BBAPA Newsletter
Local "Train Trip" Report from Bob Hartunian
Bill Allen and I decided to retry the trip we had planned back in November when our train was cancelled.
We drove down Hwy 38 to San Bernardino Depot, the old train station from Art Deco days. Bill bought both train tickets on the #321 train on his smart phone, leaving there at 9:43am and arriving at Union Station in LA at 11:21 am.
Price for seniors was $10 round trip.
The station is large and grand and we boarded the train which had 2 decks, so we went upstairs and found seats with a small table between.
Was perfect for placing papers and items. The train takes about 90 min to make the run, stopping at about a dozen stations along the way.
But the stops are quick and the ride is smooth all the way. A really great train ride. We planned a 2:38pm train back.
At Union Station, we found our way to the Alameda Street exit and walked north on Alameda for about 4 blocks and found the restaurant on the left.
Arrived at 11:45 am and got in line for a speedy order. They have a long counter with ladies behind who take your order and make the sandwiches for you.
Since we were not driving or flying, each of us had a beer and sandwich. My bill was $20.
By noon, we had finished eating and decided to walk to Chinatown up Ord St at the restaurnat door. On a weekday, there isn’t much happening in Chinatown and as we walked, I checked the train schedule and found there was a 12:38pm train back to San Berdo. We hustled back as quick as my legs could work but missed the train by 2 min.
So we leisurely sat on the platform and spent the next 90 min chatting and enjoying the perfect temps. At the right moment, the train doors opened and we departed for home.
Got back to San Berdo at 4:15 and back to Big Bear airport before 6pm.
I think our Assn members would enjoy such a train trip with the understanding that there is walking required. I’d do it again anytime.
Bob H
"Elusive Crickets" by Bob Hartunian
Monday evening, as I was intensly watching the hockey games, a cricket began chirping in my kitchen. I got up and began searching for it to set it free outside the house. But the damned thing was elusive.
I had kitchen stuff all over, like the garbage can and plastic bags and cloth shopping bags to reuse and keep the environment clean and be a good citizen.
And soda bottles and a few hundred other things evey kitchen absolutely needs just in case.
I went to bed and that cricket knew it. It would chirp about evey 30 seconds, ALL NIGHT LONG.This could not continue; it was me or the cricket.
That damned critter kept it up thru the morning.
At our normal Tuesday burger lunch, I mentioned this situation to Steve Baker, our most knowledgeable animal master. His recommendation was to get 4 frogs and let them loose in the house.
Seems that frogs like crickets and would make a quick dinner of mine but they do have drawbacks of their own. Checked with Amazon and that is about the only thing they don’t sell.
After working on the plane all day, I came home weary and not looking forward to more cricket sounds. But I was committed to victory.
I removed every bag, every container, every possible hiding place of that cricket outside the front door. And the thing still chirped.
I got my portable vacuum cleaner with the long wand at the ready. If that thing showed any part of it, I’d suck it into the cleaner and win the fight.
With the room completely empty, the chirping continued.
I put in my hearing aids to focus in on the precise sound and locate the little bastard. It knew that and proceeded to change places right behind me.
There was no where to hide but the SOB was invisible. I started to clear out papers on a counter that had been there since I moved in 22 yrs ago.
It had to be under some ancient bills or magazines. But no cricket showed anywhere. Maybe Baker was right; get some frogs.
And then a miracle happened. I heard a chirp over my head. The wall was bare. The ceiling was bare. The only thing visible was the white fire alarm fastened to the wall.
Could it be? I got up on a table and pulled the alarm off the wall and removed the battery.
The chirping stopped!
It was a low battery that triggered the whole episode.
I’m bringing in all the stuff I took outside and will have a great night’s sleep knowing I outwitted the cricket.
Bob H
"AOPA Buckeye Fly In" by Kam Lawrence
Last February, Kam Lawrence and friends attended an AOPA fly-in at Buckeye, AZ. She wrote this summary for us.
Overcast skies with low pressure system in the forecast didn’t stop Julie and I from attending the AOPA Fly In at Buckeye, AZ in February. Although we drove a “land vehicle”, we fantasized about flying home in our new Cessna 170B raffled off to one lucky AOPA member. Alas, someone else won the plane.
There were a dozen workshops scheduled throughout Friday and Saturday, some valuable, some just okay, and all free for AOPA members. The vendor tent was packed with booths worth visiting, where any pilot would feel like a kid in a candy store. AOPA rolled out the red carpet (actually green AstroTurf) for its members, leading to a VIP viewing tent for the air shows. They provided free food, drinks, shade and front row chairs for some amazing aerobatics.
Friday’s show opened with low fly overs by military jets, followed by sky writing, parachute jumpers and many aerobatic routines. Saturday’s afternoon show was the highlight! With an Arizona sunset as a backdrop, parachute jumpers and aerobatic teams entertained with loops, hammerheads, and perfectly choreographed dances in the sky. When the sun sank and darkness fell, fireworks were launched into the night sky to serve as the new backdrop for aerobatic biplanes decorated with light strips and fireworks shooting from their wings. It was simply fantastic!
As far as logistics go, we were lucky to book a room the day after AOPA announced the Fly In. Hotels and camping booked fast, and we heard that many could not get accommodations in Buckeye. The hotel was 12 miles from the airport, however AOPA did provide free shuttles. We heard from other attendees that they were an hour late at times, and didn’t seem to be reliable. I would highly recommend this Fly In for next year, but don’t delay in booking accommodations, especially since they had a reasonable cancellation policy.
Memorial Day Weekend "SUNDAY" Pot Luck Lunch at the FuseLODGE
We tried an experiment last May having a pot luck lunch on Memorial Day Weekendc at the airport. It attracted about 60 people so we are scheduling it again on Sunday, May 26 at 11am until 2pm.
Everyone is encouraged to bring an entree, side dish or salad. No desserts needed as the BBAPA will provide the makings for Ice Cream Sundaes.
The best entree will receive free fuel for a year. Ok, so maybe a slight exaggeration but work at it anyway.
Monthly Dinner Meetings
Four dinner meetings are scheduled for this summer beginning in June-Sept on the second Tuesday of each month. The usual time is 5pm for Social Hour, 6pm for dinner and 7 pm for a speaker.
Right now we have two speakers lined up; Ryan Goss, Airport Manager and Jay Obernolte, Congressman. I’m trying to attract two more speakers and it ain’t coming easy.
Side Trips
During the past year, we did day-trips to a Wolf Sanctuary, The Mitsubishi Cement Plant and March AFB Museum. They were well-received by the attendees and we will try to find more short trips to interesting places.
Anyone with ideas for a trip, please send me an email <bobh5@earthlink.net> In November, we tried to do a train trip to Union Station that didn’t work out because right after we bought tickets, they cancelled the ride and we all returned home.
We might try that again with the goal of having lunch at Phillipe’s restaurant in LA and riding the train roundtrip for $10 for seniors and a few bucks more for younger people.
That’s it for now, folks!
Bob Hartunian, Secretary