The Drive To Ouray

Above, The Beast and the Shady Lady Saloon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Right now, I am sitting in the motorhome as it is thundering and pouring rain outside at the Ouray (Colorado) KOA Kampground.

I left the house around 6:15 this morning and I reached Ouray at about 12:30. I only made one stop and that was at a cigar shop in Durango.

Above, a mountaintop view of Silverton. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The John Wayne Cancer Foundation will be holding its half marathon and 5K run event tomorrow in Ridgway (nine miles from Ouray). I decided to go see it.

The campground's restaurant opens at 5:00, so I only have two hours to wait. 

When I reached Silverton, I took a couple of quick photos of the Shady Lady Saloon and sent them to my former roommate Jessica. She was surprised to learn I was in Silverton. Now a restaurant, the Shady Lady Saloon was the last brothel in Silverton. It was built in 1888.

Above, The Beast at the Ouray KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I got into Ouray, I went over to the county courthouse that was used in True Grit (1969). I wanted to see the courtroom that was used in the movie. But, unfortunately, the courthouse is open on Mondays through Thursdays. So I was out of luck. It was also closed when I was in Ouray two years ago.

Above, the Ouray KOA store, office and restaurant from my campsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Check-in at the KOA was fast and easy. The site I was assigned is a very short walk to the office/store and restaurant.

The Perv In The White House: Ashley Biden's Leaked Diary

Holy mackerel!

If this doesn't justify His Fraudulency Joe Biden's removal from the White House, nothing does.

Posted on Twitter:

Headed To Ridgway, Colorado

In a few hours, I am going to head up to Ridgway, Colorado to watch the John Wayne Cancer Foundation Grit Series Half Marathon and 5k that will be held tomorrow. Proceeds from the event benefit cancer research.

Above, getting The Beast ready with the Jeep in the foreground yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ridgway is a beautiful town where True Grit (1969) was filmed. It starred John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, Robert Duvall and Jeff Corey. I visited it two years ago.

Above, the True Grit Café in Ridgway two years ago.

Ridgway is a five-hour drive from home on the scenic Million Dollar Highway in the San Juan Mountains. The route will take me through Durango, Silverton and Ouray, Colorado.

For more on the event and the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, go here.

RV Lifestyle: Be Prepared

Above, The Beast at the Las Cruces KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I bought my 2015 Winnebago Minnie Winnie (The Beast), I knew ahead of time what exactly I wanted. I had two previous RVs so I knew what to expect and look for.

There are those out there who are going into the RV lifestyle without any prior experience with any.

To help those folks out, RV Life has four ways to be better prepared before jumping in.

They begin with:

Over the last few years, millions of folks have adopted the RV lifestyle. Some RVers researched every aspect of the lifestyle diligently, while others dove in head first with a devil-may-care attitude and just hit the road. While there is probably a balance between the two, we would certainly lean heavily on the side of being prepared. In that spirit, here are four things to consider when choosing the RV life.

To see what they are, go here. 

Key West Airport To Get New Concourse

Above, a portrait of Ernest Hemingway at the Hemingway
Home and Museum in Key West. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before the pandemic hit two years ago, I was planning to return to Key West, Florida. The pandemic put a nix on that idea.  

I first visited Key West during a cruise one-day stopover in 2019 while en route to Havana, Cuba. The planned trip would have had me flying to the Key West International Airport. 

Should I go back to Key West in 2025 or after, there will be a new concourse at the airport to use.

According to Bloomberg:

Future pilgrims to Ernest Hemingway’s home and museum in Key West may find it a little easier to get there thanks to $36.7 million of municipal bonds. 

Monroe County, Florida is issuing revenue bonds next week to help finance a new airport terminal at Key West International. The new concourse will be 48,805 square feet, and is scheduled to open in late 2025.  

Key West International is recovering now after, like all airports, it was hard-hit by the pandemic. Traffic in April of 2020 was 3% of its level in the same month a year earlier. But business in fiscal 2021 was a-booming there, rising to a record level of 659,321 enplanements, or passengers boarding aircraft.

One of the best known sites in Key West is the house at 907 Whitehead Street, which was the home of author Ernest Hemingway and his second wife, Pauline, from 1931 to 1939. The Key West International Airport actually pre-dates the arrival of the Hemingways and was where Pan American Airlines was founded in 1927, according to the offering documents to the bond issue.

In 1956, Hemingway was featured in a Pan Am advertising campaign, in which the author says, “We started flying commercially about the same time,” and refers to “the old Key West-Miami-Havana-Bahamas early days.” Pan Am went bankrupt in 1991.

While in Key West in 2019, I toured the Ernest Hemingway home and museum,

To read more, go here. 

Re: Student Loans

A bit of a firestorm has hit after His Fraudulency Joe Biden announced his student loan forgiveness action.

Is it legal? Some say it is, but one can bet that this action will be challenged in court.

From the Associated Press:

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is tying its authority to cancel student debt to the coronavirus pandemic and to a 2003 law aimed at providing help to members of the military. Legal challenges are expected.

Skeptics of the administration’s ability to act on its own, without new legislation, had once included President Joe Biden himself and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

But in a legal opinion released Wednesday, the Justice Department said that the HEROES Act of 2003 gives the administration “sweeping authority” to reduce or eliminate student debt during a national emergency, ”when significant actions with potentially far-reaching consequences are often required.”

The law was adopted with overwhelming bipartisan support at a time when U.S. forces were fighting two wars, in Afghanistan and Iraq. It gives the Education secretary authority to waive rules relating to student financial aid programs in times or war or national emergency.

Where's the "national emergency"? Hmmm?

To read more, go here.

Some opposing reactions from Twitter:

68 Campground Reviews

With my recent review of Cottonwood Campground at Navajo Lake State Park in New Mexico, my total reviews are at 68 (one RV park was reviewed twice) at RV Life Campground Reviews.

My current map:

 My profile can be accessed by going here.

NY Trying To Invoke Racist Gun Laws On Native Americans

Native Americans tend to vote for Democrats. I don't know why, because much of the misery that they suffer (such as poor or no utilities in reservations) have from the hands of Democrats who don't seem to want to solve problems.

A story from the Daily Caller should wake up Native Americans on how racist the Democrats are when applying racist gun laws. This one comes from New York state.

The story begins with:

New York is invoking colonial-era bans on selling guns to Native Americans to defend the constitutionality of its “good moral character” standard for obtaining a concealed carry license.

This requirement, part of the Concealed Carry Improvement Act (CCIA) that Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed in July, is set to take effect in September. The Supreme Court struck down a provision of the bill in June that required concealed carry permit applicants to demonstrate a need for self-protection.

Gun Owners of America (GOA), a gun rights lobbying group, sued New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen in August, seeking to block the legislation. In response to the lawsuit, Bruen’s lawyers argued in a court filing that the CCIA’s “good moral character” standard is deeply rooted in Anglo-American legal tradition and should therefore be upheld by the court.

“From the early days of English settlement in America, the colonies sought to prevent Native American tribes from acquiring firearms, passing laws forbidding the sale and trading of arms to Indigenous people,” the filing reads.

To read more, go here. 

"Death of Superman" 30th Anniversary

Above, Superman no. 75 newsstand edition.

30 years ago, incredible as it may seem, Superman no.75 comic book hit the stands and comic book shops. It was the issue in which Doomsday killed the Man of Steel.

I remember heading out of the office to go (2 miles away) to Golden Apple Comics on Melrose Blvd. to pick up a copy. When I arrived, there was a long line of people waiting to get a copy. They limited it to one copy of the newsstand edition and one copy of the black bagged edition that contained goodies such as a mourning armband.

My excuse for leaving the office was to "go to the bank." In fact, as it was a quiet news day, the "Death of Superman" was the biggest news of the day. I was quoted in the Los Angeles Times when a reporter talked to us customers in line. 

My dad was also caught up in the "Death of Superman" frenzy and bought about a dozen copies of the black bagged edition. I inherited them when he passed away in 1999.

DC Comics is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Death of Superman with a special 80-page comic book featuring the original artist and writing teams for four new stories. 

They posted:

 30 years ago, the unthinkable happened. The Man of Steel died fighting Doomsday.

To celebrate the special anniversary of this genre-defining moment, DC has reunited the original creative teams of Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding; Roger Stern and Butch Guice; Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove; and Jerry Ordway and Tom Grummett for The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1. Available at comic shops on November 8, The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 features four all-new stories that explore the lasting impact that Clark’s death had on his family and friends as well as nine pinups and variant covers by some of the top names in comics.

It is indeed hard to believe that 30 years has passed. 

To read more about the anniversary special, go here.

CHP Releases Paul Pelosi Dashcam Video

Above, a screenshot from the dashcam video. 

Mr. Nancy Pelosi, a.k.a. Paul Pelosi, was arrested for drunk driving back on May 28.

He recently pleaded guilty and the dashcam footage of his arrest has been made public. He was arrested by the California Highway Patrol following an accident.

From Fox News:

FIRST ON FOX: California Highway Patrol (CHP) has released photos and videos recorded on the night of a May 28 crash involving Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who pleaded guilty to a DUI charge earlier Tuesday.

The long-awaited video shows Pelosi's alleged slurred speech and what police previously described as "objective" signs of intoxication, as well as police asking him to perform field sobriety tests.

As Fox News Digital has reported, Pelosi's 2021 Porsche and the other driver's 2014 Jeep sustained "major collision damage" in a crash around 10:17 p.m. on May 28, and responding officers found Pelosi in the driver’s seat in his damaged car near the intersection of California Route 29 and Oakville Cross Road.  

Paul Pelosi pleaded guilty to a DUI charge earlier Tuesday and received a sentence that includes three years on probation, restitution to the victim and a three-month DUI program. He must also have a certified ignition device installed on his vehicle for a year.

The sentence really only amounts to a slap on the wrist.

To see the video, go here. 

Japan Moving To Allow Individual Foreign Tourists

Above, actress Shelley Sweeney and yours truly at a Tokyo Starbucks in 2006.

The Japanese government is moving toward allowing individual foreign tourists into the country without having to be a part of a group tour.

NHK World reported that this plan is likely to start in September.

They wrote:

The Japanese government is moving to start accepting overseas tourists who do not want to take guided tours in a bid to address a decline in the numbers of foreign travelers visiting Japan.

The country reopened to foreign holidaymakers in June with the easing of anti-coronavirus border controls. But all tourists are still required to join guided tours and obtain a visa.

The tourists also have to comply with anti-infection measures, such as wearing masks, set under guidelines by the Japanese government.

The government's decision to further ease anti-coronavirus border controls came as the number of foreign tourists entering Japan stood at about 7,900 in July, well below pre-pandemic levels.

There is a catch in the plan:

But the government will continue to deny entry to individual travelers who don't make arrangements through travel agencies.

Sorry, but this isn't good enough, at least for me.

To read more, go here.

Survey: 72% Say Border Controls Keeping Them From Visiting Japan

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo, Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's current policy of only allowing group tours along with strict rules are not inviting to potential overseas tourists. At least not inviting enough to get them to come to Japan according to a July survey.

The Mainichi reported:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A survey released Tuesday by a Tokyo-based company that encourages tourism to Japan showed that 72 percent of respondents will not, or will probably not, visit the country if it continues with its current entry controls.

The D2C X Inc. survey also showed 91 percent of the 1,717 overseas respondents found the entry controls, which include COVID-19 testing within 72 hours of departure to Japan, too strict or rather strict, illustrating how the country's pandemic border measures have deterred visits from overseas.

The online survey, conducted in early July, was answered by people from across 52 countries and territories.

To read more, go here. 

Fauci's Pension

Above, Dr. Anthony Fauci.

A few minutes ago, I spotted this on Twitter:

I don't know about you, but I find this totally obscene! How many years was he on the federal payroll?

Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey: Try A Shot At The 49er Lounge

Above, the 49er Lounge and signs at the El Rancho Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last week, I stopped at the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup for a late lunch/early dinner at their restaurant. (I had chicken enchiladas.)

After finishing my meal, I headed out to the car, which was parked in front of the hotel's 49er Lounge and noticed a sign (top photo).

Upon closer inspection, I noticed that they have shots of Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey available.

Above, the sign advertising Screwball shots. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Regular readers know that I first tried the whiskey at a clampout last year in Quartzsite, Arizona and bought a bottle of with when I got my state tax refund. A bottle is about $30.

Above, the bottle of Screwball I got with my tax refund. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I've said before that I like the taste of this whiskey better than regular whiskey. My recommendation is to pop into the 49er Lounge at the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup and try a shot.

Gun Control Groups Target Firearm-Related Speech

Each time the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down some liberal-generated gun law, another pops up and new tactics are employed by radical left anti-Second Amendment groups.

The latest tactic (which is really not an old one) is to target firearm related speech.

From the NRA-ILA:

Gun control advocates have renewed a longstanding plan to have the Federal Trade Commission (which regulates commercial speech) punish firearms manufacturers for how they advertise firearms. A petition filed with the FTC by several large firearm prohibition organizations claims that any suggestion firearms provide protection to their owners or make their homes safer is tantamount to false advertising. The petition also suggests that the use of patriotic, militaristic, or macho images and languages in firearm advertising – the same themes used to sell everything from beer to vehicles to sun glasses – is deliberately being used to appeal to insurrectionists and mass shooters.

While both accusations are so outlandish as to defy serious rebuttal – even the CDC has substantiated the pervasive reality of defensive gun use against crime – it remains to be seen if the FTC will nevertheless take the bait. Anti-gun members of Congress certainly have and recently held a hearing to try to give impetus to this political narrative of “illegal” firearm advertising.

Fortunately, the “social utility” of firearms isn’t up to some unelected bureaucrats at the FTC or any other federal agency. Any argument over the utility of arms for self-defense was settled in 1791 when their use for defensive purposes was enshrined in the constitution.

To read more, go here. 

Federal Lawsuit Against The D&SNG Settled

Above, the D&SNG train at Highline above the Animas River this month. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I hadn't heard anything about the federal lawsuit against the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad over the 416 Fire in 2018.

So, I did some checking and found that the matter had been settled earlier this year.

According to the Durango Telegraph (June 23 article):

As part of the settlement in a federal lawsuit related to the 416 Fire, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is now subject to sudden closures if wildfire danger is too high, which is having mixed results just a few weeks in practice.

In March, the D&SNG and the U.S. Forest Service signed a settlement stemming from the federal lawsuit, in which the railroad was accused of starting the 416 Fire, north of Durango in the summer of 2018. The agreement held several conditions, namely that D&SNG would pay the federal government $20 million to recoup firefighting costs. 

In addition, the D&SNG has agreed to not run trains if wildfire danger is too high, as determined by a fire restriction system set by the Forest Service.

“It’s definitely a game changer for the way we do business,” Jeff Johnson, general manager of the D&SNG, said. “And cancellations are the most difficult part of this process, because we’re aware this is something people have planned for a long time. It’s on their bucket list.” 

With an incredibly dry spring and early summer, the D&SNG has already been forced to shut down several days this June, canceling thousands of reservations and affecting the two towns that rely on the tourism dollars, Durango and Silverton. 

The situation is further muddled by the fact that after the 416 Fire, the D&SNG promised to convert its fleet from running on coal, which holds a huge fire risk, to oil- and diesel-burning engines. The D&SNG spent millions to fulfill this commitment, but even still, these locomotives are not allowed to run in certain conditions. 

Above, the Animas River next to the train during the trip to Silverton. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During our ride on the train earlier this month, I did not see any evidence of the fire. The locomotive that took us to Silverton is one converted to oil from coal. Admittedly, I miss the smell of burning coal.

Fortunately, we've had a great monsoon season which lowered the fire danger in the San Juan Mountains where the train runs. We had rain while we were in Silverton and it rained prior to our arrival at Alpen Rose RV Park in Durango. We had some rainfall during our train ride and we saw several waterfalls along the way. 

To read the full article, go here.

What To Know About The Durango Train

Above, the train traveling several hundred feet above the Animas River. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One does not have to be a train buff to enjoy a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

I have ridden the train several times since the 1980s and have enjoyed the ride each time. The scenery along the route is spectacular. The train travels along (for the most part) the Animas River, sometimes at river level and sometimes several hundred feet above it on a rocky ledge.

I last rode it earlier this month.

The Travel has posted the things to know about the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad that would be helpful for those planning a trip.

They begin with:

All aboard the historic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad running between Durango and Silverton in Colorado! The vintage train is a trip into the romance of train travel of the Old West - and efforts have been taken to ensure the whole experience remains as authentic as possible.

There are many authentic railroad experiences still offered out West (and around the nation). If going to the Grand Canyon, be sure to take the Grand Canyon Railway and sit back and enjoy the Wild West performances - similar to an old-timey train robbery. For train enthusiasts out there, the oldest train still running today is the Fair Queen of India - it's only two years younger than the nation's rail network!

To read more, go here. 

What To See From Durango To Mesa Verde

Above, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With less than a month of summer vacation left, people may be scrambling to travel somewhere.

If those reading this are in this category, here's a suggestion. Visit Durango, Colorado and Mesa Verde National Park along with points in-between.

I recently took a trip to Durango and rode the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Along with riding the train to Silverton, we also went to the Bar D Chuckwagon and Show in Durango.

Above, yours truly stepping out of the historic Strater Hotel. It is number 10 on the list. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

There are other things to see and do in the southwest corner of Colorado and The Travel lists ten of them.

They begin with:

Traveling from Durango, Colorado, to Mesa Verde National Park will take around an hour by car – it’s so quick that most people just pass by some interesting attractions between these places. Travelers will pass by the communities of Hesperus and Mancos, plus the ghost town of Mayday. A driving tour from Durango to Mesa Verde will let guests enjoy the breeze of the La Plata Mountains and the towns' hospitality.

The adventure starts in tourist-friendly Durango, where a couple of attractions can be seen. The small town of Hesperus follows, famous for its ski area. Next is Mancos, dubbed the “Gateway to Mesa Verde.” That’s more than 50 miles of satisfying Colorado memories.

To read more, go here. 

Licorice Pizza

Above, my "relic" from the original Licorice Pizza record chain. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A post was made in the Valley Relics Group about record stores of yesteryear. 

One of them listed was Licorice Pizza. I used to spend a lot of time (and money) at the Lawndale, California Licorice Pizza. They had a great selection of 45 rpm oldie singles.

The chain of Licorice Pizza stores were acquired by Sam Goody.

However, there is a Licorice Pizza store in Studio City, California that's not part of the original chain. According to their website:

Licorice Pizza Records, an independent label in Studio City, CA, is helmed by Kerry Brown, an award-winning, RIAA multi-platinum certified music producer, artist manager, and event producer. His wide-ranging career spans more than three decades, encompassing performance, production, and marketing, with total worldwide sales of more than 50M records including works by such iconic superstars and legendary artists as Smashing Pumpkins, Miley Cyrus, Cheap Trick, Courtney Love, the Afghan Whigs, the Twilight Singers, and Ziggy Marley.

The boutique record store of the same name continues the legacy of the original, famed Southern California chain opened by James Greenwood in July 1969. New releases & vintage albums line the walls, while handpicked playlists - and free licorice - add to the atmosphere. Nurturing the local music & art community in Studio City, fashion designers and craft vendors sell their art during monthly Flea Markets. At weekly Licorice Pizza Party in-store events, local artist showcases feature our staff and their friends, many of whom grew up hearing about their rockstar parents and how cool the original Licorice Pizza was in the 1970s and 80s.

Expanding to more than 34 area locations by 1986, the chain was an integral part of Southern California’s influential rock scene, featured prominently in 1982’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High and later giving title to Paul Thomas Anderson’s critically acclaimed, Academy Award-nominated 2021 film. It was more than just a record store; it served as a meeting place and haven for fans of all ages, a club house where music obsessives – including a teenaged Kerry Brown – could hang out and discover a spectacular range of new and classic music, from punk and glam to hard rock, metal, and more. A new generation is rediscovering vinyl for the first time. It's the tastiest music in town, where you get it nicer.

I still have a 45 rpm singles Licorice Pizza rack that I bought back in the 1980s at the Lawndale store. 

Yellowstone Visitation Down In July

Above, a crowd gathers at Old Faithful Geyer in the
 pre-pandemic year of 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While this news may not be good news for park vendors and Yellowstone National Park area towns, it just may be good news for the park's ecosystem.

July park visitation was down due to the June floods. With fewer people stomping around, the park is able to "heal" somewhat, one would surmise.

The Idaho Capital Sun reported:

Visitation at Yellowstone National Park is down 30% so far this year following historic flooding that left damage and park closures in its wake. 

Park officials counted 596,562 recreation visits in July, which is down 45% from a record 1,080,767 visits that officials counted in July 2021, the busiest July in the park’s 150-year history, according to a new release issued by Yellowstone National Park last week.   

The North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, and the Northeast Entrance near Cooke City, Montana, are closed to vehicles but are open to pedestrians on foot and to bicycle traffic. 

 To read more, go here.

Cibola National Forest From Mesa Ridge Ranch

During my Mesa Ridge Ranch drive yesterday, I stopped at the gate (locked) to Cibola National Forest.

Since we have received a lot of rain during this year's monsoon season, the hills are very green.

I took a couple of photos of the national forest from the gate and the forest land was the greenest I've ever seen it.

Here they are:

 

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist. 

To start off this week, the spotlight is on Brewer & Shipley, a folk rock duo consisting of Tom Brewer and Mike Shipley. They had their biggest success in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They still perform today, but mainly in the midwest. Their biggest commercial success was "One Toke Over The Line" from 1970.

For today's song, here is "Witchi-Tai-To" from a Native American ancient peyote chant. It got a lot of FM airplay on progressive rock stations (remember those?). It was released in 1969.

Almost Stuck In The Mud

After visiting and photographing the longhorn cattle at Mesa Ridge Ranch, I headed down to Six Mile Canyon Road. I figured I'd take a drive into Six Mile Canyon in the Cibola National Forest.

The drive along Six Mile Canyon was colorful as sunflowers were blooming on both sides of the road.

Above, sunflowers along Six Mile Canyon Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

All was going well until I reached the big drainage culvert just before the road bends south. There, in the culvert, was mud that was several inches deep. It had to have been at least six inches deep. I drove in and nearly got stuck. But, made it to a dry spot. Further on, the mud looked even deeper.

I decided to turn around and head back. But, the Jeep wouldn't move. It was in 2-wheel (rear) drive. Seeing that this was unproductive, I put the Jeep into 4-wheel-drive and, after a bit of effort and mud flying around, I eventually got it out of the culvert.

I knew that I had a chore ahead of me to clean the mud off the Jeep. As soon as I got home, I did so.

Some photos of the muddy Jeep before cleaning:

Sunday Drive Longhorns

This morning, I decided to take a drive in the Jeep up Maverick Road in the Mesa Ridge Ranch subdivision that's next to ours.

When I got up there, I saw that the longhorn steers were out in the open near the retaining fence. So I stopped and took some photos.

After I was done, I headed down and decided to take a drive to Six Mile Canyon. Only...