Flight in an Ultra Lite - Another one off the "bucket list"

Still Wednesday afternoon -
Tuesday flight in an ultra lite.
About 5:00 the wind had let up enough to take up the Ultra Lite. The pilot Chip told me to dress warm – so I put on long pants, long sleeved shirt and my fleece vest. And headed over to the “plane” Chip was doing his pre-flight.

Pre flight check

The “plane” - that's going to take both of us up in the air and keep us up there?

I"m going to get in that and do what!?

Me all dressed up and waiting to go.

First Chip put the thick earmuffs on me and then a helmet with a clear visor. The earmuffs had a speaker and mike attached so we could communicate while in the air.

Got my hat and pants on - Ready to go.

Getting strapped in. A seat belt and a place to put my feet. Chips seat belt also came across my chest. So I figured I wouldn’t drop off anyway. Seemed kind of strange not to have any “walls” around me though. The thought crossed my mind that maybe I shouldn’t be doing this. Too late.

Off we headed.

Bye Bye

 Taxing down the sandy runway - other wise know as the beach

Had to stop at the end so Chip could remove some poles that might obstruct our landing. Oh good – wouldn’t want anything to obstruct the landing.

A quick shot of the instrument panel.

Not much there.

He got back in and told me to put the visor on my helmet down we were going to take off!!!!!!
Bill took this as we took off – WOW all of a sudden we were headed UP UP…..

After I let go of the seat belt strap I started to take pictures – God I hoped I didn’t drop my camera. But Chip made me put the strap around my neck before we took off. We headed north towards San Blas – some of the country side with the houses

A lot of the pictures you will see Chip’s hands and or elbows in.

Still going north but the wind had really picked up so he turned us around and headed south.
Going over little town of Aticama - starting to really enjoy this now.  The wind was wanting to push my head back so I kind of hand to hold the helmet down with one hand and take pictures with the other.

Aticama

Lots of palm trees and vegetation.

Mango orchards

Just a shot of the waves and trees

blue blue ocean

Can see a long way now

Looking south towards Puerta Vallerta

Looking out towards the ocean and setting sun.

Unfortunately the wind was picking up even more and it was starting to get a lot colder so we turned around and headed back. Going over Aticama again

Coming in for the landing – had to go around as there were people in the way this time.

Here is our landing. I was holding on to the camera for dear life. Flight was over way to quickly.



A picture of my intrepid pilot Chip

Thank You Chip

This was kind of like my ride in the race car - over way to quick. I wouldn' hestate to do it again - for a longer time.

Ride in a panga - Ocean and Mangrove Forest

Still Wednesday a.m. This is my 2nd post today. First post is below this one.
Tuesday morning we watched the work on the palapa for awhile. They were putting up the palm fronds as all the wood and string had been replaced.

Then we went into San Blas to the harbor to take a panga ride out on the ocean. A panga is a little fiberglass boat with an outboard engine – the fishermen use them for fishing. The panga we were going out in.

The one on the left is our boat

The ramp down to the boat was the most thrilling part of the ride. Each plank sagged differently as you stepped on them.

Hummmm???

Our boatman/guide Fabian.

We went past the light house on the way out. It sits on an island that is 30 miles long and most of it is empty beach.

We were going out to the rock in the distance

The Piedra Blanca de la Virgin del Mar – The white rock of the Virgin of the sea

Statue of Virgin on top of it.

Why the rock is white.

Lots and lots of pelican poop. Right now the pelicans rule it – a month or so ago the seagulls were there but then the pelican drove them off as they are bigger and meaner according to Fabian. But soon the seagulls will be back.
The back side of the rock – facing the open sea reminded me of a little dogs head laying down.

Puppy face

But as we continued around the rock the side of it formed a man’s face. Fabian called it Jesus Christo. Kind of looks like a fisherman with a hood and beard to me.

Then Fabian pointed out a school of sardines – it's where all the silvery ripples are. There were several schools of them out there. I always wondered how the fisherman found them, now we know.

Silvery ripples on the left

There was a shrimp boat out there too. He was anchored in one spot. They stay near shore during the day and go out to fish at night. This one was from Mazatlan and will be in the area for about a month.

All the birds on the lines. Look like little flags from a distance.

Leaving the ocean we went a ways into the Mangrove Forest. Some information I looked up about them if your interested   link   It was so peaceful there. Saw lots of different birds. Some Cormorants in the trees

An eagle eating his lunch

Another majestic bird in a tree

Saw lots of these and took lots of pictures of them.

Then we came across this wreck. It happened during one of the bad hurricanes nine years ago. Took it from the harbor and deposited it here where it still is today.

fishing boat wrecked in hurricane

Just a shot of some of the trees and their roots.

Some more birds

Fabian says this is a falcon – taking his word on it.

An area with a lot of dead trees – again caused from the hurricane.

Another bird.

One side of the river is black mangrove

The other side red mangrove

Poking our nose into a little inlet. All you can hear is the soft ripple of water and the songs of the different birds. Once in a while a boat with some fishermen in it would paddle by.

Too soon heading back towards shore.

Back at the RV park the shelter was almost finished. Bill got out his kites for a while but the wind didn’t last very long.

And it was TIME FOR MY ULTRA LIGHT RIDE

San Blas and The Social Club restaurant.

Wednesday a.m.
I think I'll do two posts today cause I want to share what we/I did yesterday asap.
Monday morning dawned bright and sunny. We decided to go out to breakfast at a restaurant we had heard about in San Blas – The Social Club. It is right across the street from the main plaza.
 - You can click on a picture to make it a little bigger -

It has a bar downstairs and a restaurant upstairs. Excellent food the chef is from New Jersey! The owner from New York. It also has an Internet connection. And a library of English books.

The efficient kitchen in The social Club

After breakfast we walked around town a little. Noticed that the main street heading west had been completely repaved in town. They used the same pavers that were used in Tepic.

A little sand on them

And the next street over between the plaza and church is all dug up being readied for repair.

Major construction going on here

The Government Palace had been repainted inside

And out since last year.

Lots of vendors stalls

The bell tower on the right hand side of the new church has finally been completed

But the old church is just getting older.

Continued walking towards the market place. Lots of big fresh fish for sale.

BIG fish

And I’ve been threatening to buy The Driver a sparkly t-shirt. Thought one of these would be great. Especially the Priestess of Magic Mushrooms one. He didn’t think that was funny – though he did stop and look at it.

This little girl with a great big doll walked by us. Then turned around and stared at us as we went by her. The doll is almost as big as her.

Back into the car and a drive to the small harbor. While there we checked on taking a boat ride – either out in the ocean or up the river through the Mangroves. It would be something to do one day.

When we got back to the RV park we noticed another motorhome had pulled in. Gee it’s getting busy here.
The palapa next to us is being redone too. All the old palm leaves have been taken off it and some of the wooden support beams are being replaced.

Of course Bill went over to investigate. He asked the guy why he was using string to tie the cross beams together and not using the plastic zip ties.

New string holding wood together

Simple answer “the wood and palm leaves rot so they have to be replaced every couple of years no matter what. The zip ties and the string both would have to be replaced at that time. The zip ties would cost about US$35 the string costs 50 cents.” Economic sense. So much for advanced technology sometimes it isn’t the best way.
Was going to cook dinner but Bill talked me into going back into town to the Social Club instead. Didn’t have to talk too hard. We hand a scrumptious meal – Veal Scaloppini, small roast potatoes, asparagus and salad made with ingredients fresh picked from a garden that morning. We both cleaned our plates good enough to just put them away.
Weather was perfect all day – what more could we ask for.
Yesterdays adventures coming soon - ocean ride in small boat and my ride in an ultra light plane.