Fri 11/18/2011
Loreto
After all the planning and filing EAPIS, an international flight plan, and having to depart on an instrument flight plan (low ceilings) we were ready to take off. The radar was out of service so they gave me the skiff 5 departure which I left in the hanger. While doing the preflight check we noticed that there was no vacuum from the pump and all of the vacuum instruments were failing. So much for the test flight I did yesterday. So back to the hanger to fix whatever was wrong. I had pulled the panel to repair a few things a few days before. I felt around under the panel and found a kinked vacuum hose and straightened it out. We were good to go.
When we taxied out this time they had the radar up and running so we just did an IFR to VFR on top to give me more control over the flight. All went well, and we flew over Catalina VOR direct to Tijuana and then direct to Loreto at 11500 ft. to clear the 2 class B air spaces of LAX and San Diego. Flight following didn’t vector us for traffic and after I opened our flight plan it was smooth sailing (5 to 10 kt tail wind) all the way to Loreto. Checking through Loreto was easy and didn’t take very long. After getting fuel, Bob and I took a taxi to town, checked into the Oasis hotel with the Baja Bush Pilot’s discount so paid $80. per night. We had a good lunch of (what else) fish tacos & Pacificos. After that we took a long walk around town so Bob could see everything and it felt good to stretch our legs after the long 4 hour flight. After an early dinner (piscado a la plancha) we went back to the hotel and hit the hay early. Flying at that altitude for so long without oxygen is tiring.
E-Mails sent while there
Bob and I are here in Loreto having breakfast at the Oasis Hotel on the Beach. It is very nice this morning. Not a cloud in the sky. Temp around 74 t-shirt & shorts weather. Headed for the Pacific side this afternoon where it should be cooler.
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Sat 11/19/2011
Loreto
Well we didn’t go because when I called Sheri on skype she told us it was overcast there and didn’t think it would lift today. So we stayed another day and we really walked all over the town. We met a young couple (50’s) who were from Alaska. He was a commercial fisherman there. And what was he doing here? Trying to find a good fishing guide to take him fishing. The marina was full of all kinds of birds: Pelicans, cormorants, seagulls, frigate, terns and many others. Bob and I must have walked at least 10 or 15 miles.
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Sun 11/20/11
Asuncion
The next morning after breakfast we were ready to leave Loreto having seen the town on foot.
So the fog finally lifted in Asuncion and it is beautiful here. After landing I called Sherri on my cell phone and she came and picked us up at the dirt strip, which is really good, by the way, and long so that a Jet could land here. She took us around town to look at the places we could stay. We decided on the 2-bedroom apartment. Then she took us to her house, gave us beer to drink which was not that much for us old guys. We talked while we waited for her daughter Sirena to arrive from Ensenada. She had met 2 German guys from California who offered her and her baby Izaak a 2-day ride to Asuncion. We all had a good time talking to them about exciting stuff. After that we went back to our apartment for a siesta to rest up for the night’s festivities. It seemed like the whole town of 2000 turned out for the show. There were dancing groups with fancy costumes and kids with their teachers leading them in sort of a marching drum stick act. There were many food booths and we went home stuffed.
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Mon 11/21/2011
Asuncion
After a good nights sleep we walked over to the breakfast house and had coffee, beans, cheese & tortillas & eggs sin llema for Bob. Sherri took us back to the airport. I just want to say that she was the greatest hostess, and she treated us both like long lost friends. I think the next time we go there we will stay longer and go fishing and exploring around a little more. Bajabnb dot com is Sherri and husband’s website.
Today we’re headed for Alfonsinas on the sea of Cortez. That’s it for now still having a great time and wish you were here.
Haste luego
Alfonsinas
Bob & I had a short flight from Asuncion to Alfonsinas. There was a lot of rain clouds but we were on top. The landing here at Alfonsinas was not one of my best. I was too fast & too high and I bounced off the clay runway up about 10 ft twice so on the second bounce I knew I was not going to make it so I poured the coals to it and away we went for the go around and the second try. The second try was much better. I got slow first and much lower. I drug it in and landed it on less than half the runway. After the landing were greeted by a group of motorcycle riders & other onlookers and did I mention the girl in the skimpy bikini. Most wanted to have their pictures taken with my airplane in the background.
We were here for a while and the military came up and wanted to check us out. It was ok but they took a very long time and wanted to know when were going to leave in the morning so that they could return to check us again before we left. I told them that we were going to leave about 9:30 am and they said they would meet us here.
We then had a great lunch, took a long walk to the tienda about 3 miles to Rancho Grande & return and were ready for dinner. Tomorrow we plan on checking out of the country at San Felipe then on to Calexico, and then home.
Did I say flying is the best part of the trip?
I’ll fill you in later if anything exciting happens.
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Tues 11/22/2011
Well everything went as planned. The military did not show up after all. We had a good flight home at 10500 ft. and our route was Alfonsinas, San Flip, Calexico, Julian VOR, Van Nuys VOR, Direct to Santa Paula for gas ($5.09 a gallon), and then finally home to Oxnard.
Bob and I just love flying to Mexico to enjoy the food, the people, the great weather, practicing my bad Spanish, and just having fun in general.
Don & Bob