Monsoon storm tears apart iconic Route 66 sign near Winslow video by Arizona’s Family (3TV / CBS 5).
Summary:
A monsoon storm tore down the iconic “Here It Is” sign at the Jack Rabbit Trading Post on Route 66 earlier this week, splitting the nearly 80-year-old sign in half and knocking out chunks of original wood dating to the 1940s. The Jack Rabbit Trading Post, located between Winslow and Joseph City, has been a stop on Route 66 since 1949. Reporter Mason Carroll has the story.
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| Above, the yard yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It looks like we're getting a break today with the monsoon-generated thunderstorms.
According to the National Weather Service, today will be sunny in Jamestown, New Mexico. I am sure Gallup will definitely be grateful for the break since the town got flooded twice this week.
My yard looked a bit swampy during yesterday's rain (photo above).
The forecast:
Today
Yesterday's monsoon storm caused massive flooding in Gallup. The area hasn't seen such a storm in years.
We got about a half inch of rain in a short period according to a friend with a rain gauge. Luckily, we're on a hill and no flooding occurred.
Here's a couple of videos on yesterday's flood.
From KRQE News:
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| Above, the sign a few years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
A very heavy monsoon storm hit the St. Joseph, Arizona area last night. St. Joseph is the home of the Jack Rabbit Trading Post.
The intense storm destroyed the trading post's famous "Here It Is" sign that sat across Route 66 from the trading post.
Here's the sign after it was hit by the storm:
A Go Fund Me page has been set up to raise money to replace the sign. To go there and make a donation, go here. I already made a donation.
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| Above, monsoon rain clouds over Jamestown yesterday evening. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Finally, at long last, we got some rain yesterday and last night.
This was the first monsoon rain we received in weeks. We need a lot more, but we'll take it.
According to the National Weather Service, the week looks like this for Jamestown:
Monsoon season is definitely here!
We had a nice electrical storm last night. It took me a while to fall asleep as we had lightning and thunder show for a while after I went to bed. That was fun to watch.
We also had accompanying downpours to go along with it. This is most welcome as the Gallup/Jamestown area is a bit parched from the ongoing drought. I am sure my trees like it!
According to the National Weather Service, the weekend looks like this:
Overnight
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| Above, at El Cafecito Mexican Restaurant at Grants. |
Yesterday, I went to Grants (about 45 miles east) for my annual check-up with my cardiologist.
The drive wasn't bad. It did rain (a downpour) near Thoreau, but that only lasted a couple of minutes.
At the doctors, I was weighed (149 lbs.) and had a cardiogram done. I also had my blood pressure checked (111/71). So far, so good. The doctor told me that he reviewed all the tests (lexiscan, stress test, etc.) I took last year and I came out better than expected and for my age.
We decided that rather than coming in once every year, I would come in six months. This is nothing bad, but since I am getting older, it is best that I get examined so that if anything develops, we catch it earlier rather than later. He asked if this is a problem, I told him that since I am retired, it is fine with me. So, my next appointment will be in December.
He noted that since I gave up cigarette smoking ten years ago, I am still alive and kicking. He said if I still smoked cigarettes, I would likely not be here. He wasn't concerned about the cigars. I told him I came down with bronchitis back then and used that as an opportunity to quit.
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| Above, the chile relleno plate at El Cafecito Mexican Restaurant in Grants. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
We discussed my activities and showed him photos of the Jeep. I told him we have OHV roads in nearby Six Mile Canyon and I enjoy driving them. This is a lot better than sitting in a rocking chair.
After the exam and everything was done, I headed out to the El Cafecito Mexican Restaurant in town. It was a bit of an effort getting there as there was roadwork being done and I had to take numerous detours.
One I got there, I had the chile relleno plate. Following dinner, I headed back to Jamestown.
After getting home, we had a good downpour, which gave my trees a good soaking. We needed this. Monsoon season is definitely here.
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| Above, the Jeep in Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
After having my usual Sunday breakfast at the Silver Screen Restaurant at the El Rancho Hotel and doing some grocery shopping this morning, I relaxed on the deck with a beer (Alien Amber Ale, of course!).
When I was done with that, I decided to take a drive into Six Mile Canyon of the Cibola National Forest.
I saw only one vehicle there and he was leaving the canyon. I headed in.
After a little while, I noticed a big black cloud coming in from the Southwest. We're nearing Monsoon Season and I know they can (and do) produce heavy downpours. It was getting windy and some rain drops started falling as it approached.
I decided to make a u-turn near where the windmill is located and head out. I don't need to get drenched and possibly have the road washed out.
Other than that, I enjoyed the drive, even though I had to cut it a little short.
Some photos:
Well, it did rain yesterday, which we needed.
I ended up grilling hamburgers inside instead of barbecuing. I used one of my mom's cast iron frying pans that she had ever since I could remember. They came out good (with some original Stubb's barbecue sauce).
Since Denny's at the Flying J has been closed for two weeks due to a fire, out coffee group will be heading to Lil's Cafe in Thoreau today. I haven't seen any activity at Denny's to get it reopened yet. Wonder what's keeping them?
As for yesterday's rain, we did have some evening lightning and thunder. I guess the monsoon season is starting early this year. That would be nice.
There may be some more rain coming today.
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| Above, no driving, Jeep or otherwise, today due to rain. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It doesn't look like I'll be doing much, or any, driving today. Jeep or otherwise.
Right now, it is raining here in Jamestown, New Mexico.
I do have to go into Gallup this week to pick up my prescription refills. But I won't be doing so today.
According to the National Weather Service, the weather here this week is looking like this:
While watching the news, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted this rainbow through the window. I grabbed my phone and took the above photo from my front porch.
It had been a dry monsoon season until about three weeks ago. Now we're getting the badly needed rain.
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| Above, the below weather coverage area. |
It was a good thing that I got the Jeep to the mechanic's yesterday morning. In the afternoon after 3:00, we received some more monsoon rains in the Jamestown area.
I'm not complaining, it had been a dry monsoon season for the most part. But that changed a bit over the past two weeks.
According to the National Weather Service, more thunderstorms are expected during the next few days.
Today
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| Above, a normal monsoon season. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Finally, we're getting some more monsoon season thunderstorm activity in the Gallup-Jamestown area.
For the past two days (and last night), we've been getting some rain in the area including a few downpours with accompanying lightning. This is welcome as it has been a relatively dry monsoon season.
According to the National Weather Service, the week is shaping up as follows:
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| Above, having a brew after mowing yesterday. |
After getting a new battery for the mower, I took the mower out and started mowing. I only did about half when I saw lightning and heard thunder to the south over the Zuni Mountains. That's when I decided to stop. I will likely finish mowing either today or tomorrow. Monsoon season has arrived.
The mower worked fine yesterday. It started immediately after I installed the new battery. The last battery lasted six years, so I figure I got my money's worth out of it.
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| Above, this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It appears to have arrived early this year (no complaints) as we had some sprinkles with thunder in the Jamestown/Gallup area in the afternoon.
Overnight, it rained even harder. I read that this is the first of two storms expected to hit this week. This was the weaker one. It was strong enough for me to hear it hitting the roof and roof vents.
We can definitely use the water as winter was relatively dry compared to past years.
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| Above, the El Rancho Hotel after the rain squall clouds passed. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
On the way there, I noticed a big black cloud with rain downpouring from it towards the southwest. I figured that it would hit Gallup within the hour.
Upon reaching Gallup, I stopped at the El Rancho Hotel for some breakfast (Monument Valley Enchiladas). While there, the storm arrived and we had some claps of thunder overhead along with downpour rain squall.
After finishing my breakfast, sure enough, the storm dumped some rain on Gallup and proceeded to head towards the east. (There was no evidence of any rain in Jamestown when I got home.) After the storm clouds passed, it got nice and warm outside.
This is probably one of the "last hurrahs" of the monsoon season which ends this month.
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| Above, the Jeep on Saturday after I mowed the inner yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Yesterday, while watching the news coverage of Joe Biden's dropping out of the presidential campaign, I saw that we were suddenly getting a downpour of rain.
I had to scoot outside to put the Jeep into the garage as I removed the window from the driver side door. I don't exactly relish sitting in a soaked seat.
The storm progressed into a full-blown thunderstorm with lightning and thunder throughout the evening. One of my neighbors posted that we received about 1/2 inch of rain.
We're expected to more rain this afternoon, about a 30% chance.
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| Above, after the mowing. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Since we had a bit of a break the monsoon rains (we've gotten a lot), I took the opportunity to mow Barking Spider Acre yesterday evening.
I usually mow in the morning, but since it was cloudy and cool, it was the perfect conditions to mow. The ground was a little soft, but not muddy. The brush was getting thick on the ground. It is very green in the area from all the monsoon rains we've been getting.
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| Above, the area in and around Jamestown is green from the monsoon rains. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I did have a little problem while mowing the front along the road. The mower got stuck in the soft dirt near the drainage ditch that parallels the road. But I was able to pull it out with the Jeep in short order and I finished the mowing.
Once done, I relaxed over a bottle of Alien Amber Ale on the deck.
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| Above, it's Alien time. |
We'll be celebrating Independence Day at Martin Link's on Thursday. His backyard is on a hilltop and we get great views of fireworks, even some from Window Rock, Arizona miles away.
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| Above, tire tracks around the GOCO Beast Barn from the motorhome. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Some areas got too much rain and suffered with flooding. The hills over Grants had some waterfalls form.
In Jamestown (were I live), we got around an inch of rain (maybe more). The ground is currently saturated.
When I drove the motorhome in Barking Spider Acre to put it into the garage, I noticed the ground being soft and muddy. At times, I thought it would get stuck. Luckily it didn't.
We're to get more rain this week.
According to the National Weather Service:
Today
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| Above, outside a few minutes ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
That wasn't the case in Jamestown. Overnight, we had some thunder and lightning. According to friends here, it affected the power and Internet. My power is on except for the bathrooms. Internet is working.
We had some good downpours, enough so that they woke me up. The National Weather Service noted that "strong storms will also be possible Saturday in the Four Corners region." That's us.
According to the National Weather Service:
