July/August 2026

22 – Purebred PIGEON Jasmine Mumma I check into the La Mesa Hotel located on historic Route 66. Built in the 1940’s it maintains its rustic charm with neon lights and simple rooms. Thursday January 22nd. Breakfast on the road with another 425 miles to Oklahoma City. I arrive mid afternoon, forecast is still calling for the storm to blow in this evening. With that in mind I decide my first stop should be the Pigeon Museum. As I arrive some fellow fanciers from the San Diego area are leaving. I browse the exhibit for an hour or so before heading over the Hilton to check in. After checking in I head over to the fairgrounds to coop my 19 Owls and do some socializing. Back to the hotel for a pizza, a cocktail and the weather channel before turning in. Friday January 23rd. Breakfast in the lobby with all the other pigeon fanciers who threw caution to wind and made the trip. Outside is cold and windy but conditions have not changed since last night. Not much happening today so a trip to the National Cowboy Museum for me. I am the first patron of the day and greeted with a six foot-plus bronze statue of the mighty John Wayne. So much to see you could easily spend the entire day here. Fantastic displays and artwork, every room has a theme, guns, saddles, uniforms, barb wire etc. There is even a mini city you can walk through. Outside there was more with wagons and Indian villages. Also outside a a cold wind that cut right through you, I didn’t stay outside very One Man’s Journey to the National By Tom Monahan Tuesday January 20th – as luck would have it the weather forecast for Oklahoma does not look good with a forecast of single digit temperatures and up to 20 inches of snow. But life is an adventure so Grand National 2026 here I come. Chinese Owls are crated ü Tire chains loaded ü clothes are packed ü road trip essentials loaded, snacks, water, blanket ü full tank of gas ü My Silver Bullet F150 is ready to go, let’s Adventure!! Wednesday January 21st 4:30am and I am on the road heading out of Whittier California for the twenty-hour drive to Oklahoma. I love early morning drives, a very peaceful quiet fills the cab. About a two and half hour drive to Barstow where I will then merge onto interstate 40 for the remainder of the drive. A beautiful sunrise greets me as I travel east. No set des- tination but hoping to at least make it to Albuquerque. Jersey Mikes in Flagstaff AZ for lunch, gas up in Groom Texas. After about 892 miles and thirteen hours of driving I’m in Santa Rosa New Mexico. On the recommendation of my new friend Tom Monahan’s view for part of his 20-hour drive to the NPA National in Oklahoma City. Sunset or sunrise? National Cowboy Museum statue of John Wayne