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| Above, the gate to Six Mile Canyon is open. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I am happy to report that the gate is open to allow vehicles (ATV, side-by-side, Jeeps) into the canyon.
So now I can drive the Jeep into the canyon and drive all the way to McGaffey Lake.
Best campgrounds along Route 66 revealed video by KOAT.
Summary:
Best campgrounds along Route 66 revealed
The video features my favorite Albuquerque RV park, the Route 66 RV Resort.
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| Above, the crabapple tree is blooming. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It looks like we may be getting some precipitation this coming week, starting tomorrow and Monday with a dry storm. A dry storm is a thunderstorm that produces less than 0.1" of rain. This is according to the McKinley County of Emergency Management.
It won't be long when we'll be in monsoon season.
According to the National Weather Service, the week is shaping up as follows:
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| Above, a bullsnake. Photo by William L. Farr. |
For the past several days, I have been seeing lizards in the yard. This means spring is here and snakes are also out and about.
We have rattlesnakes in New Mexico, although I haven't seen any. We also have bullsnakes and I have seen two of them. One was in the front yard, a rather large adult and the other was in my garage and was a young one. My initial reaction to seeing each was to check the tail. If no rattles, it's a bullsnake.
We respect bullsnakes as they help control rodents such as gophers and mice. Some have even eaten rattlesnakes, but that's rare.
From Wikipedia:
The bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) is a large, nonvenomous, colubrid snake. It is a subspecies of the gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer). The bullsnake is one of the largest/longest snakes of North America and the United States, reaching lengths up to 8 ft.
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| Above, yesterday at Gallup Coffee. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Yesterday afternoon was spent in Gallup.
I drove friend Larry Lucier to his doctor appointment in his bus. After dropping him off at the clinic, I headed into downtown Gallup to go to the Gallup Coffee shop.
While there, I enjoyed a hot mocha latte and a blueberry muffin. Both were good.
I recently read an article on wild blueberries on their health benefits. I've always known that they contain great cancer fighting antioxidants, but there are other health benefits as well. Plus, I just happen to like them.
According to an article in the Penobscot Bay Pilot:
ORONO — Wild blueberries, the iconic Maine crop dotting hillsides, decorating sweatshirts and adding personality to local menus, are more than a cultural symbol. Over 20 years of preclinical and clinical studies suggest that regularly consuming wild blueberries supports gut and heart health and may reduce risk factors associated with chronic disease.
Dorothy Klimis-Zacas, professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Maine, recommends one half to one cup per day. She eats them alongside her morning oats or blends them into smoothies.
She has spent her multi-decade career researching the health benefits of wild blueberries in relation to cardiometabolic health. Her work is featured in a comprehensive review from a Cardiometabolic Health Symposium of experts hosted by the Wild Blueberry Association of North America in Bar Harbor in 2025. Twelve experts — including Klimis-Zacas — participated, their work spanning the fields of nutrition, food science, dietetics, nutrition metabolism and physiology, cardiovascular and cognitive function, gut health and microbiology.
Blueberries contain polyphenols, which are bioactive compounds found in many berries, that have particularly powerful effects on vascular health. When compared to conventional blueberries, wild blueberries have twice the antioxidant content, 72% more fiber and 33% more anthocyanins — flavonoids related to the widespread health benefits of the berries, such as improved cardiometabolic health.
Research led by Klimis-Zacas was the first to show that wild blueberries reduce inflammation and vascular dysfunction by targeting the endothelium, the thin layer of cells lining blood vessels that regulates their contraction and relaxation. In preclinical studies, her team found that animals with hypertension and obesity showed reduced inflammation and improved vascular health after consuming wild blueberries for six weeks.
Further analysis revealed that a wild blueberry diet alters vascular structure via glycoproteins — key molecules involved in endothelial signaling processes. These structural changes not only improved endothelial function, but also made the endothelium more resilient to high blood lipids and high blood pressure changes.
“If your endothelium becomes dysfunctional, then everything starts going downhill,” Klimis-Zacas said.
Her lab has also investigated how wild blueberries influence local and systemic inflammation in metabolic syndrome, as well as glucose, lipid metabolism and gut health, to have a greater understanding of blueberries’ potential role in supporting overall metabolic function.
After Larry was done at the doctor's office, we headed to Jerry's Cafe for dinner.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, the longhorns at Mesa Ridge Ranch yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
As yesterday was a nice warm day, I took an late afternoon Jeep drive around the subdivisions of Whispering Cedars and Mesa Ridge Ranch.
I stopped for awhile in Mesa Ridge Ranch where the longhorn cattle are at. At first, they were about 50 yards away, but two came over to check me out and then a mother and calf came over but remained a few yards back.
Naturally, I took some pictures of them.
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| Above, yours truly enjoying Jerry's Cafe's air conditioning Friday. |
Yesterday, the thermometer in Jamestown, New Mexico reached a high of approximately 81°. This was a far cry from the cold temperatures we were getting the the past several months.
Jamestown wasn't the only place in New Mexico who saw high temperatures.
The Albuquerque Journal reported:
Spring sprang like summer on Friday as heat records were shattered in many parts of New Mexico.
But while some people found ways to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather, state officials are on high alert for heat-related illness among vulnerable populations, elevated wildfire risk in tinder-dry forests and a lack of spring runoff amid record-low snowpack.
Clay Anderson, a forecaster for the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, said the state’s largest city already broke its heat record for the month of March on Thursday with a high of 88 degrees, eclipsing a previous record of 85 degrees, recorded in both 1907 and 1971.
That bar rose again on Friday, to 89 degrees, and is expected to hit 90 Saturday in Albuquerque — which would make it the earliest 90 degree-day recorded in the city. The last such record was set in 1947, when Albuquerque hit 90 on May 3.
Anderson said temperatures in several other areas of the state will also reach record highs in coming days.
To read more, go here.
We're now at Stage One fire restrictions in McKinley County unincorporated areas. I am in one.
It is a good thing that I cut the brush from the back yard. It had gotten overgrown. I was thinking over the years that I would need brush clearing tools as I could not tell if there were big rocks or the ground wasn't level.
As it turned out, my zero-turn mower did the job just fine. The inspector from the insurance company didn't have any problem with the yard, but they did with the roof. So that was remedied last week.
I've noticed other neighbors have been cutting down trees and brush over the past few weeks in the subdivision.
We're considered to be in drought conditions here. It has been a drier than usual winter.
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| Above, the Jeep at the shooting range last Sunday. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
We in the Gallup/Jamestown, New Mexico area will be seeing a heat wave this week (at least through Monday).
We might take advantage of the warm weather and may do some target shooting. Hopefully, this time without any mishaps like the last time.
It will be good driving weather with the Jeep as well. Too bad Six Mile Canyon won't be open to vehicles yet.
According to the National Weather Service, the weather for Jamestown/Gallup will be as follows:
Today
A proposed "assault weapons" ban was considered in the most recent New Mexico legislative session. Fortunately, the measure failed to pass.
Currently, a proposed assault weapons ban is sitting on the desk of Virginia's governor. Citizens have been rallying to urge a veto of the unconstitutional bill.
The American Rifleman online website discusses the unconstitutionality of semi-automatic assault weapons bans by leftist Democrats.
They begin it with:
If the logical application of the rule of law means anything in this constitutional republic, bans on massively popular semi-automatic firearms will be found unconstitutional.
That might seem a bold claim to Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D), who, as this is being written, seemed poised to sign a ban on yet another political definition of the term “assault weapon.”
This would make Virginia the 12th state with some such ban on some version of the definition of the politically shape-shifting term “assault weapon.”
Before stepping into the semantic and legal rhetoric of the potential Virginia ban on sales of America’s rifle—and the NRA’s coming legal response—some context is always beneficial.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, on a side road next to Interstate 40. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
This morning, I went over to the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup for breakfast as usual. For those who have inquiring minds, it was their Monument Valley Enchiladas.
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| Above, at Barking Spider Acre. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
After some grocery shopping, I headed home. I decided to take a Jeep drive. Except for the wind, it is a nice day to do some driving.
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| Above, at the shooting range. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I drove around the subdivision for a bit. As someone decided to do some shooting at the shooting range at 7:00 this morning, I headed over there to look around. I saw nothing unusual.
Later, after a break, I drove down to the Flying J. The price for unleaded regular there is $3.859.
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| Above, a different view at the shooting range. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Afterwards, I drove on a side road (parallel to Interstate 40) until the dead end.
All in all, it was a pleasant drive today.
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| Above, the new roof. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The roofers arrived around 9:00 this morning and immediately got to work. They brought their equipment in through the back gate. It was a good thing I cut down the overgrown brush in the backyard weeks ago.
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| Above, unloading their trailer. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Within an hour or so, they had the old shingles off and installed the cap layer. Within a few hours later, they got the new shingles mostly installed. It started sprinkling in the afternoon, so it was good they got the new roof on.
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| Above, a closer view of the new roof. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
They will likely finish up tomorrow.
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| Above, an aerial view of the property. |
Due to homeowners insurance issues, I have to re-roof the house. I had to change insurers due to area wildfire hazards and the inspector for the new insurance company came out to inspect the property.
In preparation, I did a lot of yard work to clear brush. Apparently, they didn't complain about the trees on the property as only a couple are near the house and the land was clear of brush hazards.
But, they did find that the roof was in need of replacing and they sent me a cancellation notice. I called my agent and he said that the cancellation would be rescinded if the roof was taken care of. I have until March 21 to do so.
So, I had to get a home improvement loan at my bank to get the roof replaced. It was a cinch getting the loan as I had a good credit score.
The roofers will be starting tomorrow morning.
A little surprise awaited me this morning.
A few minutes ago, I was putting some clothes in the dryer when I looked out the window and noticed about 1/4 inch layer of snow on the garage roof.
I wasn't expecting snow today, so it is a surprise. But I am not complaining, we can use it.
I took this shot:
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| Above, before his mishap, Larry shooting his pistol. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It was reasonably warm outside with very little wind.
I started out shooting my Winchester 62A .22 pump action rifle and Larry started out with his .22 Henry lever-action rifle. Neither of us could hit the broadside of a barn when we had the targets set at 50 yards, so we moved them in to 25 yards. We did much better then.
After that, I switched to shooting eight one-gallon jugs of water with my Winchester 94 .30-30. It was fun watching them explode. Larry switched to a .22 cal. pistol.
That's when we started having a couple of mishaps.
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| Above, yours truly holding the Winchester 94 and the shredded shooting bag. Photo by Larry Lucier. |
It started with me shooting the Winchester 94 from my table with my shooting bags. Somehow, the barrel of the rifle slipped off right when I was firing and it blasted the larger of the two bags to pieces. I thought for sure that I would thereafter be the butt of jokes over this. But, something a bit worse happened.
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| Above, Larry showing his wounded index finger. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Larry was shooting his .22 pistol and somehow his left index finger went over the gun's muzzle and the round grazed his finger. It was a small cut with powder burns around it. It was a good thing that it was a .22 and not a larger caliber.
We continued shooting for a little while more and then packed up and later met up with "Uncle Bob" at Jerry Cafe for dinner. Naturally, we had a good conversation about our shooting mishaps.
As it is said, sh*t happens!
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| Above, the rifles I am bringing today. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Today is plinkin' day!
In a few hours, we'll be heading to the shooting area of the Cibola National Forest to do some target shooting. I am just going to bring the Winchester 94 (.30-30 cal.) and the Winchester 62A (.22 cal.) today.
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| Above, water jugs to use as targets. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The temperature should be in the upper 60s.
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| Above, yours truly at the shooting area two years ago. Photo by Larry Lucier. |
Since it will be around 67° outside this coming Friday, we decided to head to the shooting area in Cibola National Forest near our Jamestown community for some target shooting.
Friends here have expressed a desire to do some plinking and this will be a great opportunity before we head into spring next month.
I have accumulated about 18 empty one-gallon water jugs that I will fill up with water and use as targets.
If anyone wonders why I left Commiefornia, here's a great reason:
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| Above, yours truly with the Winchester 94 at the shooting area of the Cibola National Forest last November. Photo by Larry Lucier. |
It looks like we're done with snowy weather for a while.
This week looks to be sunny and warmer. The Wednesday and Friday high temperature will reach 65°, according to the National Weather Service.
I am considering doing some target shooting on either Wednesday or Friday. I have accumulated around 20 one-gallon plastic jugs for shooting. As they're taking up some room (I have them in boxes), going out plinking is in order.
I'll see if the rest of the gang is interested in joining in on the fun.
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| Above, having some coffee before "Uncle Bob" arrived. |
But, fortunately, it moved out of the area so that plenty of time for thawing out took place. This allowed me to head into Gallup for my usual Friday dinner at Jerry's Café.
The streets of Gallup were clear of any ice and snow. There were piles of it at different businesses after it was shoved.
At first, the restaurant was about two thirds full, so I was able to get a table for myself and "Uncle Bob" as soon as I walked in. Then the restaurant got packed.
Looking out this morning, there was no new snow on the ground. This was the first in three days that we didn't get overnight snow.
The upcoming week will be a warmer one, almost spring-like, with highs reaching into the 60s. That's according to the National Weather Service.
The week's forecast:
