National Park Visitation Added $35.8 Billion To US Economy In 2017

Above, Lassen Peak in 2017. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The U.S. national parks made a big contribution to the nation's economy in 2017.

According to Adventure Sports Network:

The National Park Service released an economic report on Wednesday that found $35.8 billion was added to the U.S. economy in 2017 due to national park visitation. The report includes information on visitor spending, the number of jobs supported by visitor spending and other statistics. 

“This report illustrates the incredible economic value of our national parks,” Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said. “National parks provide us a gateway to the outdoors, family recreation opportunities and connect us to our history and heritage, and they are extremely vital to local economies all across the nation. Parks provide jobs and fuel the outdoor recreation and tourism economy.”

To read more, go here. 

Tsuburaya Productions Wins Ultraman Lawsuit

Above, Ultraman stands guard in front of the Rox department store in Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The long battle between Tsuburaya Productions and a Japanese company claiming overseas rights to Ultraman is over.

Jiji Press reported:

Tokyo, April 24 (Jiji Press)--Tsuburaya Productions Co.., the producer of the television series featuring Japanese superhero Ultraman, said Tuesday a California court has ruled that an alleged contract on the use rights of Ultraman outside Japan is not authentic.  

Following the ruling fully supporting Tsuburaya Productions, made on Wednesday, the Tokyo-based company plans to accelerate overseas promotion of Ultraman.   

According to Tsuburaya Productions, the court judged that the contract alleged to have been concluded in 1976 between the late Noboru Tsuburaya, then president of the company, and a Thai man, is invalid because it was not signed by Tsuburaya.

To read more, go here. 

Clean Beast

Above, the clean Beast in front. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the first time since I moved to New Mexico, I took The Beast into Gallup to a coin-operated car wash.

While on the way, a news break came on during the Rush Limbaugh show. During this, I was checking around the FM band and came across a station with American Indian music. I made a quick video and posted it on Facebook and, now, YouTube.

Here it is:



The car wash I used is on U.S. 491 and it has a stall with a roof far higher than the height of The Beast.

It hoses seemed to have higher pressure than the coin-operated car wash in Northridge, California that I used.

Anyway, The Beast came out nice and clean.

Box 'O Kitty

Earlier this morning, I bought a small empty box into my bedroom so I can use it to store some small items.

A little while ago, I heard some rustling and turned to see what it was and this is what I saw:

Time-Life Books: "The Forty-Niners"

Above, the cover of "The Forty-Niners" volume.

Back in the 1970s, Time-Life Books published different series of book sets. One of which was The Old West. There were 27 volumes in the series.

According to Wikipedia:

The Old West is a series of books about the fundamental founding of the American Old West, published by Time-Life Books from 1973 through 1980. Each book focused on a different topic, such as cowboys, American Indians, gamblers and gunfighters.

The book set was rather handsomely done with covers in simulated leather.

Another topic of focus was "The Forty-Niners", which covered the California Gold Rush. It was published in 1974.

The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus was given a mention on page 140:

Any afficionado of the old west or ECV should pick up this set should they happen to find it at a used bookstore, eBay, Amazon or yard sale.

RVing and Camping With Cats

Above, Sierra relaxing in the RV at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Those who regularly follow this blog know that I take my cat Sierra with me on long RV trips. 

To date, she has been in 17 states in the RV.

RV Life has an article with tips for RVing and camping with kittens and cats.

They begin with:

The Hayes family of Castle Rock, Colorado take their family pets (Molly the dog and Nickel the cat) with them on their adventures so that the whole family can enjoy camping together and seeing the sights.  Mom (Roxann) says to be sure to bring a kitty scratcher to keep your upholstered surfaces from being scratched, and a good harness and leash so your kitty can explore its surroundings. 

Cats are great escape artists, so a well-fitted harness is better than a collar, and can also prevent neck injuries.  Be sure to attach identification tags with microchip information and a good phone number on it just in case!

To read more, go here. 

2 Hilton Hawaii Flagship Properties Merge Sales Teams

Above, Dolphin Quest at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Two years ago, I wandered around one of Elvis Presley's favorite Hawaii hotels in Waikiki, the Hilton Hawaiian Village and spent some time at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island.

Now it has been announced that the two Hiltons are merging their sales teams.

Above, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Resort's Rainbow Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to Pacific Business News:

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is merging its sales team with that of the Hilton Waikoloa Village in order to streamline the booking process for group and meetings, conventions and incentives trips. 

Hilton’s Area Director of Sales and Marketing John Hawley will oversee the newly formed sales team. 

The merger is intended to give travel planners a “one stop shop” to compare the options of the two villages, which represent the brand’s most popular MCI spots in Hawaii.

To read more, go here. 

Yellowstone: Best National Park For A Family Vacation

Above, Lower Yellowstone Fall and the Yellowstone River. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Summer vacation season is just around the corner. Many people are still trying to figure out where to take the family on a vacation trip.

If you are one of those, you may want to consider Yellowstone National Park. It is the ideal place to take the family.

Travel writer Dave G. Houser has an article in MultiBrief on why Yellowstone National Park is the best national park for a family vacation.

He begins with:

America's national parks are always a good choice for a family getaway, but in my mind Yellowstone tops the list. I'll say from the start that I'm biased, having grown up in Cody, Wyoming, just an hour's drive from the park's East Entrance. 

I visited the park many times, from age 4 through my teens, and I have returned on several occasions as an adult. The park was my Disneyland as a kid — and it continues to amaze and excite me in my seventies. 

I'll back my contention with a number of reasons why Yellowstone has such great family appeal, but let's first review some facts about the park. 

Yellowstone is the world's first national park. It was established in 1872 by an act of the U.S. Congress signed into law on March 1, 1872, by President Ulysses S. Grant. It also was one of the first 12 sites named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. 

Named for the river that runs through it, Yellowstone occupies 3,472 square miles (about 2.2 million acres). That's larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined. All but 3 percent of the park is located in Wyoming with the remaining snippets edging into Montana and Idaho. 

The park sits atop one of the world's largest volcanoes. The first major eruption of the Yellowstone volcano occurred 2.1 million years ago and covered nearly 6,000 square miles with ash. That was one of the largest eruptions the world has ever known — but don't let it frighten you away.

There's a lot more to read as well as see (there's some nice photographs, too).

To read more, go here.

2018 UFO Festival In Roswell

Speaking of UFOs (per my last post on the 1977 UFO incident at the island of Colares), the 2018 Roswell UFO Festival is going to be here before we know it.

According to their website:

In 2017 we hosted 38,000 aliens in Roswell!  We were so amazed! Our surveys indicated people from 43 states and 16 different countries. 27 media groups, 24 live coverage network shows, and countless printed stories. We were featured on The Travel Channel’s Expeditions Unknown, The Food Network’s Carnival Eats and more! 

We realize 2017 will be hard to beat, but we are working hard on some exciting additions in 2018 to make this festival even bigger and better than ever.   Be sure to join over 32,000 subscribers at the bottom of the page for updates! 

This year the Festival will be held July 6-8, 2018 – start making plans to attend now!  Many hotels are already taking reservations and are usually booked, so we recommend making reservations now!  We are currently in the process of scheduling all the entertainment and events, so check back often. 

The City of Roswell invites UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike to join in the celebration of one of the most debated incidents in history. The three-day event will feature guest speakers, authors, live entertainment, a costume contest, parade, a pet costume contest, parade, family-friendly activities and more.

I plan on attending and it should be an interesting and fun event.

For information, go here.

Island of Colares - 1977 UFO Encounters

Here's an interesting UFO story.

It happened in 1977 on an island off Brazil in which UFOs of many shapes and sizes even attacked the island's inhabitants.

From UFO Casebook:

In 1977, the Brazilian island of Colares was visited by flying objects of an unknown nature. Nearly all kinds of UFOs were seen; some big, some small, saucer shaped, cigar shaped, luminous or not. They arrived from the North every day, from the sky and also sometimes from underwater, and it lasted for months. 

Regularly, some Island inhabitants were targeted by the objects, sending strange rays to them, and many were badly hurt, with two reported dead. The Army intervenes, the press follows. 35 people were hurt by the strange rays, and many fled from the Island. 

The events mainly concentrated on the city of Colares, about 2,000 inhabitants, on Colares Island, which is in the region of Pará, the delta of the Amazon river on the northeastern coast of Brazil. But the whole region was visited by the same phenomenon. Which has brought many ufologists to visit the city.

To read more, go here.

Ordering A RV Garage

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

The Jamestown-Gallup area of New Mexico is not as harsh as the Mojave Desert, perhaps. But with extremes in weather (hot summers, high altitude, snowy winters, etc.) in Jamestown, they will eventually damage The Beast.

So today, I went to a steel garage/carport dealer and priced out a garage for The Beast. 

Above, the RV garage will be built around here. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In a few days, I will be putting down a down payment for the garage and in about 8 weeks after that, the unit will be built on the extra acre. I chose the heavier 12 gauge over the 14 gauge wall sheeting. This will better resist the winds we get out here. They dealer provides a warranty against winds up to 90 m.p.h. (we get winds of around 50 m.p.h.). It will be barn red (to compliment the house) with white trim.

Most of the residents here have steel sheds, workshops, barns and garages. Mine will just be another one of them.

Having the RV housed in a steel garage will prolong its life and exterior finishes on the cab's paint and the fiberglass as well as the tires.

The People's Republic of California Blog

For news and commentary on what the liberal/leftist lunatics are doing in the People's Republic of Commiefornia, check out The People's Republic of California blog.

The blog's mission statement (a nice to-the-point one):

THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CALIFORNIA - This site is dedicated to exposing the continuing Marxist Revolution in California and the all around massive stupidity of Socialists, Luddites, Communists, Fellow Travelers and of Liberalism in all of its ugly forms.

To view the blog, go here. 

007 On Vinyl

If one is a fan of a particular movie genre or franchise, they also would pick up tie-in merchandise.

Ever since my parents took me to see a double-feature of From Russia With Love and Dr. No, I have been a James Bond fan since.

I have a few records (vinyl LPs and 45 r.p.m. singles for those of you born after CDs took over.

In the old days, vinyl records were easy to find. One of my favorite places to find new and older 45 r.p.m. singles was Licorice Pizza (now defunct). I bought a lot of singles there. Tower Records (mainly the Sunset Blvd. store) was another great source for records.

The first 007 record I bought was in 1965 right after the release of Thunderball. It is the soundtrack album:

The next soundtrack album I bought was sometime in the 1980s, Dr. No, the very first James Bond movie:

A few years later (still in the 1980s), I picked up this compilation album, James Bond Greatest Hits:

I have four James Bond singles in my vinyl collection:

Above, from upper left to right, Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney and Wings), Octopussy
(Rita Coolidge), Never Say Never Again (Lani Hall) and A View To A Kill (Duran Duran).

I have other Bond albums on CD, but I just wanted to concentrate on vinyl.

Mesa Photos: Sunrise Lighting Preferred

Last evening, I took some photos of the mesas across the valley from Jamestown, New Mexico and emailed them to Asya.

In comparing them with the ones I took yesterday morning, I like the morning lighting much more. That lighting would work better in a painting. I heard from Asya this morning and she agrees.

Here's the evening photos I took:

Here's one from yesterday morning:

Orange County Forcing Students To Take Gender and Sexual Orientation Course

The Looney Left Report

It appears that lunatic liberals have taken over the Orange County Board of Education.

The Daily Caller reported:

A California school district says that parents can’t opt out of a new sex education course that will deal with abortion, homosexuality and transgender issues. 

California passed a law called the California Healthy Youth Act in 2015 to promote “healthy attitudes” about “gender [and] sexual orientation.” The law is meant to teach students about the “effectiveness and safety of all FDA-approved contraceptive methods” and allow for “objective discussion” about “parenting, adoption, and abortion.” 

The law also gives parents the ability to opt-out of this education and said that the “pupil” shall not be punished academically in any way if they don’t participate. 

However, the Orange County Board of Education has decided that parents don’t have a right to exclude their kids from the class, LifeSite News reports. A memo from the Orange County Department of Education general counsel Ronald Wenkart on March 29 stated that the opt-out provision “does not apply to instruction, materials, or programming that discusses gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation, relationships, or family and does not discuss human reproductive organs.”

It looks like Californians are no longer safe from the lunatics in government and education.

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo's Imperial Hotel Named Best Japan Hotel For Customer Satisfaction

Above, our 2015 dinner party at the Imperial Hotel.

Intrepid reporter Steve Martin (Raymond Burr) said he was staying there in Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956) and in 2015, I hosted a little dinner party for friends with Toho Co., Ltd. there.

What am I talking about? I am talking about Tokyo's Imperial Hotel that was founded in 1890 by the Japanese aristocracy.

According to an article in Japan Today, the Imperial Hotel was named best hotel in Japan for customer satis faction.

They wrote:

TOKYO - For the second year in a row, Tokyo's landmark 128-year-old Imperial Hotel has been ranked the best hotel in Japan for customer satisfaction in J. D. Power's Japan Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Survey, 2017. Out of 25 of the hotel brands surveyed, The Imperial was ranked top in the segment of guest room rates of 35,000 yen or more per night, receiving a score of 773 points out of a possible 1,000 points. 

The Imperial's high ranking was based on high scores received in the areas of reservation, check-in/check-out, guest room, food & beverages, hotel services, hotel facilities, and cost & fees. Replies were received from 26,729 respondents to the August, 2017, internet survey of 166 hotel brand chains and groups throughout Japan. The respondents, aged 18 and above, were asked about their degree of satisfaction with their experiences and services at hotels they had stayed at during the preceding one-year period.

Maybe cheesecake is a little hard to find at the Imperial (former Toho President Shogo Tomiyama did locate some), but the food service we had was excellent.

By the way, the Imperial Hotel is just a short walk from the Shin Godzilla statue in Hibiya.

To read more, go here.

Just Shutterbugging

Above, the front of the house. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The plants and trees at the homestead are starting to flower.

Above, could this be a flowering crabapple? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I don't know what kind of tree this is, except someone said it is a flowering crabapple, but the blossoms are getting much bigger than a week ago.

Above will be a bright contrast to the rest of the foliage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have no idea what this plant (above photo) is, but its flowers are a brighter yellow than what the photo shows.

Above, the view from the street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Sierra relaxing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the mesas this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Zion Tunnel, A Marvel of Engineering

Above, the approach to the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel from the east. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The St. George News in Utah has an interesting article on Zion National Park's Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel as part of their "day" article series. Today is their "Zion Tunnel Day".

It begins with:

FEATURE – In today’s political and environmental climate, there is no way it could be built, but back in the 1930s the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel through Zion National park was considered both an engineering marvel and a much-needed transportation link. 

The Zion Tunnel has stood as a monument to engineering resolve and interagency cooperation since its completion in 1930. Not only was it a boon to the local economy by bringing in more tourists, but it also provided a vital thoroughfare between Washington and Kane counties and literally opened up a whole new world by offering access to east Zion with its different formations and wildlife than found in Zion Canyon via the park’s south entrance.

“The Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel has to be one of the great examples of cooperation in the creation of Utah’s tourism infrastructure,” said Zion National Park Forever Project Executive Director Lyman Hafen, also an aficionado of local history, in an email to St. George News. “Obviously, there was a real ‘can-do’ spirit that pervaded not only Utah, but the whole country in the mid 1920s, and most folks in southern Utah were supportive of building roads and connecting the relatively new national parks.” 

In fact, the road and tunnel project were not approved until it was certain Bryce Canyon would be designated a national park. 

Before the tunnel’s construction, any visitor to Zion had to approach the park from the southwest and, once there, it was a dead end. Drivers had to return the same way they came.

My daughter Amber and I were the "lead vehicle" in The Beast three years ago through the tunnel. Large vehicles have to be escorted though the tunnel. Traffic in the opposite direction is held until the escorted vehicles complete their drive-through.

To read more, go here. 

Mesas At Sunrise

I just got done taking a few photos of the mesas across the valley at sunrise.

These may work out better in a painting, lighting-wise. I will be sending them to Asya shortly.

Here's some of them:

Verne Troyer, "Mini-Me", Dead At 49

Here's another actor who has died too young.

The Mainichi Shimbun reported:

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Verne Troyer, who played Dr. Evil's small, silent sidekick "Mini-Me" in the "Austin Powers" movie franchise, has died. He was 49. 

A statement provided by Troyer's representatives that was also posted to his Instagram and Facebook accounts said the actor died Saturday. 

No cause of death was given, but the statement describes Troyer as a "fighter" who was unable to overcome a recent bout of adversity then goes on to discuss depression and suicide.

To read more, go here. 

Too Cold For Meteor-Watching, Etc.

Above, the mesas at dusk. I should have gone out earlier. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, I woke up at 3:00 thanks to Sierra hogging the bed. But I was planning on getting up early to see the Lyrid meteor shower anyway.

Above, the sun already got below the horizon when I went outside. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I went outside in 36­­° temperatures. The night sky was clear and full of stars. But I saw no meteors. Then again, I only spent ten minutes outside before the cold drove me back into the house (not that I've never seen meteors before).

Above, the new jade plant and pot I bought yesterday. The bear planter stand I
gave my mom about a year or two before she passed away. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The temperature continued to drop and is now at 32° (freezing). So I went out again to switch on the The Beast's holding tank heaters. I lingered a bit and still saw no meteors.

This wasn't the only dud during the past 12 hours. I was planning to shoot the mesas across the valley at sunset last night, but I got outside too late as the sun was just dipping below the horizon. I was planning to send the photos to Asya to look over for the painting. If it is clear outside this coming evening, I will try again (and get outside earlier).

I did take a few shots outside last evening anyway and they accompany this post.

Meteors Tonight!

"That's a meteor! King-sized!" - Perry White in "Panic In The Sky."

Meteors!

USA Today reported:

If you're up late Saturday night — or up early Sunday morning — be sure to take a peek up at the night sky for the Lyrid meteor shower. The shower has been know to bombard the sky with up to nearly 100 meteors per hour. The best viewing conditions are expected across much of the northeastern and southwestern U.S. The worst conditions will be across the central Plains and Deep South, where clouds and showers are forecast.

Look towards the northeastern portion of the night sky.

To read more, go here. 

Afternoon In Gallup

Above, the jade plant on top of the black bear planter stand. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The better part of the afternoon was spent in Gallup today.

First off, I headed to Home Depot to pick up a few things such as a hose nozzle, a planter, trowel, a jade plant and potting soil. I had a jade plant back in Tarzana, but I gave it to a neighbor when I moved. I was getting tired of seeing my mom's black bear planter stand just sitting with no pot on it. I rectified that today.

Jade plants supposedly bring good luck.

Following Home Depot, I went to look at some storage sheds/garages for The Beast. There are some promising possibilities.

After looking, I headed off to Zen Steak and Sushi restaurant for dinner.

As it was still daylight and temperatures in the 60s, I went ahead and potted the jade plant. The pot looks good on top of the bear.

Como Se Llama?

Above, Meeko safely at home today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This is Meeko. He lives around the corner from me.

Four days ago, he got out and was seen running (galloping?) down the main street in our Jamestown, New Mexico community.

After getting today's mail, I cruised by and saw him safely in his yard. So I took the above photo.

Art Scholl

Above, Art Scholl and Aileron in October 1984 at the Point Mugu Air Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While going through my photo albums this morning, I came across some photos I took at the 1984 Point Mugu Air Show.

One of them was of famed aerobatics pilot Art Scholl with his dog Aileron. I took the photo following his air show performance.

Scholl was killed off San Diego County on September 16, 1985 while doing some filming for the movie, Top Gun.

From the Los Angeles Times:

The air and sea search for famed stunt pilot Art Scholl was abandoned Tuesday as the Coast Guard concluded that he did not survive the crash of his camera-equipped aerobatic biplane while performing an upside-down spin to get footage for a movie off the coast of northern San Diego County. 

The 53-year-old Scholl flew in numerous films, including "The Great Waldo Pepper," "Baa Baa Black Sheep," "Blue Thunder" and "The Right Stuff." He was shooting for the Paramount Pictures film, "Top Gun," when his Pitts Special plunged into the Pacific Ocean five miles off Encinitas late Monday afternoon. 

On Monday, mechanic Kevin Kammer and stunt pilot Chuck Wentworth were following Scholl in another plane to watch for possible air traffic about 5:45 p.m., when they saw him go into an inverted spin at about 4,000 feet. 

Kammer said they suddenly heard Scholl radio, "I've got a problem here." 

His Pitts Special then dove into the ocean. 

Debris from the plane was found Monday evening, the Coast Guard said, but neither the wreckage nor the pilot was recovered, and by Tuesday morning, the hunt was called off. 

Scholl was well known throughout the country for his stunt flying at air shows, usually in his Chipmunk monoplane and frequently with his mixed-breed dog, Aileron, clinging to his shoulder as he performed loops and rolls.

I had seen Scholl perform at several Point Mugu Air Shows over the years since 1966.

For more on Art Scholl, go here.

Matuca's "Columbia Reunion" In 1984

Above, the main street of Columbia. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the first Clamper events Glenn Thornhill and I attended after joining E Clampus Vitus was to attend the "Columbia Reunion" in Columbia, California put on by the Matuca Chapter in May 1984.

It was my first foray into the Mother Lode country of California and Glenn and I enjoyed the scenery of the area. We took the winding Highway 49 to Columbia.

Columbia is a Gold Rush-era town that has been restored as a tourist attraction.

According to Wikipedia:

Columbia is a town located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, in Tuolumne County, California, United States. It was founded as a boomtown in 1850 when gold was found in the vicinity, and was known as the "Gem of the Southern Mines." 

The town's historic central district is within the Columbia State Historic Park, which preserves the 19th century mining town features. The U.S. historic district is a National Historic Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Above, at the Hall of Comparative Ovations. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Clamper event was a one-day event, but we stayed at a motel in nearby Jamestown.

Above, Glenn Thornhill (right) and Armand at the Hall of Comparative Ovations.

The event included a visit to the St. Charles Saloon in Columbia, along with initiation rights at the Hall of Comparative Ovations and a barbecue lunch. We also joined the other Clampers for adult beverages (Glenn and I both had put away quite a few drinks).

It was a fun trek.

Condé Nast: How To Celebrate National Park Week

Above, the Colorado River flows through the Grand Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tomorrow kicks off National Park Week, which includes free admission to the national parks Saturday, April 21.

Condé Nast has posted some recommendations and top picks of ten national parks.

They begin with:

This Saturday, April 21 officially kicks off National Park Week, and the National Park Service is celebrating with free admission to all its serviced sites and parks—even the 118 that normally charge entrance fees. Now’s the time to take that long-awaited trip to the Grand Canyon, or check climbing Yosemite’s El Capitan off your #travelgoals wishlist. After all, Earth Day is also this weekend, so get in the spirit and get outside. If you need inspiration, we’ve rounded up a list of 10 parks you should visit while the fees are waived—our editors’ favorite picks, recommendations from a national parks travel specialist, and some off-the-beaten path destinations you might not expect. So, what are you waiting for?

To read more, go here. 

Spring Snow

Just when you thought that the weather would steadily change with warmer days and nights, Mother Nature decides to pull a fast one.

Snow and snow showers were forecast for this evening. Sure enough, it started in.

It got pretty heavy, but due to the 40 degree temperatures, it didn't stick too long. But it lasted long enough for me to take a couple of photos.

I went out to turn on the heaters in the motorhome so that the piping wouldn't freeze tonight and took the photo of the deck while outside.

Above, the snow already melted on the ground, but there was some left on the deck. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the deck as the snow was falling. Photo by Armand Vaquer.