BajaNomad

Baja amigos lunch (with Dave Deal)

David K - 12-1-2007 at 10:32 AM

Being a rainy day, and not working... it was a pleasant surprise to get a phone call from a new Baja amigo (Michael) who is researching for a new book on Rancho Santa Ynez' history. Capt. Mike pointed Michael my way from the Baja Bush Pilots forum...

We met at Sunrise Cafe in Vista (a great place) and since long time Baja pilot, off road racer, and famous cartoonist Dave Deal lives nearby (and knows Rancho Santa Ynez quite well)... I called Dave, who joined us. Dave's recent work can be seen in the animated movie 'Cars' by Pixar... Dave created most of the characters in the movie... He also illustrated the cover and more inside of Jimmy Smith's book, 'The Grinning Gargoyle' available from www.mibaja.com

I hope to see Michael post here on Nomad, as I am sure there are many of you who also have some background on Santa Ynez...

Michael is also a SCORE Lite racer (Class 12, 1835cc buggy) who was in the Baja 1000 last month.

The waitress took our picture (Michael, Dave Deal, David K, L to R)

IMG_1604r.JPG - 42kB

Boy if I didn't know better

Keri - 12-1-2007 at 11:18 AM

he looks surprisingly like Mike H at first glance doesn't he?:O



[Edited on 12-1-2007 by Keri]

Skeet/Loreto - 12-1-2007 at 11:55 AM

David: Glad to Hear about Dave Deal;

I started stopping at Senora Josphina's in 1968. Became interested in her, Oscar and Family.
I have a Blue Palm, rasied from seed that was taken from there.
I had a Fuel problem and landed at Lake Chapala Ranch, Hitched into Santa Ynez where the Seniora gave me 35 Gals of Gas, two men in a Truck to take my Son and I back to refuel the Plane.
That is a great bunch of folks!!

Skeet/Loreto

toneart - 12-1-2007 at 12:00 PM

Isn't the road from the highway into Rancho Santa Ynez also an airstrip? I thought I read or heard that. Maybe it use to be but is not used anymore? Just curious.

David K - 12-1-2007 at 12:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by toneart
Isn't the road from the highway into Rancho Santa Ynez also an airstrip? I thought I read or heard that. Maybe it use to be but is not used anymore? Just curious.


It used to be I think... before Highway 1 was built in '73... The government moved Josefina's airport up on the mesa parallel to the entrance road and then they paved both.

Skeet, you probably could help Michael with his book on Josefina and Santa Ynez!?

[Edited on 12-2-2007 by David K]

capt. mike - 12-1-2007 at 01:49 PM

glad you guys hooked up i look forward to meeting him one day.
later , its raining 2" here in phx right now! many dead things in my pool.........have to get the net.

Bob H - 12-1-2007 at 01:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
its raining 2" here in phx right now! many dead things in my pool.........have to get the net.


Like, what kinda dead things... ??

Bob H

Barry A. - 12-1-2007 at 02:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob H
Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
its raining 2" here in phx right now! many dead things in my pool.........have to get the net.


Like, what kinda dead things... ??

Bob H


I hear that lots of Aridologists live in Phoenix-----2" of rain just do them in, I suppose. Funny that they end up in the Capt's pool, tho. Hmmmmmmmmmm :lol:

Skeet/Loreto - 12-1-2007 at 04:25 PM

David and Dave;

As the road approached Seniora Josephina"s at Santa Yenz, the Engineers had it mapped out to come next to the Ranch House. The Seniora infomred the Engineers that "No" it would have to be built where it now Runs. There was a Conflict so the Seniora informed Mexico City and very Shortly the Road was put in its Present Locatio and the Strip was built on the Rise above the Ranch House. You Talk about Power and Politics!!!!

She expressed a liking for Black Coral, which I brought to her on Several Occasions.

I had a Valve probable with my Cessna 170 and left it there for about 30 days while I took my Daughter and Grandson on to Loreto Vai Bus.

Came back and re,oved the Cylinder for Repairs. Did not have a ?Wrench for the Hold down Nuts, Oscar said "Wait a Minute. He went rummanging throuh an old Wrecked car and came back with a Wrench that Fit . Took the Cylinder to the States, returning later to pick up the Plane.
Took my Mother with me on several trips, we stayed on the Cots in the two room building to the South.

My Friend Bill Riffe, now 86 years old and still resideing in Loreto was taking a group of Military on a Trip, landed at Santa Ynez, Fueled and on Take off he had an Army Officer setting in the Right Seat of his Twin Beech. on the take off roll as Bill Lifted the Plane off the Officer grabbed the Wheel causing the Plane to Crash,, Nobody Hurt!

Dave if you get to Loreto go see Bill and Betty Riffe, he can tell you some Great True Stories about Flying the Early years.
I met a man and his Wife one day at the Airstrip that had flown over to get Drinking Water . They were living at Gonzaga Bay.
I flew into most of the small Airstrips listed in Arnolds old Baja Guide from 1968 on. Spent a lot of time at San Nicolas

Skeet/Loreto

oh.....lotsa stuff.

capt. mike - 12-1-2007 at 05:40 PM

Skeet needs to be interviewed for any book on baja lore especially that involve flyin'!!:bounce:

like toads, frogs, bugs, plants, birds, rats, mice, snakes, spiders...............the usual gang of desert flora and fauna.:lol::lol:

mainly dirt actually. heck there ain't no frogs in phx - well some french restaurant folks i guess but they don't count and i don't eat at no frickin frogs' places neither. i do not drink their frickin wine either i don't care how good it is!!

time for some freedom fries - the ASU/U of A game is about on!!!!!!!!!!!!!! go SUN DEVILS!!!!!!!!!!!!:cool:

[Edited on 12-2-2007 by capt. mike]

Skeet/Loreto - 12-1-2007 at 06:56 PM

Capt. Mike: Did you have any knowledge about the Cessna 320 buried off the Airstrip at Pt. Chaivto? It was there in 1968 when I went across the ferry to Salvage a Cessna 210 that did a Wheels up landing.
When flying over low you could see the Outline in the Sand. Was in about 25 Ft. Of Water. Now there must be 25 Feet of Sand over it.

Art Willis can give some very good information on Aircraft recovery out of Mexico. I only had to Steal two Aircraft away from the Mexicanos and return them to the States to the Insured Owner.

One of the Best Trips around Baja is to fly the Eastern Side of the Mountains from Sat. Rosalilla, Mulege, Girganta, Escondido where if its after a Rain you can see 35 Waterfalls, then down all the Way to La Paz. The Lower the Better with no wind conditions.

Good Luck
Skeet/Loreto

capt. mike - 12-1-2007 at 08:22 PM

wow i sure would like to see that route marked on google earth, maybe DK can do it i have no idea how, i can barely read a map as it is. i go by dead reckoning. if i reckon i can find my way there before i run out of gas....i won't be dead!!:saint:

What is missing here IS

Baja Bernie - 12-1-2007 at 09:36 PM

The fact that Dave Deal was a great friend of Don Jimmy Smith and the fact that they camped under the wing of one of Dave's planes as he spoke to the universe and Don Jimmy spoke of the people of Baja. This in the middle of a desert as they patiently waited of the sun to come up.

Salud!

toneart - 12-1-2007 at 09:42 PM

If you walk around Santa Ynez there are still a couple of old rusted out vehicles down near the arroyo. I wonder if one of the is the one that Skeet/Loreto referred to in his post, where Oscar found the wrench.

The Senora told me that she had a dog that looked exactly like my dog. She showed me a photo in the kitchen. It did look a lot like my dog. She said it was bitten by a rattlesnake and died. I always worry about that with my dog.

Paulina - 12-1-2007 at 09:45 PM

Dave Deal also was a friend of Fred Hoctor's. Dave has rubbed shoulders with quite a few baja legends and is one himself.

P<*)))><

Skeet/Loreto - 12-2-2007 at 08:31 AM

David: Thanks for the Good Tread,seems as there are a few old timers left on this Board!
David, I am doing an Investigation into all of the Aircraft Accidents that occurred in Baja. During your travels I would "Dance at your next Weeding in a Pig Triugh" if you would make a note of the Location and other information concerning an Accident.
Hope to make contact with Dave Deal and Art Willis in my effort. Art has done lots of Recovery in Mexico and is very Knowledgeable.

I have finished my first Chapter of my Auto-Bio- Sure there will be several Chapters on Baja Sur as it involved 40 years of my Life.

Thanks Again
Skeet/Loreto

Skeet

Baja Bernie - 12-2-2007 at 09:36 AM

I have Art's email address if it will help

David K - 12-2-2007 at 11:10 AM

Skeet, I did forward a link to this thread to both Dave Deal and Michael... But, perhaps your question came after he looked, if he looked. I have his email and would be happy to forward your email to him until he contacts you directly.

David

Skeet/Loreto - 12-2-2007 at 03:17 PM

Thanks David. Would appreciate the Informatio. Please send u2u.

I think the Aircraft sunk off of Pt. Chavito would make interesting reading.

Keep up the good work.

Skeet

Skeet/Loreto - 12-2-2007 at 03:22 PM

David: Pappa Murillo who died at 90 years told me on several Occasions that a Mexican Boat sank off of Pt. Chivato at some time: Had a Load of Mexican Gold.
He told me this at San Nicolas when he was about 70 years old.

Have you heard any Rumors about this??

Skeet

Eli - 12-2-2007 at 05:15 PM

Nice thread, brings back a flood a memories, more than great to see a shot of Dave Deal, he will always be a Big Deal to me, jeje, sorry couldn't resist. Anyway thanks David K.

David K - 12-2-2007 at 08:17 PM

Dave Deal's art on cover of Jimmy Smith's book...

Copy of Jimmy-r.JPG - 40kB

skeet several years ago

capt. mike - 12-3-2007 at 06:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
Capt. Mike: Did you have any knowledge about the Cessna 320 buried off the Airstrip at Pt. Chaivto? It was there in 1968 when I went across the ferry to Salvage a Cessna 210 that did a Wheels up landing.
When flying over low you could see the Outline in the Sand. Was in about 25 Ft. Of Water. Now there must be 25 Feet of Sand over it.

Art Willis can give some very good information on Aircraft recovery out of Mexico. I only had to Steal two Aircraft away from the Mexicanos and return them to the States to the Insured Owner.

One of the Best Trips around Baja is to fly the Eastern Side of the Mountains from Sat. Rosalilla, Mulege, Girganta, Escondido where if its after a Rain you can see 35 Waterfalls, then down all the Way to La Paz. The Lower the Better with no wind conditions.

Good Luck
Skeet/Loreto


my friend Jerry M. was sitting on the patio yakking with Bill Alvarado when a V tail Banana came by doing a high speed pass low right in front of the patio.
they watched as he then pulled straight up climb just over approach end of RW 31, stalled in vertical flight and they nosed straight in and buried the plane into the dirt!!
the ran over to the site and found only parts. The engine block went clear to the back luggage. 4 souls assumed room temperature on the spot.
They had to cover the mess with tarps until the mex DGAC guys showed from MMLT a day later.

this was about 30 years ago.