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  • Colombia or Skypark

    This is actually a reply to Pearson from the compass thread, I didn't want to bushwhack it any further. I know, it's Columbia. (how do you change the title?)

    I didn't go to Skypark last year as standing around in the dead grass cooking is not my best idea of a pleasant way to pass the day. I flew out of there and close-by Shellville for quite some time, years ago.

    Would be nice if we could get back to Columbia, notwithstanding their CS move of giving our reserved day to some other group (last year?)

    I wish Los Banos was a more pleasant airport for that kind of thing, but I think it is just too much asphalt, security fences and nasty cross winds in the summer. We do have GREEN grass in a pretty good sized area out front, with a barbecue setup, but that isn't quite enough by itself. (King Airs and Citations seem to like this place pretty well, Chuckle.)

    I'll tell you where would be different.

    There is this dirt strip at a place in the hills near here called Mercy Hot Springs. (thus Los Banos) It was a popular resort during the 30's for people to fly in to. Like movie stars of the time. Now it is a slowly recovering bunch of old buildings that are being rebuilt. Coming along nicely when I was there last summer. Wind generator and all that.

    They have a nice pool there now, but there is a shortage of water for grass,or drinking and it is perpetually dusty in the summer. The spring water is good for bathing, soaking ect., but is full of minerals.

    It is a cool little dirt strip, plenty long, back in the hills, real easy to land on, if I could get the owner (Larry) to move the sign at the threshold. I just kinda dodge around it and then watch out for the gopher holes. (we could get those filled.)

    They have a lot of people come there for camping, even in the dry summer.

    Hadn't thought of that place before.

    At least some of the local Tcrafters should come by here at Los Banos some time and we could have lunch at one of the local places and then fly up there.

    It IS fun.

    Darryl
    Last edited by flyguy; 02-13-2010, 21:10.

  • #2
    Re: Colombia or Skypark

    Darryl,

    I may be able to do just that this spring. I could come down a day or so early for the fly-in and meet up with you at this strip you are talking about. Is it on a sectional, or do you have lat/longs?
    Richard Pearson
    N43381
    Fort Worth, Texas

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    • #3
      Re: Colombia or Skypark

      What about doing it at Columbia and just F*** the Tuolumne Pilot's Association? It is my limited understanding that this group and their hallowed meeting room and kitchen is the only real problem. If they happen to have the International Pompous Powered Parachute Association that weekend, then we can party on one side of the campground and they can party on the other. They don't get our money and we have to live without their clubhouse. Best wishes to them all. I believe the showers and restrooms are public use or County facilities ???

      If I am correct, the public can fly in and camp, and we can just bring our own !($*% BBQ. Or we could just meet at one of the local restaurants both nights. For $20 per person we could probably have some "Joe's mobile BBQ trailer" come in and serve Tri-Tip or something. Fer goodness' sakes we can simply build a camp fire and roast hot dogs. Columbia is one of the only public grass airports in California, so that's a nice reason to go there. Last time I went, it was great fun to just shoot landings in the grass.

      The point is, it's not the food or the pilot's clubhouse that makes the fly-in... it's the company, the camaraderie, etc.
      Taylorcraft : Making Better Aviators for 75 Years... and Counting

      Bill Berle
      TF#693

      http://www.ezflaphandle.com
      http://www.grantstar.net
      N26451 (1940 BL(C)-65) 1988-90
      N47DN (Auster Autocrat) 1992-93
      N96121 (1946 BC-12D-85) 1998-99
      N29544 (1940 BL(C)-85) 2005-08

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      • #4
        Re: Colombia or Skypark

        I wasn't aware of what the situation up there was/is. Sounds like the right attitude to me. Besides if it is a bunch of other taildragger types I'm pretty sure we would all get along just fine, ignoring the local power mongers.
        Lets do that, I'll go.
        DC

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        • #5
          Re: Colombia or Skypark

          Well DC it appears that there will be an alternative to Columbia after all. Perhaps I'll finally get to buy you a beer after all if they'll let me in to whatever private strip this is at.
          Taylorcraft : Making Better Aviators for 75 Years... and Counting

          Bill Berle
          TF#693

          http://www.ezflaphandle.com
          http://www.grantstar.net
          N26451 (1940 BL(C)-65) 1988-90
          N47DN (Auster Autocrat) 1992-93
          N96121 (1946 BC-12D-85) 1998-99
          N29544 (1940 BL(C)-85) 2005-08

          Comment

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