Jamestown and Saturdays at Grandpa's Grill in Gallup. 

Above, the gang at Grandpa's Grill in Gallup. Russell Azbill,
who died a month later, is in the foreground in the dark shirt. 

Unfortunately, one member of our group, Russell Azbill, passed away in October at home. Apparently, he suffered a heart attack while retrieving a package at his gate. His body was found on his front porch. He was a nice guy and we had similar paranormal interests. He is missed. 

Above, sushi dinner in Ankeny, Iowa with Jessica.

During the summer, I did attend a couple of rodeos. One was the Lions Club Rodeo and the other was the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. Both were at Red Rock Park. 

Weather-wise, our monsoon rains came late and, so far, we've received little snow. We can sure use more precipitation. 

I will be spending Christmas again this year at the Geriminsky's in Lake Havasu. Again, more traveling. 

Are RVers Responsible For Poor Quality RVs?

Above, my 2015 Minnie Winnie at the Moab (Utah) KOA in July. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I have stated on this blog that my 2015 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 22R has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. I bought it new in 2015 and only had minor issues on rare occasions.

Today, people have been noticing the lack of quality control of new recreational vehicles. It was made even more evident since the pandemic of 2020. 

RV Travel has posted an article asking if RVers are responsible for poor quality RVs. 

They begin it with:

Over the years, we’ve heard from countless frustrated RVers. The story goes something like, “I bought a brand-new RV and hardly got to use it the first year. It spent most of the time getting repairs made, right from the start!”

The rants about nearly every RV manufacturer are myriad. Yes, even RV dealers admit the quality of RVs they’re selling is often lousy, and they point the finger back at the manufacturers.

But hang on, are RVers responsible, in part, for the junk being dumped on the market today?

To read more, go here. 

Graffiti Found At Arches National Park

Above, rock formations at Arches National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in July, I took a driving tour of Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. This was my first visit to this national park.

It was interesting to see the different red rock formations throughout the park.

It has been reported that bad behavior has struck the park. Too bad there are people who are compelled to do stupid things.

Deseret News reported:

Visitors to Arches National Park found the popular Devils Garden Trail vandalized with white spray-painted images of smiley faces, doodles and several iterations of what appears to be the word “GRUG” on the red rock.

Allyson Mathis, a retired National Park Service employee, found the defaced landscape while hiking with a friend last week. And that’s not all she encountered.

Speaking with a reporter from Outside, she described seeing a dog walking with other visitors — pets are not permitted on trails in Arches — and toilet paper strewn about the desert. That was in addition to the scale of the spray-paint defacement.

“It was everywhere,” Mathis said. “It was heartbreaking and upsetting, but unfortunately not surprising.”

To read more, go here. 

Major Google Maps Update

Above, the motorhome at Arches National Park Visitor Center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my vacation in July to Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and Utah, I made good use out of Google maps. I also made good use out of a paper road atlas.

That wasn't the app version, but the one available to anyone online. 

For those who use the app version, there will be major updates coming, some of which could "doom" trip planner apps.

From RV Travel:

The day of paying for an app to help you plan your trip’s route or find places and services along the road may soon be over.

Google is rolling out a major update to its Google Maps that uses artificial intelligence to make it easier for RVers and other motorists to navigate unfamiliar towns, find fuel or groceries near a campground or safely guide a large rig through tight turns and avoid routes with low bridges. And it won’t cost a penny.

The upgrades come from integrating Google’s Gemini AI directly into maps, adding smarter voice assistance, more intuitive directions, and better on-the-ground exploration tools. It’s GPS on steroids.

To read more, go here. 

Shiprock

On the way home from Moab, Utah yesterday, I took a slightly different route home from the route I took Friday to Moab for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation "Grit Series" marathons.

The route I took was one I took before from Monument Valley a year ago. It had me pass by Shiprock and into the town of Shiprock, New Mexico.

I needed to get gasoline there as I spent very little in Utah. Their gas prices were around $3.40/gallon, whereas New Mexico were around $2.84/gallon.

Despite rain squalls, the town of Shiprock (in the Navajo Nation) was busy with several flea markets and a carnival. I did manage to take the below photos of Shiprock before reaching town.

Drinks Canyon Campground (BLM)

Above, the RV at Drinks Canyon Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On Friday, I headed to Moab, Utah to help with the John Wayne Cancer Foundation "Grit Series" marathons.

It was a six hour drive from home. 

Above, red cliffs and Colorado River near the campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I decided that I would try to stay at a BLM campground along the Colorado River in a canyon next to Arches National Park. There are several BLM campgrounds and they are first-come, first-serve. It is outside of Moab, Utah on Highway 128. 

Above, a view from the campsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I reached the canyon at about noon and the first campgrounds were already full, but when I reached Drinks Canyon Campground, they had several campsites available. Campsite 13 (lucky number, eh?) was the largest of the ones available that would accommodate the motorhome. After filling out the payment envelope, I set up camp. The campground was only nine miles from Red Cliffs Lodge, the headquarters for the marathons. That worked out great as volunteers have to arrive at 5:00 am.

Above, another view from the campsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The fee for overnight stays is $20/night. There's no water available or trash cans. It is dry camping and one must "pack it in, pack it out". There is a restroom at the campground.

It is in a beautiful area with tall red cliffs along the Colorado River. 

For more information, go here.

Grit Series Marathons In Moab

Above, runners were already on the course before sunrise. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This year's Grit Series marathons benefitting the John Wayne Cancer Foundation was held yesterday outside of Moab, Utah. 

I volunteered for the event and was assigned to the main parking area directing arrivals. I was told that 100 participants took part last year and 200 this year. I believe it. The lot at Red Cliffs Lodge was full and the shuttle buses were transporting participants to the starting/finishing area. I was kept busy for about two hours or more and on my feet. I was a little exhausted afterwards.

After finishing those "parking attendant" duties, I was given a ride to the marathon starting/finishing line. 

Above, Ethan Wayne holding my donation check in memory of Richard Pusateri.

There, met up with Ethan Wayne, John Wayne's youngest son, and gave him a donation to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation in memory of Richard Pusatari, who passed away in February (on my birthday). We took a picture with Ethan holding the check for posting at Richard's Facebook page (which I did last evening). 

I was going to stay Saturday night, but I heard that storms were coming in (at this writing, we're having a thunderstorm that woke me), so I decided to head out. It was a nice drive, with little rain while in Utah. But when I reached the Shiprock, New Mexico area, it was storming and got even worse when I reached Tohatchi, New Mexico. It continued on when I entered Gallup. 

I stopped for lunch at an A & W Root Beer restaurant in Blanding, Utah. It was a little disappointing: no frosted mug. I was just handed a plastic cup to fill it myself McDonalds style. They were selling glass mugs for $4.95, but I already have two vintage ones. That's enough.

Still, I had a good time and did my bit for the Foundation. 

Some photos:

Above, the Red Cliffs Lodge parking area with the Colorado River. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Red Cliffs Lodge. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the starting/finishing line arch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the canopies with Foundation swag. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, spectators relaxing at the maraton area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, horseback riders chatting with spectators. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Rain In Moab Area This Weekend?

Last year, rain hit the Ridgway, Colorado area about the time the John Wayne Cancer Foundation's Grit Series marathons ended.

Everyone had to hurry and pack up equipment as the rains started.

This weekend, the marathons will be held outside of Moab, Utah. I am heading there as a volunteer. 

It looks like there is a chance of rain in the vicinity according to the National Weather Service:

 Today

Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.

Tonight

Increasing clouds, with a low around 62. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the evening.

Friday

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 10%.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming south southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Sunday

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Hopefully, the marathons will not get drenched.

RV Camping Near Utah’s Stunning National Parks

Above, Moab KOA is just minutes from Arches National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During a recent trip to Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota, we stayed a night in Moab, Utah at the Moab KOA.

As we were taking our time in going to Wyoming, we took a driving tour through Arches National Park. This was the first time I've visited the park.

Above, Arches National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This is Go RVing posted a list of RV camping near Utah's national parks. 

They begin it with:

Utah is home to some of the most iconic landscapes in the American Southwest—towering sandstone arches, sculpted red rock canyons, and vast desert vistas. For RV travelers, Utah’s national parks provide an unforgettable road trip experience. While booking a campsite inside the parks can be a challenge, there are many well-appointed, privately owned RV campgrounds just outside these parks that offer full hookups, excellent amenities, and easier availability.

Here are four of Utah’s most visited parks, along with nearby private campgrounds that offer a comfortable and convenient base for your adventures.

To read more, go here. 

Campground Reviews Posted

Above, Moab KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since returning from the 12-day trip to Wyoming, Montana, Utah, South Dakota and Colorado, I have campground reviews posted at RV Life Campground Reviews.

During the trip, we stayed at eight campgrounds, most of them were KOA Kampgrounds.

The KOA Kampgrounds were (in order of stays):

• Moab, Utah
• Vernal, Utah
• Cody, Wyoming
• Deadwood, Wyoming
• Hardin, Montana
• Devils Tower, Wyoming
• Colorado Springs, Colorado

The non-KOA campground:

Eagle RV Park, Thermopolis, Utah

To access RV Life Campground Reviews, go here. 

Grit Series Marathons In Moab September 27

Since the John Wayne Cancer Foundation's Grit Series marathons won't be in Ridgway, Colorado this year, I just signed up to volunteer at the next closest event in Moab, Utah. 

It's a good thing I am an early riser as we have to meet up at 5:00 AM to catch the shuttle bus to our stations.

I am looking forward to the trip as it has been years since I last had been in the Moab area. While there, I will be making a donation to the Cancer Foundation in the name of Richard Pusateri, who passed away from cancer in February.

For more information, go here. 

Donating To The John Wayne Cancer Foundation

Since I found out yesterday that the John Wayne Cancer Foundation will not be holding Grit Series marathons in Ridgway, Colorado this year, I will be going to Moab, Utah instead to help with the marathons there on September 27.

While there, I will also be making a donation to the Foundation in memory of Richard Pusateri, who passed away from cancer February 4. Since he was also a movie fan, this is quite appropriate.

Above, Richard Pusateri in Tokyo in 2001. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Foundation's website has a provision of making donations anonymously or in memory or honor of a loved one. I made previous donations to the Foundation in my dad's and two friends' names.

To make a donation, go here.

Body Found "Consistent" With Missing Gabby Petito

The missing person investigation has turned into a homicide investigation involving Gabrielle Petito of Florida.

Human remains "consistent" with descriptions of Petito were found yesterday near Spread Creek Dispersed Campground near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

Reuters reported:

Sept 19 (Reuters) - Police and FBI agents searching a national park in Wyoming have found a body "consistent" with missing Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old woman whose disappearance has captivated the United States.

The body was discovered on Sunday in a remote area of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, near the Spread Creek Dispersed campground where law enforcement officials had directed their search, FBI spokesman Charles Jones said.

A formal identification of the remains has not been made and the cause of death is yet to be determined.

Members of Petito's family reported Petito missing on Sept. 11, 10 days after her 23-year-old boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, returned home from a months-long cross-country trip in the van without her.  

Laundrie has been named a "person of interest" in the case but has not been seen since leaving his family's home in North Port, Florida, last Tuesday. North Port is on the west coast of Florida, some 70 miles (112 km) south of St. Petersburg.  

Before disappearing, Laundrie had refused to speak with investigators and retained a lawyer.

It would not surprise me at all that Laundrie would be found dead of suicide. That's the gut feeling I have. I suspect that a quarrel gone very bad led to Petito's death. 

Above, Gabby Petito from police
 body cam video in Moab, Utah. 

The pair had a quarrel August 12 in Moab, Utah and the police investigators posted body cam footage of them during questioning. There were no charges but the police had the two separate that night. 

To read more, go here.

John Wayne Stock & Supply Monument Valley Collection

Above, The Mittens at dusk. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

John Wayne Stock & Supply has unveiled their Monument Valley Collection.

Wayne filmed four movies in Monument Valley during his lifetime: Stagecoach, Fort Apache, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon and The Searchers. Rio Grande is often mistakenly listed as featuring Monument Valley as a location, but the locations were filmed entirely in Moab, Utah.

To view the Monument Valley collection at John Wayne Stock & Supply, go here.