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Skeet/Loreto
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The Start of a Story as Requested by another Poster
Ed Tabor and the Flying Sportsman of Loreto;
For the Youngins: Ed Tabor, a B25 Pilot in WW II, obtained a Surplus B-25, converted the Bombay into 6 or Eight seats and started flying Fisherman
from LA to Loreto. His Strip was still in use when I arrived in 1968, the old B-25 rested on a broken landing Gear at the edge of the runway which was
occupied many times by several donkeys and their offspring!
The Bartender was Fernando Aguliar Cunningham the founder and Builder of the present 'Cafe Ole'.
Another Bartender was 'Crazy Manuel" a Good Friend and flying companion of Senor Bill Riffe who with his wife Betty, has resided in Loreto since 1973
in the Round Brick House behind the Tennis Court.{Next to the Capt. of the Port office}.
If someone would do a story about Bill Riffe it would mirror Jimmy Smith , in a different Way.
He was rasied in the Panhandle of Texas, has a PHD in Theology,taught at Southwestern Oregon, aTwin engine Pilot, a preacher, a Pool Shark, and one
of the Best Men I have ever known.
Crazy Manuel is just that, and has a most interesting Life from Ensenada south to the Cape.
So, are there any old Timers with Stories about flying down on Tabors DC3 for
$129.00 including 2 days of Fishing out of the Cruisers?
Skeet/Loreto
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Ken Bondy
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Skeet, I used to see the old Tabor DC-3...
...sitting forlornly in the parking area at MXL for years. I stayed at the Flying Sportsman a few times in the early 70s but I never had the chance
to fly down in the DC-3. Would have liked that.
++Ken++
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Capt. George
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KEEP EM COMING
Skeet and all you other pioneers of the Baja we love, please keep the stories coming......Most newbies have not been fortunate enough to experience
the "old" Baja........
The more knowledge and insight in "the way it was" will perhaps change some attitudes in trying to keep it that way..
Muchas gracias mi Baja Nomads!
El Vikingo
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lewm
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 11-9-2003
Location: Montana
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flying sportsman lodge
This really brings back some old memories. I talked my now ex-wife into flying down to the Lodge. We went down to San Diego & joined a group that was
heading down. We got on the plane at one of those private air services. Ed was the pilot. He had a young Mexican as co-pilot & Ed's wife was the
hostess. The box lunch served on the plane was Kentucky Col. The water was white capped most of the way down, but when we arrived in Loreto the sea
was calm. The Lodge was nice & the fishing was fantastic. We fished over at Carmen. I caught a rooster fish that went over 50 lbs. Took me another 20
years to catch another one that size. My wife caught a 24 lb. yellowfin tuna. Her first. She said never again. We also had a Marlin hit one of our
tuna feathers. Great trip. I had talked to Ray Cannon on the phone & he said if I were to go down there to ask about getting a sample of the fine
Brandy that was made there. I think the family that made it was named Green. It seems like there were a lot of Irish surnames in Loreto. I did try it
& it was excellent. I did not see the orchard. The next time I was down that way the Lodge was closed & we stayed at the Oasis. Great memories.
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David K
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Thanks Skeet
Ed Tabor was the pioneer for bringing fishermen to Loreto. Before Hwy. 1 was constructed past Loreto in 71-72, Loreto wasn't even on the main
Transpeninsular road.
My dad flew on Tabor's plane in the mid 60's and raved about his trip when he returned! I think he went more than once, at the time flying out of
Calexico.
The cover photo of Ray Cannon's Sea of Cortez was taken at the Flying Sportsman Lodge (beautiful sunrise over Carmen Island).
Ed Tabor built a second fishermens resort on Magdalena Bay (by San Carlos). However, Mexico's national (gov't. owned) airline was preventing Tabor
from using his DC-3 (I heard) and that hurt both resorts.
I stayed in the newly made trailer park at the Flying Sportsman in 1976.
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lewm
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flying sportsman lodge
Just an add to my previous post. For an additional $25 per person Ed flew us over for the day to Punta Abreojos for a lobster feed.
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Skeet/Loreto
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Al Green was a very powerful Man in Loreto as well as Artero Souery, Gloria Davis Benziger's Father, The Arce Family, mr Yee.
There are many stories about the development of Loreto and the Valle San Juan that need to be told, some are in Tio Don O'Neil/ Ann O"Neil's Book.
The Cunnigham Family was also powerful.
All of the above are still alive except Al Green, his Widow{A Very Beautiful Women} operated the paper Store near the Pemex, the last time I talked to
her.
"She is a Lady as well as Gloria Davis Benziger!!
In 1968 rooms at the Oasis was $9.00 Day including 3 Meals. Panga with a Capt. and Deck Hand was $20.00 A Day.
Most of the heavy Party time was the Flying Sportsman. In 1972 there was a Daily Flight out of TJ that went to GNegro, Mulege, Loreto, La Paz and
returned the next Day North bound. Convair 440/880???
Most all Pangas where boarded and launched in Front of the Oasis or the Mission Hotel.
Hope I have brought memories for some stories!
Skeet/Loreto
"In God I Trust"
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Ken Bondy
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Skeet, was the Flying Sportsman...
...on the same site where the Villas de Loreto sits today (just south of the river wash)?? It's been a long time and I am a little fuzzy about the
geography.
++Ken++
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Sallysouth
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Yup Ken!
Same spot! Looks quite different now
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Ken Bondy
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Thanks Sally...
...it sure does, but I thought I recognized the beach and the remnants of the old pier. We were there last month.
Good to hear from you!
++Ken++
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Skeet/Loreto
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Ken
Ken:
Villas de Loreto is on the south half of the old complex.
Several years ago as the Flying Sportsman was being closed down because of Non-payment of Wages, I was ask by a group of Attorneys to do an
Investigation for an Investment.
A Group of Investors bought the south part of the Complex which is now a Complex of its own!
The North part was developed into the Villas de Loreto by a Canadian Couple{Race Car Driver from Vancouver BC and his Girl Friend}.
They have worked very Hard and have developed a good Location.
Skeet/Loreto
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Skeet/Loreto
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Correction on Villa de Loreto
It Occupies the North Part of the Old Complex.
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Fang
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Used to spend a lot of time at Ed Tabors spot in Loreto. Took both my sons down for some excellent fishing & memories. I took my oldest son Brad
down in the late 60's when he was about 10 years old. It was just a bad timing thing. The fishing was very poor. Tabor offered everyone a 2nd trip
at no charge, now that's a savy businessman! We went back the following spring and had a great trip. My only regret was not taking the 2nd leg of
the trip over to Mag Bay.
Later in the early 70's I took my youngest son Eric down for another great trip.
We used to drive to San Diego where Ed had a small fenced lot. You would leave your car, load all your gear on an old Grayhound bus and then drive to
the Mexicali airport where Ed had his 1938 Douglas DC3 ( I read the Manf. plate on the date). The plane reeked of fish that had been hauled home in
it's luggage compartments. I can vividly remember two daper uniformed crewmembers who boarded after all the passengers were seated. They slowly
walked up the isle that was on a sharp incline ( DC3's were tail draggers) each sipping a bottle of Carona!! That got our attention!! Then they
opened a wooden box they had carried aboard with them and removed a large compass. They suspended it in the middle of the windscreen on something
similar to todays bungee cords. They cranked the old twin engines and we were off spewing oil across both wings. I was doing some flying in those
days & always followed the axiom that said the pilots best friends were altitude & speed.
For some reason never learned by me, our pilot elected to fly low & slow, right down the middle of the Sea of Cortez. But we made it each time.
Landing in Loreto the 1st thing you saw was Tabors old B25, down on one wing at the end of the runway. Eric called to my attention that the pilot
became the bartender & the co-pilot a janitor once we were on the ground. The rooms and food were excelent as was the fishing most of the time. Eric
got shook up one evening when he wondered out behind the kitchen area and saw the butchering of about 10-12 Loggerhead turtles that were on that
nights menu.
My only concern on any of the trips was waking up a night and finding the boys gone. They could not get enough of the fishing. I would grab a
flashlite and head for the small pier. They would always be there with hadlines pulling in puffers and other asorted nocturnal swimmers. All in all
it was a great place & gave me moments I will charish all my life.
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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These are the best posts
I have seen on here. How about it you guys, keep them coming.
Thanks Skeet !
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KurtG
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Mood: Press On Regardless!!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
Most of the heavy Party time was the Flying Sportsman. In 1972 there was a Daily Flight out of TJ that went to GNegro, Mulege, Loreto, La Paz and
returned the next Day North bound. Convair 440/880???
Skeet, I used to take that plane from Mulege to TJ when my children and I lived in Mulege in '74-75. At that time it was a British Hawker Sidley
(sp?) with twin Rolls Royce Turboprops. The airline had a mechanic named Hugo who was stationed in Mulege who was one of the all time alchololics I
have known. The plane often looked overloaded going north with fishermen and ice chests and there were a couple of times on hot days when we just
cleared the large hill at the end of the old "Mulege International Airport" back in the valley. You probably remember the old strip where the CREAD
facility is now. Fare was $40.00 to TJ and the kids were half price. AeroMexico's ticket office was in the building across the street from Yee's
market where Lucy's bakery is now. |
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Capt. George
Super Nomad
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TOO COOL
Keep going, pure enjoyment with no hidden agendas...
thanks Baja Pioneers!
Newbie El Vikingo
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burro bob
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Skeet/Loreto
Sometimes it's hard to belive that anyone ever came down here before I discovered the place (Lower California) in 1994.
I wonder if the awe and reverence for the place was any greater 30 some years ago when you came as it is now for the newest wave of discoverers.
Something tells me that this great feeling of adventure and discovery I feel is the same as it was for the first Europeans to jump ship here.
burro bob
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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Except some of us
have Ice Cream... hahahahahahahaha
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
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Thanks:
Fang: A good description of "How it Was'
The Mexicanos Kids would take a piece of Rebar, sharpen the end, tie a line on and Throw it into the School of Yellowtail chasing the Sierra around
the pier at the Flying Sportsman.
Near the end of the Korean War I was Fling out of North island as a DC 3 Plane
Capt. Does anyone have information on where Ed Tabor aquired his DC3?
Has anyone Posted the 'Story of the Bell" that is in the Museum at Loreto?
Skeet/Loreto
"In God I Trust'
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
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anybody have stories about the cat house
about a mile or so north up the beach? Don Jimmy did. Some of Tabor's customers surely did some "fishing" there too? I think the place is still
open?  
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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