[LUNAR Announce:] [LUNAR general:] Saturday's Launch at Snow Ranch

[Paul Pittenger]

Also - Mike will be there with Bay Area Rocketry trailer/store. A reminder
to pre-order bayarearocketry.com or call Mike 510 461 0863 - if he can pull
and bag orders in advance, you will save time on Saturday.

Kits and/or rockets for kids who help with setup and teardown of launch
equipment. Will be some other kid giveaways and some two stage rockets.

Paul

On Mon, Nov 29, 2021 at 6:40 PM Bill Orvis <orvis at compuserve.com> wrote:

> Hello everyone,
>
> Ready to flly some rockets? I realize it has been a long time but lets
> have a safe launch. Stanislaus county Covid protocols do not require
> masks outdoors. Note that some rocketeers may not be vaccinated. If the
> launch happens, plan accordingly. LUNAR will not be policing masks or
> vaccination status so be prepared with your masking preference.
>
> While driving out to the launch site, keep in mind, the speed limit on the
> dirt roads is 7mph. Also, if you come to a puddle ow water in the middle of
> the road, drive through it. Do not try to drive around it. The roadbed is
> solid, the sides are not and you will get stuck. Even 4 x 4s get stuck out
> here.
> Be sure to check the hotline in case we have to cancel at the last
> minute. HOTLINE #: 925.443.8705
>
> Last year we had some problems with people or dogs chasing or scaring
> some of the cattle while searching for lost rockets. A calf ran into the
> barbed wire fence and got tangled up. Don't chase or scare the cattle in
> any way. Stay back from them and don't wave your arms or yell. If you
> see any of the cattle that seem to be in any kind of trouble, come get
> me so I can take care of them.
>
> The stuff that follows is for newcomers to Snow Ranch. Of course, it
> wouldn't hurt for the old hands to skim over it to make sure they have
> not forgotten anything.
>
> 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
> it wider. Drive slowly through the puddles in the road, they are not too
> deep and they are solid on the 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 a dirt road now that goes by people's
> houses. Please drive 7 mph on the driveway.  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.
> - Don't 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.
>
> There is a lot of history in this area. Indians used to camp just south
> of where we launch and there are Indian grinding holes in many of the
> rocks.
>
> The movies "Little House on the Prairie" and "The Big Country" were
> filmed around where we will be flying. The remains of the "Little House
> on the Prairie" set are just to the south-east of where we launch. The
> stage road from Stockton to the gold mines in Angels Camp went right
> through this area, and up the road a ways Black Bart used to rob them.
> The History Channel filmed part of a program on Werner VonBraun near the
> ranch house.
>
> We will rent a porta potty for the day but there is no water, food or
> anything else in the area so bring whatever you will need.
>
> We have a barbecue grill I will fire up in the morning. I expect it to
> be really popular just for keeping warm. Bring your own dogs or burgers
> and have a warm lunch.
>
> If anyone does get hurt, the closest hospital is in Oakdale, about a 15
> minute drive from the Ranch (after you get back to the highway). There
> is a map to the hospital in the LUNAR document box if you should need it.
>
> There are maps to the ranch and driving instructions on the LUNAR website.
>
> If anyone has any questions, I will be happy to answer them.
>
> Bill
>
> --
> ----------------------------------------
> William Orvis226 Joyce St.
> Livermore, CA  94550 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/226+Joyce+St.%0D%0ALivermore,+CA++94550?entry=gmail&source=g>orvis at compuserve.com
> ----------------------------------------
>
>
>
> --
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