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The Baja Raft of Junk Moves into
the Design Phase
A small, but enthusiastic group attended the first meeting for the Baja Chatarra Project, a raft to be built out of junk and plastic bottles. Once built, the raft will be peddled, using a recycled bicycle paddle wheel, from San Felipe to La Paz, Baja, a 600-mile trip down the Sea of Cortez. Those in attendance were clearly interested in the cause, and several came well informed with facts on the plastic waste problem as well many great ideas for building a raft of re-purposed, recycled, or more simply junk and garbage. "We have thought hard about this project for several years, so it is awesome that within a few weeks, many of these folks had come up with even better ideas. We're all passionate about the Sea, but if we sink, or wreck, or worse, we won't help anything. So, we all want this project to succeed and I think together, we are going to make a difference in plastic waste in Baja", says John Pack, founder of Baja Good Life Club. Each year, John and
Rachel Pack, founders of the Baja Good Life Club create and
participate in adventures designed to bring awareness to Baja
and a variety of charitable groups in need, with their focus
always on children and the environment. In 2011, they wanted to
do more and created the Baja Love Ride (http://bglclub.com/ This year, they have decided to follow through on the Chatarra Project, with the help of the Baja Good Life Club members and the Baja community at large. The Chatarra is an 8 foot x 16 foot, wooden raft deck, with a paddle wheel made from recycled bicycle parts. The raft will be floated by thousands of plastic waters bottles, tied together using derelict fishing nets, and plastic construction fencing, in long bag-like pontoons. All bottles will be cleaned, de-labeled, securely tied, and fastened. The goal is to build the raft between May and June, and launch Chatarra the first week of July, for an arrival on orbefore July 31, 2013. Local ironwork artist and winner of Best of San Felipe Steve Sherrod, was one of the attendees, and Steve came not only informed of the cause, but paddle wheel design plans and photos and a commitment to help the project. At the end of the meeting, Steve said he would have the decking and paddle wheel plans and specs completed and ready for the next meeting to be held on Monday, April 29 at the Campo Ocotillos Lodge in San Felipe at 10AM. Greg McKinney, retired San Quentin Prison Guard, and resident of San Felipe has agreed to join John and Rachel as crew to share in the peddling. "With a good moon and weather you can paddle all night," added Raine Fisher, a part time resident, who once sailed around the world in a 30-foot sailboat, using a sextant for navigation, "you can paddle non-stop”. During this same week, others committed to collected fishing nets from a local dumping spot for local fishermen, and to start building the trough that will be used as a mold for the plastic bottle pontoons. The time is short, and the project is big, but according to those involved currently, a 'fast and immediate action' is needed to help save the sea. According to Rachel Pack, one of the founders of the Baja Good Life Club, "This problem is bigger than any one person, or community, “We need to do more, tell more people, and educate more people, and especially kids in Baja about waste and littering. We know this is a worldwide problem, but it has to start at home, and Baja is home. It is also one of the most amazing and beautiful places in the world, and with all the new roads and access to Baja's pristine areas, we need people to care and understand the importance of protecting it." For more information on the Baja Chatarra Project, or to find out how you can help please visit www.bglclub.com. John Pack |