[LUNAR Announce:] Launch on Sunday, March 8!

[Toby Vanderbeek]

Daylight Saving Time!

Don’t forget to set the clocks forward Saturday night one hour so you’re
not late to the launch.

On Thu, Mar 5, 2020 at 2:08 PM Toby Vanderbeek <tobyvanderbeek at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hello LUNARtics,
>
> We are set to launch this Sunday, March 8. Thank you for your patience as
> we waited for the weather forecast. Time is 0900 to 1600. Get there early
> to help set up and stay late to clean up. All assistance is appreciated. We
> can't do it without you.
>
> The new signs with the speed limit of 7.5mph seem to be working. Thank you
> to everyone for driving slow and safe.
>
> Mike from Bay Area Rocketry will be there for your motor needs. Please
> contact him before the launch to make sure he has what you need.
> https://bayarearocketry.com/
>
> The away pad will be set up. Dave has been repairing some damage that
> occurred at the last launch from someone using a sledgehammer
> inappropriately. If you need help, ask. We will have at least a few L3
> certs and M motors launched so it should be exciting.
>
> One continuing issue is people driving around puddles. None of the puddles
> are very deep. You should drive through them and not around. Driving around
> makes the land worse. Please stay on the roads and drive through the
> puddles. The same note is posted below in the regular announcement.
>
>
> And the regular notes:
>
> Be sure to check the hotline in case we have to cancel at the last
> minute.  *HOTLINE #: 925.443.8705*
>
> After the latest rains, things are very wet at the ranch, so make sure you
> stay on the roads. Drive down the center of the road to avoid making the
> road wider. Drive slowly through the puddles in the road, they are not too
> deep and have a hard packed bottom.
>
> As you drive down highway 4 at 55 to 60 mph and turn up the road to the
> ranch, realize that you are on private property and on dirt road now that
> goes by people's houses.  The speed limit on driveway is 5 MPH., Once past
> the cattle grate *and* the first junction to the left, the speed limit is
> 7mph. If you drive fast, you will send dust and grit all over the place.
> Slow down, take it easy, there is plenty of time to get up to the launch site.
> You will keep the Rancher's happy and your car will like it too.
>
> We will be flying on a working cattle ranch in a field that hasn't changed
> much in the last 10,000 years. There are no paved roads, sidewalks, mowed
> lawns, or anything else you are used to having at the launches in
> Livermore. Treat this land with respect, and leave only foot prints when
> you head home.
>
> You will find rocks, squirrel holes, sticks, cow bones, and other assorted
> items that can twist or break ankles or legs if you are not paying
> attention. You will also see wildlife. In addition to the bulls and cows,
> there are squirrels, snakes, coyotes, mountain lions, golden eagles, bald
> eagles, buzzards, and other critters. Again, if you pay attention, none of
> these critters will bother you. If you have kids, keep an eye on them,
> don't let them wander far without an adult.
>
> This is rattle snake country the same as the hills around Livermore. As
> long as you pay attention to where you are walking and where you put your
> hands and feet, you won't have a problem. Stay away from the rock fences,
> the blackberry bushes, and the brushy rock formations. Those are all snake
> places. If your rocket lands in one of those places, come get me or one of
> the club officers to help you  get it out. Now, I am not trying to scare
> anyone, I just want to make sure you are paying attention. My brothers,
> sister, cousins, and I played all over those hills as children and never
> got bit and I want to make sure no one else does.
>
> When you get to the launch area, follow the marked road to the field.
>
> Even though it looks like there is a shorter way, don't do it. There is a
> reason I mark the road where I do. There is a road down the center of the
> field where we launch. You can park on either side of that road. On the
> east side you can go as far as the creek but on the west side, do not go
> more than one car length from the road. Most of the ground is sod over mud.
> If you break through the sod, your car will drop to its axles in the mud.
> Four wheel drive will not save you. The ground under the sod is almost
> liquid. Some of you will remember when I pulled a lost rocket out of the
> ground. The rocket had punched a hole through the sod. I was able to stick
> my arm down into the ground all the way to my elbow without any problem,
> slide my fingers under the rocket, and pull it out.
>
> If I can stick my arm up to the elbow in the ground, imagine what
> something with the weight of a car will do. The places we will mark out
> have gravel under them and are solid. A few feet farther up the hill are
> not.
>
> As I mentioned, this is a working ranch and there are a few ranch rules.
>
>   - Leave the cows and bulls alone. There are a lot of newborn calves in
> the field, many born in the last week. If you see one, don't go too close
> and do not get between the calves and the cows, especially small children.
>
>   - If you see a calf that appears to be in trouble, that is, it has
> fallen in a hole or in the creek and does not seem to be able to get out,
> come and get me and I will rescue it.
>
>   - Leave the wild critters alone. It is OK to look, but don't try to pick
> them up. The rattle snakes you find out there are real, not toys, and they
> bite.
>
>   - If there are bee hives on the hill above where we launch, stay away
> from them. They are self protecting so you have been warned.
>
>   - Close any gates that you open.
>
>   - Do not do anything to deface or mess up the land. A rancher is just
> about the greenest person you will ever meet when it comes to his land. In
> this case, our family has been caring for this land for over 130 years. The
> worst thing you can do is to create ruts which cause erosion which is
> another reason to stay on the roads. Please pick up all or your trash and
> if you see trash, pick it up as well and take it home for proper disposal.
>
> - You do not have permission to cross the fence to the south of the launch are
> to retrieve your rocket.  In the event that your rocket does land across
> the fence line, please contact one of the Lunar officers for assistance
> in recovering your rocket.
> Regards,
>
> Toby Vanderbeek
> tobyvanderbeek at gmail.com
> 650-722-1669
>
-- 

Regards,

Toby Vanderbeek
tobyvanderbeek at gmail.com
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