The Winchester .30-30 Cartridge Still Chugs Along After 125 Years

Above, Winchester .30-30 cartridges. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The big spike in sales of firearms and ammunition has been big news for the past several months, much to the chagrin of liberals. Gun owners and new gun owners are far less likely to vote for a political party who is out to threaten Second Amendment gun rights.

While this news has been out there, one article caught my attention.

Last year, I bought a pre-1964 Winchester Model 94 that is chambered in .30-30 ammunition. What caught my eye is that the .30-30 Winchester cartridge is still popular (it is the fourth biggest centerfire ammunition seller) despite it being a 125-year-old cartridge.

Above, purchasing my Winchester 94 at Ron Peterson Firearms in Albuquerque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Clarion Ledger reported:

Many rifle cartridges come and go. What's all the rage one day can easily fade away as it falls into disfavor among hunters. But one that has withstood the test of time and done so with more success than almost all of them is the humble .30-30 Winchester. 

Originally named the .30 Winchester Centerfire, the .30-30 was among the first cartridges utilizing smokeless gunpowder. It was introduced by Winchester in 1895 in its Model 94 lever action rifle which was the product of famed gun designer John Browning. Shooting a 160-grain jacketed bullet at almost 2,000 feet per second, it was a speed demon at the time. 

However, in coming decades, the little .30-30's performance would be eclipsed by popular calibers such as the .30-06 Springfield, .308 Winchester, .270 Winchester and too many others to count, but the .30-30 kept chugging along. 

According to Winchester, the light, fast-handling Model 94 has sold more than 7 million copies and when sales of other rifles chambered in .30-30 are thrown in, it is one of the most successful cartridges ever.

To read more, go here.

Along With RVs, Boat Sales Are Booming

Above, two new Coachmen Class C motorhomes in transit at the Flying J. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The "pandemic" has not only caused a boom in RV sales, it has also caused a big surge in boats as well.

I have been seeing a lot of transporters with RVs and boats stopping at the local Flying J travel center lately. Interstate 40 seems to be a major east-west route for RV and boat manufacturers as they head towards Arizona and California.

According to the Sacramento Bee:

Boat and RV dealers have seen an unprecedented sales boom during the past few months, as people look for ways to cool off and have fun this summer while adhering to COVID-19 social distancing recommendations. 

“It’s been record-breaking,” said Bob Bense, the owner of Superior Boat Repair and Sales. “I’ve been in the industry for almost four decades and I’ve never seen anything like it.” 

According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, personal watercrafts saw big sales increases this May: up 75 percent compared to 2019. Outboard engine sales also increased. And Discover Boating, an online guide to boat buying, saw a triple-digit jump in consumers searching for boats last month. 

“With boating restrictions lifted in all 50 states, and the COVID-19 response dictating where and how far people can travel, the forecast for boating this summer is looking bright,” NMMA representative John-Michael Donahue wrote in an email to The Sacramento Bee. 

RV sales are on the rise, too, said Monika Geraci, a representative from the RV Industry Association. Some dealers said they’ve seen 200 percent increases in sales, compared to the same period of time in 2019. And a recent survey about Americans’ attitudes toward travel found that 46 million people are planning an RV trip in the next 12 months.

To read more, go here. 

Dry Weather Continues

Above, the flags flown yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, now that we've managed to survive Independence Day, despite the efforts of some loons in the neighborhood in shooting off fireworks in the dry conditions we have and past 10:00 last night.

This is supposed to be monsoon season in New Mexico, so far, we've barely had a trace of rain.

It looks like those conditions will continue this weeks, at least according to the National Weather Service.

The forecast:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 10 to 15 mph in the morning.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south after midnight.

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 90. West wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 89.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 59.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 90.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 59.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 93.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.

Relaxed 4th of July

Above, approaching Whispering Cedars Road from East Blue Cedar Loop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a relaxed Independence Day here in Jamestown, New Mexico. The temperature was warm (upper 80s) with some scattered clouds.

The day started out with a gathering of the gang at Roger's (before COVID-19 we would meet up at Denny's at the Flying J. We can meet up there, but there's a four-person per table limit. There's more of us than four.

Above, at Whispering Cedar Road. The house is where the flags are. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The new area (or throw) rug I got last night at the Wild West Days Rodeo is now Sierra's. She decided to take it over this morning and has been enjoying it all day. I guess it's hers now.

Above, Sierra enjoying her new rug. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I was going to go to the rodeo again, but the Mustang is acting up a little and I will need to get it tuned up, etc. before attempting any drive beyond Jamestown. I think it's the fuel injectors. It was fine after putting in Gumout fuel injector cleaner a week ago, but it slightly hesitated while on the road back home from Grants. I put more in last night after getting home.

Today, I confined my driving to the Jeep. It has been running fine since I put in Berryman's in the gas tank. So far, no problems.

So, beyond an occasional drive, I just stayed at home (mainly outside on the deck) relaxing.

More Wild West Days Rodeo Photos

As I mentioned last night, I went to the Wild West Days Rodeo in Grants, New Mexico and brought along my Canon Powershot. The photos from that camera were posted last night.

I also took some with my cell phone that I posted on Facebook while I was there.

Here's some of them:

Above and below, at the horse pens. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the bleachers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, social distancing in the bleachers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above and below, during the "mutton bustin'" event. Photos by Armadn Vaquer.

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day!

To celebrate, I am posting the great Ray Charles rendition of "America the Beautiful" from the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas. The convention closed following this performance.



I had not seen this (or any other video) of this performance until yesterday. I was an alternate delegate from California at this convention.

Above, yours truly at the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas.

It is interesting to note that this kind of performance would never be seen at any Democrat national convention. Wonder why that is?

Grants Wild West Days Rodeo

Above, after arriving at the rodeo grounds, I wandered around the horse stalls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This evening, I took a little jaunt over to Grants (about 45 miles away) for their Wild West Days Rodeo.

The rodeo started yesterday and continues through tomorrow. We had some rain during the start of the evening's events.

This evening (while I was there) consisted of "mutton bustin'" sheep riding by children in the 3 to 5 years of age. It is somewhat surprising that kids (boys and girls) that young are tough enough to endure such an activity, but they seemed to enjoy it.

Later, the program consisted of steer riding by youngsters a little older.

The opening ceremonies honored our armed forces as well as law enforcement. Among the law enforcement participants was Cibola County Sheriff (Grants is in Cibola County) Tony Mace. Sheriff Mace later came by in the bleachers and we chatted for a bit. He was with a group nearby and the topic of discussion was Gov. Lujan Grisham, he said.

Considering that most, if not all, rodeos in Gallup (at Red Rock Rodeo Arena) have been cancelled, I figured this would be my big chance to see a rodeo this season.

I brought along my old Canon Powershot camera since it has a good zoom lens. I took a few photos and they are below:

Above, one of the horses I was able to get a view of. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, some of the horse stalls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a handsome palomino. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the tack vendor's display. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the tack vendor had some rugs for sale. I bought one for the living room. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the back of the rodeo arena bleachers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the snack bar. I had a very good chili dog. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the rodeo arena. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, another view of the rodeo arena. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, performers from Grants High School. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the salute to law enforcement during opening ceremonies. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Sheriff Tony Mace seems to be out of uniform. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a girl hanging onto her sheep for dear life. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the steer-riding event. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, an airborne participant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, this participant held on for a good score. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, inside the tack vendor's trailer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, outside of the rodeo arena. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, this participant's ride was about to come to an end. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Is Travel Self-Quarantine Being Enforced?

The stupidity of New Mexico's governor in imposing a 14-day quarantine on anyone traveling into the state is just incredible.

As I said in a previous blog, it it tantamount to false imprisonment on people to force them to remain in the state if they are not infected and just passing through or just staying less than 24 hours. The woman is a lunatic.

Is it being enforced, or can it even be enforced? KRQE has an article on this.

They begin with:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – With the Fourth of July weekend approaching, the governor is reminding us that anyone traveling to the state of New Mexico must self-isolate for 14 days. Is that rule being enforced? People said they understand that we cannot monitor every single person who travels to New Mexico, but they said the least we can do is man the self-quarantine information table at the airport. 

People are traveling to New Mexico. “We are coming from Providence, Rhode Island,” traveler Darren Ferrell said. “We are going to Albuquerque and Santa Fe.” 

The Albuquerque Sunport expects an average of more than 4,000 passengers a day this Fourth of July weekend. “We determined that it was time to go on vacation, and New Mexico is a good destination,” Ferrell said. “It seems to be one of the lowest infection rates in the country.” 

Even with the governor’s travel order in place requiring a 14-day self-quarantine for people arriving into the state, passengers said no one is taking it seriously. “I do not really think people are following it,” traveler Phyllis Duncan said.

If someone were to pass through New Mexico to go to another state (such as Texas, Arizona or Colorado) on a vacation trip, and they already paid for attractions and lodging in that other state before the order and are forced to remain in New Mexico for 14 nights, it would be likely that lawsuits galore would be flooding the courts.

To read more, go here. 

Gov. Lujan Grisham Orders FALSE IMPRISONMENT For Out-of-State Travelers

Gov. "Malevolent Michelle" Lujan Grisham announced yesterday what amounts to false imprisonment.

WFAA reported:

FORT WORTH, Texas — For Penny Plavidal and her Fort Worth family, New Mexico has long been their refuge of choice; it's a popular vacation destination for lots of other North Texas families, too. 

"It just is a really great place for us to connect with the kids and get out of the city and just touch base with each other again," she said Thursday. "We go several times a year. It's probably one of our favorite places anywhere." 

Her family was gearing up for another three-night stay in the Land of Enchantment when a friend forwarded her a press release from New Mexico; Michelle Lujan Grisham, the governor of New Mexico, announced Wednesday that she was re-instating a 14-day quarantine for all out of state travelers. 

"If you are entering our state, and you are staying the night, you’re actually going to be staying for 14 nights, because you are a part of our self-quarantine requirement for anybody entering our state," said David Morgan, a spokesman for the state's department of health.

Why do I call this false imprisonment? If anyone enters New Mexico for even just an overnight stay in their RV, they have to remain in New Mexico for 14 nights, even if they will be leaving the state the next day.

Here's the definition of it (from findlaw.com):

False imprisonment occurs when a person (who doesn't have legal authority or justification) intentionally restrains another person's ability to move freely. This can also be called unlawful imprisonment in the first degree and is detailed in the penal code for your state.

According to the WFAA article:

Morgan said New Mexico hopes to let the order expire in a couple of weeks, but the virus will ultimately decide for them.

To read more, go here.

New Mexico Announces $100 Fines for Flouting Face Mask Rule

Above, yours truly at Denny's a few weeks ago. Photo by Russell Azbill.

Well, the little dictator is now going to fine businesses and individuals $100 for "flouting" the wearing of masks in public.

The U.S. News & World Report reported:

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday said there will be more aggressive enforcement of the state's public health order, including individual fines, to rein in rising coronavirus infection rates across the state. 

The Democratic governor said people who ignore mask requirements in public places can be fined $100 and that businesses that flout the health order will see workplace citations and misdemeanor criminal charges.

Too bad we can't fine her for not wearing a muzzle.

To read more, go here.

Stop the Renaming of John Wayne Airport

Above, John Wayne in The Searchers.

A petition has been started at Change.org asking the Orange County Board of Supervisors to keep the name, John Wayne Airport.

The petition reads:

The Orange County Board of Supervisors is considering renaming the John Wayne Airport and removing all likeness (Statues) of John Wayne at the airport, Due to remarks he made 50 years ago. 

John Wayne lived in Southern California for many years. He attended the University of Southern California where he studied law and played football. 

John Wayne had an incredibly successful entertainment career. He earned one Academy Award for best actor and was nominated three additional times and earned two  Golden Globe Awards for best actor. He lived in Newport Beach, California for several years until his death in 1979.   

His life was filled with success and honors. He earned the Congressional Gold Medal in 1979 which is given to citizens who make tremendous contributions to society and requires 2/3 Congressional approval, 1980 Presidential Medal of Freedom (posthumously by Democrat President Jimmie Carter) and in 1998 was awarded the Naval Heritage Award for his tremendous support of the US Navy during his entertainment career. \ 

John Wayne is so revered and appreciated he has an airport named after him, the Pioneer Trail in Washington named after him, John Wayne Parkway in Maricopa, Arizona and part of highway 347 in Arizona honors his name.    

Please join me in stopping this ridiculous, cancel culture move on behalf of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Block them from removing John Wayne’s name and removing his statue from the John Wayne airport.  

Call,email, text and tweet the Orange County Board of Supervisors let them know how you feel about this idiocy.. Flood their social media and emails. Lisa A Blartlett is the 5th District Supervisor.  Let her know how you feel.  They need to know they serve the people NOT special interest cancel culture idiots !!!   

This petition got 20,000 signatures in ONE day and counting,, amazing !! Please reach out to any media connections you have.  OAN, FOX, OC Register and LA Times would be outstanding.  Out of the 50,000 supporters there has to be someone with connections. If we can get a major news personality to run this petition on their show we could hit a million and put huge pressure on the OC Board of Supervisors.  Marisa Wayne, The Duke’s daughter, has it on her tweeter.   

To sign the petition, go here.

Hitting The Road In Droves

Above, The Beast at West Entrance KOA in West Yellowstone, Montana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People are avoiding air travel and ocean cruises and are, instead, hitting the road in droves.

Personal safety concerns are moving people towards RV travel. Many of them are new to RVs and there are some challenges they should take into serious consideration.

Knoxville City View has an article on what people should be on the lookout for.

They begin with:

From Connecticut to California, RV dealerships are seeing an increase in both sales and rentals as the coronavirus keeps us apart. The same holds true in Tennessee.  

Leland Waggoner, owner of Chilhowee RV Center, has seen an uptick in sales since the governor lifted stay-at-home orders in the spring. “March and April are traditionally the start of our busy season,” he said. “So it may just be pent-up demand.” 

Certainly he thinks safety concerns are leading people toward RVs. “You have the safety of your own little cocoon —your own bed, your own bathroom and kitchen. People think it’s a safer way to travel. They don’t want to get on airplanes, and they’re hesitant to stay in hotels.”

To read more, go here.

More 2020 Yellowstone Lodging Opening This Month

Above, there's a chance that Old Faithful Inn will reopen later in the season. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's some good news coming from Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone Insider reported:

If you plan on a July-October visit, you’ll have more options when it comes to 2020 Yellowstone lodging, as concessionaire Xanterra plans on opening Lake, Canyon and Old Faithful Snow Lodge rooms for the rest of the season. 

So far so good when it’s come to COVID-19 mitigation in Yellowstone National Park, with the latest test results showing no positives from NPS and concessionaire employees in the latest period–adding to no positive results in previous testing, also. And with visitors flocking to the park at levels close to 2019 visitation levels in June 2020, it looks like park officials and concessionaires are balancing safety concerns with access. 

So, as Xanterra promised, we’ll see new 2020 Yellowstone lodging options come July, as offerings other than standalone cabins and cottages with bathrooms will be available.

Still closed are Grant Village, Old Faithful Inn and Roosevelt Lodge. There is a chance that they open later in the season. Keep your fingers crossed!

To read more, go here. 

RVs For Road Trips: How To Choose The Right One

Above, Class C motorhomes on display at the California RV Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since the pandemic, vacation plans of many Americans have drastically changed. 

Gone (at least for the time being) are airline and cruise ship vacations. The pandemic has caused a surge in interest in RV travel.

Travel + Leisure has an article reviewing the different types of recreational vehicles and how to choose the right one for that next road trip.

It begins with:

So, you want to rent or buy an RV for your next road trip. But if you've done any research about recreational vehicles, you've probably found that there are a wide variety of options to choose from, and it can be difficult to decipher which one will best fit your needs. From massive Class A motorhomes to petite camper vans, some vehicles are great for families and large groups looking to set up camp in the great outdoors, while others are best for couples and solo travelers who are constantly on the go.

That's why we consulted the experts at Outdoorsy, an RV rental company with a wide variety of vehicles available across the country, about how to choose the right RV for your next road trip. First, consider where you'll be staying. Most vehicles available for rent will be compatible with RV parks and campgrounds, since they can be plugged into power. But if you're camping off the grid, you'll want to make sure your RV has a solar panel or standalone generator. You'll also want to consider how many people you're traveling with. Families and larger groups will likely want to opt for vehicles with more space and amenities, like Class A and C motorhomes. However, if you're traveling alone or as a couple, you'll find that camper vans and small towable trailers (like Airstream) offer just enough space. 

Below, we've broken down seven types of recreational vehicles that you'll want to take on your next adventure. The best part? Each of these RV categories is available to rent on Outdoorsy.

To read more, go here. 

Monument Valley Tribal Park Established In 1958

Above, "The Mittens" of Monument Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Monument Valley is famous for being the location for a number of John Ford/John Wayne westerns, such as Stagecoach, Fort Apache, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon and The Searchers.

It is presently a tribal park of the Navajo Nation.

On July 11 in history:

On this date in 1958, the 30,000-acre Monument Valley Tribal Park, the first park established on the Navajo reservation, was established by a resolution of the Navajo Advisory Committee of the Navajo Tribal Council.

Source: U.S. News & World Report 

Letter Supporting Keeping John Wayne Airport Name

Above, John Wayne and Geraldine Page in Hondo (1953). 

The debate over John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California rages on.

The latest is a letter from Mission Viejo City Council Member Greg Raths to Michelle Steel, Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

Here's the letter (I think he meant to say "Marine" Corps Officer, not "Maine" Corps Officer):

June Gun Sales: 2.3 Million

Above, inside an Albuquerque gun store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The National Rifle Association Tweeted today:

This is sure to please every leftist-liberal Democrat!

Comet Hale-Bopp Discovered 25 Years Ago This Month

Above, Comet Hale-Bopp on April 11, 1997. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is hard to believe, but this month marks 25 years since the discovery of Comet Hale-Bopp.

On the nights of July 22-23, 1995, Alan Hale of New Mexico and Thomas Bopp of Arizona discovered the comet at approximately the same time. Both sent their observations to the International Astronomical Union's Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams.

The "Great Comet of 1997" had a nucleus of 37 miles in diameter, which made it one of the largest comets seen.

Comet Hale-Bopp was eventually seen by more humans than any other comet in history.

On the night of April 11, 1997, a neighbor and I went out to the dark area of Acton, California (between Palmdale and the San Fernando Valley) to photograph the comet. I used my Olympus OM-1 35mm film camera. Thankfully, I knew how to take photographs of it from the astronomy class I took at California State University, Long Beach back in the late 1970s.

As Comet Hale-Bopp got closer to the sun, its brilliance could be easily seen from downtown Los Angeles. 

Grants Wild West Days Rodeo

Since the dry conditions are discouraging fireworks in the area, I plan on going to Grants this weekend for their Wild West Days Rodeo.

Here's their flyer:

Hawaii Tourism On Life Support

Above, evening in Waikiki Beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This should come as no surprise that Hawaii's tourism arrivals have dropped dramatically.

Visitors from outside of Hawaii, if they did show up, would have be in quarantine for 14 days after arriving. There's no fun in that!

The May visitor numbers are now in and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported:

Visitor arrivals to the Hawaiian Islands fell by a dramatic 98.9% in May compared with a year ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to preliminary statistics from the Hawaii Tourism Authority. 

The HTA released the statistics Monday, indicating dramatic declines in virtually all travel markets — from the mainland as well as Japan, Canada and other international markets, including Australia, Asia and Europe. 

A total of 9,116 visitors flew to Hawaii in May, compared with 841,376 total visitors, which included air and cruise ships, during the same month a year ago.

To read more, go here.

Beast Maintenance, Etc.

Above, at the GOCO Beast Barn yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday was spent just kicking back and relaxing for the most part.

But I did fire up The Beast for a bit along with its generator in preparation for a possible camping trip in Arizona with some of the Clamper guys from the Lost Dutchman Chapter for a weekend this month. The outing is somewhat questionable since Arizona's governor put restrictions back on and the group campsites at the location have been closed as a result.

I also got a few things I needed out of the RV.

I drove the Jeep around, including down to the Flying J for my mail pick-up. Since I put in the Berryman's B-12 carburetor cleaner, I have had no problems with it. I will run it until the current tank of gas it out before tempting drives into Six Mile Canyon, provided it continues to run fine.

So far, so good!