Last March my wife,our friend Lydia, and I piled into the plane and flew to Mulege to stay at the Hotel Serenidad, with the Baja Bushpilots for the annual Gray whale watching trip. We cleared Mexican customs in San Felipe, and followed the east coast of the Sea of Cortez about half way down the Baja to El Gallito airport, which is located next to the hotel. We flew to the Pacific coast the next morning and got to see the whales. I won't go into details because the photos in the link will tell the story better than I could, but it was really neat and I recommend it. One note; there is nothing "bush" about the Bushpilots. We landed on huge, long, perfectly maincured, dirt strips. Most of the folks are very nice, but don't expect to talk back country flying if you go. (My wife is on the left, Lydia is single and likes planes.)

Jeff

Jeff,

Does the group all fly into San Felipe together and clear customs together etc. ? My last trip to San Felipe was many years ago and I think we cleared at Mexicali on the way down and El Centro on the way back. I wasn't aware you could do customs at San Felipe. (I guess things could change in 15 years though)

So, if they do this in March can anybody sign up and tag along or do you have to join their club/group or ?

BTW, Nice job on the pacer/maule ruckus at maulemods...

Mark

Speaking of whales, I read in the local paper that a humpback whale had been spotted near Seiku, out on the northwest corner of Washington's Olymic Peninsula. I'm betting that this (or another humpback?) is the whale a friend's son saw when he was surfing a few weeks ago, off the mouth of the Elwha River just west of Port Angeles.
I don't know if humpbacks are loners, run in pods, or just what. Or even if this area is considered a normal place to see them.

Eric

Yeah it's a blast. We (MLB and I)went in 2004 with the BBP and I won a free* trip which I just signed up for March 9th. We will leave on the 8th and spend that night in San Francisquito in a grass hut about 10 feet from the Sea of Cortez. We'll clear in Mexicalli or San Felipe although I'd rather go to Loretto because of the cheap gas and friendly service. Things to note about flying to Mexico: The U.S. doesn't care if you fly out of the country. You must have Mexican insurance which you can get from BBP. The Mexicans don't care if you fly into Mexico. You can't fly at night VFR single engine. Border towns on both sides are armpits. Petting whales is really cool. You have to file a border crossing flight plan and give US Customs at least one hours notice before landing at the closest international airport to your crossing. You can make prior arrangements with customs and fly all the way home if you have the range (I do) but the bladder can't handle it. I have a little john and a lady j but MLB says "I think not". You'll be ready for a decent hunk of bloody bovine anyway. You can speed up the process if you already have your red customs sticker $25. Cubans are illeagal so don't even think about smuggling some back and sharing with me.





* "you can't get something for nothing" ---My dad
Dave

I understand that you have to have 12" tailnumbers if you cross the Mexican border, at least if there's an ADIZ which I believe there is along much of it. If you have 3" numbers like all smart low-altitude pilots ("that wasn't me buzzing the nudist colony!"),you can apply temp big numbers using electrical tape or water-based paint.

Eric

I will also be going to Whales I with BBP on March 9th. I will be coming down from O46 Weed, CA and was planning on a day earlier at Alfonsina's. If other back country minded folks are planning on San Franciquito the night before I may do that instead for the sake of BS.

Tim

You'll love the trip.

One word of advise; duck.

There are a lot of Mooney, Bonanza, and Baron types on this adventure, and few that are looking at anything but their dual Garmins, or their TCAS, or Nexrad weather. Everybody goes to look at the whales at the same time so keep looking for other traffic and you'll have a swell time.

zero.one.victor wrote:I understand that you have to have 12" tailnumbers if you cross the Mexican border, at least if there's an ADIZ which I believe there is along much of it. If you have 3" numbers like all smart low-altitude pilots ("that wasn't me buzzing the nudist colony!"),you can apply temp big numbers using electrical tape or water-based paint.

Eric

Some of have no choice but to have the big numbers. I think the big ones are ugly as well, wish it were an option to put the small ones on.

I have been to BAJA twice before. The experts on crossing the border are http://www.bajabushpilots.com/ . Does not cost to much to join, they do really neat trips, and for those that need to be led by the hand (me) the first time across the border they are very helpfull. Get on the web site and look arround

Black shoe polish is used by a lot of people for the 12" numbers.

Most folks going to Baja are really nice. For the most part they do whear larger watches and a few panels are worth more than my plane. We do have in common the fact that we all like to fly.

Tim

We're planning on leaving March 8th from Reno-flight of two-for Yuma for the cheap gas. Clear customs at San Felipe and spend the night at San Francisquito. The 9th head for Mulege and the Serenidad. They moved the whale thing from Ignacio to somewhere south on the pacific side which is closer to Loreto where we'll go next also for the cheap gas. I'll be Baja 64 on this one. 122.75 Seeya in Mehico....

Moved the plane to Redding CA yesterday cus that was the only window to get out of this valley. Tuesday morning we drive to Redding then head south. I can file from there if I have to to get on top. When the weather is really bad we do not do IFR from hear cus of the icing on V23.

We are not rally sure where we will be on Tue night but on Wed night we will be at Alfonsina's or at PSF. Leaning towards PSF. If at PFS we will do our own breakfast cus theirs does not agree with me. We will be bringing tent and bags just in case.

Sorinidad for the next three nights then I am thinking about Meling Ranch on the way home.

We are BAJA 43 and am looking forward to talking backcountry flying instead of glass panels.

Tim

I'll look for ya, Tim. I see you have a B model- what color? Post a pic if ya get the chance. See ya in Baja.

Decided on PSF for Wed night. I will be cooking Crepes ( a thin French pancake) Thur morning and will have enough mix to cook about 20. Your invited unless you prefer beans and tortillas for morning meal.

I fly a 182B that is blue with white trim and white wings. I have done everthing to slow it down, 7.00 x 6 on the mains and 6.00 x 6 on the nose without pants it trues at about 120Kts. I will have to be carefull of the wake turbulance that your 180 will generate.

Tim

We're gonna have 4 in my plane and two more in the Banana. What can we bring? OJ? See ya in PSF.
Dave

How about bacon or sausage. OJ with pulp would be good. We got the french pancakes covered. Says it will do 13 per batch and we have enough for 2 batches. We will bring some berries to top it.

Tim

Woke up with a slight cold yesterday. Today it's a little better so I think by launch I'll be okay. The upolsterer is bringing by the seats so I'm headed out to install them. MLB brings home the bacon around here and I'll have her pick up some OJ with pulp.

Made it back from the whales last night. Weather tanked so we hung out in Carson for a while. Here's beautiful Spanish Springs International right after landing.

MLB and I were sick the whole time but it didn't put too much of a damper on it.

Hey Dave how about a picture so we can see that fine taildragger with the Gar's on it.

I haven't put them on yet. Started to but can't figure how to get the brake pad behind the rotor that is inside the wheel. Maybe I'll go fight with it today

Well, my wife and I made it to Punta Sanfrancisquito and sharted the thin pancakes from France with another 180 guy and his wife. Turns out that we ran into him at Shelter Cove last summer. Superdave got bum doped from a 180 flyer that he ran into in Yuma. He complaned about warm beer that was stored with the fish. Guess that the fish smell got to his nose before the beer got to his mouth.

PSF is a great place or maybe I have smaller expectations. We brought an ice chest with cool drinks and our own fresh vegies to give to the cook. At that place there is no menue, you eat what they cook for that meal. Everone got sauted carots and green beans that night. There sea bass was really cooked good.

Tim