David K - 10-24-2004 at 01:23 AM
Here's a 2 parter... from Baja's past... who is this person and where is he (in Baja)? email or U2U the answer.
David K - 10-24-2004 at 10:02 AM
I had two guesses in my U2U box this morning. Both of you got the person right. One of you was very close with the location.
Hint: The person was refered to in Jimmy Smith's book as 'FA'.
The location does not exist anymore (at least in the same capacity). In the 1960's it was a popular destination for flying travelers. Note the roof.
elgatoloco - 10-24-2004 at 10:59 AM
FA at FSL 
David K - 10-24-2004 at 01:12 PM
Two more guesses received... All seem to know that FA is Famous Author, Erle Stanley Gardner (creator of Perry Mason).
In this photo by Choral Pepper, Erle is quite unhappy that bad weather is preventing him and his friends from flying on south to get back to exploring
Baja (Choral told me). The photo was taken in the period between his 1962 book 'The Hidden Heart of Baja' and his 1967 book 'Off the Beaten Track in
Baja'.
Guesses so far have been: Cielito Lindo, Santa Ines, Hotel Oasis. Two of the three places probably were not open in the early to mid 1960's.
HINT:
One of the guesses is very close to this PACIFIC coast FLY-IN resort motel (with clam shells on the roof).
You will have to know about Baja travel in the 1960's from personal experience or from the MANY books written then that mention this place.
Why not begin posting guesses here now... elgatoloco: FSL?
[Edited on 10-24-2004 by David K]
elgatoloco - 10-24-2004 at 02:35 PM
Flying Sportsmans Lodge
David K - 10-24-2004 at 03:20 PM
Shall I give the answer today?
Not Cielito Lindo (but was close to it),
and not Santa Ines, Hotel Oasis, or the FSL.
The guy being ESG was the easy part...
Mexray - 10-24-2004 at 06:12 PM
Could the place be The Old Mill? Have only driven by there once, but don't remember the shells...
jide - 10-24-2004 at 06:29 PM
Explored Salsipuedes by helicopter......
HERE'S THE ANSWER
David K - 10-24-2004 at 07:12 PM
Not the Old Mill, but that was a good guess...
The hints were FLY IN resort/motel, and PACIFIC coast, and near today's Cielito Lindo. Also, as I said, you would have to have traveled in baja in the
1960's or be a reader of books from that period.
This was the SANTA MARIA SKY RANCH Here is the page from my 1969 Airports of Baja by Arnold Senterfitt. If you can see the upper arrow pointing to the
ranch, it was just south of the Cielito Lindo road and just north of the big curve in the original highway location.
David K.
Frigatebird - 10-24-2004 at 10:13 PM
What is going on at the property now? Farmland? The topo section still calls it Santa Maria, but not much else.
David K - 10-24-2004 at 10:17 PM
I was talking to Dave at Cielito Lindo about it once. I think he told me the buildings are still there... I will have to pull off the old highway and
see if they still have clam shells on the roof!
Santa Maria is still the name of the 'town' right there at the curve in the original highway location.
Today at the Sky Ranch
Porky Pig - 10-25-2004 at 11:52 AM
Today?s photo shows Juanita next to the only remaining structure, the old generator building. The old well still exists and is located about 50ft
behind the building. Hotel La Pinta is seen to the left rear. Juanita is pointing to the visible foundations of the old cabins where the photo of ESG
was taken. Last month we could have sent a photo of the same cabin, but alas, you can see the fresh dozer treadmarks. Tomato fields now cover the
area. A new desal plant is being built about 100ft away. As a point of interest, Laura from Wet Buzzard lives at the end of the old 06/24 runway.
Dave & Juanita from Cielito
Hey Porky......
Debra - 10-25-2004 at 04:12 PM
How is that beautiful baby boy of Laura's doing? Any chance of posting a picture (or emailing) my Grandaughter couldn't get enough of him! She would
get a real thrill if I could show her a picture!
David K - 10-26-2004 at 02:46 PM
Years of history and memories gone! That's progress... Now, it's up to us that remember to keep the past alive or at least recorded.
Thank you David for the photo. Really is great to compare past with present, yes?
Say hi to Juanita. and hope to be down your way again soon.
Rogelio
Porky Pig - 10-28-2004 at 05:31 PM
Debra, here is today?s photo of Laura and Rogelio, named after a fishing captain killed at sea. Captain Rogelio?s father was at Cielito Lindo today
and saw little Rogelio for the first time. Needless to say, he had a happy cry.
Dave & Juanita