Roost Air Lounge => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rooster Cruiser on October 23, 2007, 04:42:25 PM
Title: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on October 23, 2007, 04:42:25 PM
Well, its that time of year again. Time when the desert finally cools down into a reasonable temperature range, and folks start thinking about racing again. This year's Baja 1000 marks the 40th anniversary of the race, so for the first time the race will be Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas instead of Ensenada to La Paz. Da boss intends on winning the Trophy Truck class if he can. The race begins 3 weeks from today, but I am on my way south to take some of the team half way down the race course so they can do a "Pre-Run", which is where they go over the course at a slower speed and check everything out.
I'll be down yonder for most of this week and thru the weekend, but I'll be taking pics while I am down there and I will post them here when I get back. Meantime, y'all behave, OK? ::drinking:: ::drinking:: ::drinking:: ::drinking::
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Frank N. O. on October 23, 2007, 07:40:11 PM
Wow, support-flying in the wilderness, that sounds cool! I didn't know the Baja 1000 was already a whole 40 years, wow that's a long time! It's like the american equivalent of the Paris-Dakar race right? A really gruelling wild high-speed endurance race in the road-less wilderness right?
Best wishes and looking forward to seeing some pictures ::wave::
Frank
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: TheSoccerMom on October 24, 2007, 01:12:20 AM
Aww, man, sounds like a good time, Rooster!!! Have grand fun, and send us all some pics!! ::wave::
The S'Mom****
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on October 25, 2007, 05:27:45 AM
I'm back north after having been south for just an overnighter. Had to pick up the boss in Northern Baja and bring him back for some business. I am going south again tomorrow, but here are a few choice pics.
San Felipe is a port of entry on the Gulf of California side of the peninsula, about 120 miles south of the US Border. Good entry point, friendly people. Call ahead to check fuel availability.
Our next Stop was a private strip on a Rancho near Viscaino Bay. Note that where I'm parked you will see not only Joshua Trees, but also Saguaro Cactus. Very interesting combination.
I overnighted in the town of San Ignacio in northern Baja California Sur, about 50 miles from where I landed. It appears to be an Oasis at a hot springs, complete with the Date Palm grove. The Hotel/Bar/Restaurant is called Rice n Beans. They have a website, but I didn't copy it. Very nice people, rustic surroundings, clean accomodations and good food. The Baja 1000 race is just about the biggest thing to happen in this little town whenever it passes by, so all the local kids were out hounding the pre-runners for souviners.
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on October 25, 2007, 05:31:51 AM
This morning, our team were getting the pre-run vehicles ready to head out into the desert, while I had to go back to the airstrip. You can see on these pics that there ain't a whole heck of a lot of people in this area. Naturally, I couldn't help but take one more pic of my Platypus in the mornin' light. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on October 25, 2007, 05:37:21 AM
Viscaino Bay is on the Pacific Side of the peninsula, about halfway down. Interesting sand dunes along the beach and the inlet to this lagoon.
Along the Gulf of California near the mouth of the Colorado River are these enormous mud flats, which in some areas extend over 2km from high tide to low tide. I understand you might be able to walk on some of them, but most are of quicksand consistency and will swallow anyone foolish enough to try to croos them. Interesting erosion patterns show up occasionally in these areas.
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: gibbo_335 on October 25, 2007, 05:38:55 AM
:o OH WOW!! R/C way too much fun....thanks for the photos...ROK ON mate!!!
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: TheSoccerMom on October 25, 2007, 05:40:41 AM
Ahh, nice photos!! Thanks for sharing!! :D
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on October 25, 2007, 05:41:35 AM
These last pics aren't of Baja. I had to clear US customs at Yuma (Calexico was closed today), so I ended up flying over the northwestern tip of the state of Sonora in Mexico. Here you find El Desierto del Altar, an enormous area of sand dunes that extends about 150 miles or so from near the US border to Punta Penasco. Very beautiful, and very desolate. I would hate to have to make an emergency landing here.
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on October 25, 2007, 05:48:23 AM
Thanks guys! I'm going back south tomorrow. I gotta take one of the boss' sons (the two boys are the Team's Drivers) and a couple of his friends down south tomorrow, along with 3 tires, rims, a satellite phone, and a power steeing pump for one of the pre runners that is broke down yonder. It will be a heavy combination load of people and cargo, but that is precisely what the Platypus is good at! Hehe.
I'll take some more pics while I'm there, and when I get back (dunno when that'll be yet) I will post more pics.
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: gibbo_335 on October 25, 2007, 05:56:52 AM
Can't wait to see 'em R/C.... Safe skies mate...
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Fabo on October 25, 2007, 12:06:20 PM
When I grow up, I want to be just like R/C ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: PiperGirl on October 25, 2007, 12:45:01 PM
awesome pics. You have a cool Job ;D
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on October 25, 2007, 12:55:38 PM
When I grow up, I want to be just like R/C ;D ;D ;D
Sounds like a good idea to me.
Gosh... Thanks Fabo! <insert blushing smiley here> I"m still trying to figure out what I wanna be when I grow up. ::loony:: ;D >:D Reminds me of something along the lines of "Boys don't grow up, the just get bigger toys"
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Frank N. O. on October 26, 2007, 08:24:20 PM
Haha, yeah that's true. When I was small I had matchbox cars, then I got some 1/24 models, then 1/18 and now I drive 1/1s :D Now if only I could get a 1/1 airplane....
Frank
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on October 27, 2007, 06:15:34 AM
OK, back home very late after a long day coming north from southern Baja, up to central California to pick up da boss, then back home. Here's the best of the pics I took while down yonder.
Baja 1: This is a view of your non-typical use of a Platypus! Hehe. Yes, we treat it like a pick-up truck with wings. Those are spare tires behind the pax.
Baja 2: Pre-dawn glow from the house we use in Loreto as a staging area/crash pad. I love getting up early in the mornings down here for this!
Baja 3: The rugged beauty of Baja California never ceases to move me. At the same time, I appreciate how desolate this part of the world is. Still magnificent.
Baja 4: A solitary volcano that sits offshore in the Gulf of California. Pretty neat looking.
It looks like I will not be going back down yonder until just before the race. I am slated to operate as a communications platform between the Racer, the Chase Trucks, and Command Central back in SoCal during the latter part of the race (which will be in darkness). Before that, I will be taking some VIP's from the Starting Line in Ensenada to the Finish Line in Cabo San Lucas. Gonna be very busy, but I will make certain to take plenty of pics and post them here for y'all.
RC
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on November 10, 2007, 05:49:33 AM
Back again from another week of up-and-down Baja, plus a trip to central Mexico and a side trip to Laredo TX... Oi!!! ::sweat:: 30 hrs on the Hobbs of the Platypus in 9 days. Sometimes, this job reminds me of my truck driving career.
Very busy day today. I started out in Loreto BC Sur. Had to deadhead to Calexico CA to pick up La Patrona. I flew the Boss' wife to Ensenada (Baja 1000 starting line), then I went scud-running for 130 nautical miles just offshore of the Pacific Ocean coast to pick up the Boss and fly him back to Ensenada. I found the strip, landed, and picked up da Boss without even shutting down the engine (he prefers it that way) and took off on what was left of an excellent paved runway. When I got home this evening I found out that the local Soldiers arrived about 2 minutes after I took off and arrested the two fellas that had dropped my employer, since I had departed before they arrived to check me out! ::eek:: ::unbelieveable::
There is Alaska Bush Flying, and then there is Baja Bush Flying! I just wish I could experience the former someday...
I will post more pics once I retrieve my camera from the airplane. Afraid I left it there as I was too distracted about getting home after a six-day road trip.
Later Y'all,
RC
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Frank N. O. on November 10, 2007, 05:56:10 AM
Holy heck in a handbasket! That sounds scary, really scary! While I like some adventure in my life then that there is too much.
Frank
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on November 15, 2007, 11:39:18 PM
Made it home early from the Baja 1000 Race. The whole team was disappointed at 0430 yesterday morning when the engine in the Trophy Truck blew up at Race Mile 589, or less than halfway through the race. SCORE Int'l race rules do not allow engine changes, so that was it for us.
I personally had a very long and tiring two days. Was up Tuesday morning over the beginning of the race course solo providing radio relay between about 4 race teams for the first two hours. I then landed at Ensenada, picked up some guests and flew them to San Jose del Cabo, near the Finish Line. There I picked up my co-pilot and radio operator and we blasted off on an 8 hour flight to provide radio relay again during the night hours. We finally landed at Loreto around 4AM and got a few hours of sleep in the airplane, as there were no hotel rooms available in town. We were awakened after sunup with the bad news, so we had some breakfast and I received my orders to pick up da boss' wife and son and return home.
Here are a few pics. Sorry everyone but I was no where near the actual race action, so you'll have to go to the race team website or SCORE International website for race pics.
Pic #1: Small forest fire in the San Pedro de Martir national forest. Top of the mountain range is 12000ft, and the base is in the desert at around 1500ft within 20 miles of the Sea of Cortez near San Felipe.
Pic #2: Sal Fish (Left, with headset), Director of SCORE International listens in to the radio chatter on the race safety channel while hitching a ride with us from Ensenada to Cabo.
Pic #3: A couple dejected members of the team return home, along with a bunch of racing gear in the back of the Platypus.
Title: Mexican Charter
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on November 15, 2007, 11:47:19 PM
When I awoke yesterday morning at Loreto airport, there was a DC-3 that was preparing to fly to Cabo San Lucas. However, the DC-3 was facing the Fuel pits (which was full of refueling airplanes) so all the passengers had to assist the flight crew in maneuvering the old Goony Bird in the direction of the taxiway so they could get out of there. Fun times!!! ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: airtac on November 16, 2007, 05:56:48 AM
NUMBNUTS!!, you are having WAY too much fun down there----how bout a party invitation to all your CW buddies ? ::drinking::
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: FlyboyGil on November 16, 2007, 03:37:24 PM
NUMBNUTS!!, you are having WAY too much fun down there----how bout a party invitation to all your CW buddies ? ::drinking::
NO KIDDIN!! >:( >:( >:( Beer, awsome old planes!! Hmmm!!!!
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on November 16, 2007, 07:14:39 PM
Guys, I was WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY to busy for Beer while I was down there!!! ::complaining: ::complaining: ::complaining: ::banghead:: ::banghead:: ::banghead:: Since I had to come home early, there was no time for such fun as ::drinking:: I've been home two days now and I am at the office so I have STILL not had any beer!!! ::eek:: ::unbelieveable:: ::complaining: ::banghead:: ::rambo::
I think I need a hug... :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: FlyboyGil on November 16, 2007, 08:22:43 PM
Quote
I think I need a hug... :'( :'( :'(
Well shucks Roost, why didn't you just say so! C'mere you!! :D :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: airtac on November 17, 2007, 09:09:52 AM
You SoCal guys are so sensitive !! :'(
Title: Re: I'm Baja bound... again!!!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on November 17, 2007, 09:22:03 PM
