The Chatarra Project - One Week Until Launch - Posted 6-14-13

(I apologize this notice is a bit fragmented but I don't have time to clean it up.  John and Rachel are going to float/paddle across the Sea of Cortez on their raft made of recyclable junk!  ))

Project Chatarra Itinerary     Visit http://chatarra.bglclub.com/ for updates.

Thursday June 13, San Felipe Baja California Mexico - After the success of the Baja Walk, John and Rachel Pack understood that the Baja walk would not be the end. After surviving their 74 day walk down the Baja last summer, they were even more determined to return when they saw the amount of litter and plastic waste. So, slowly but surely, as they were settling into their normal lives again, the idea took shape. The idea is The Chatarra Project: a trip down the Sea of Cortez with a human-powered raft made of recycled plastic bottles and junk.
 

Today, The Chatarra Project is only one week from launch and there is still much to be completed, but John & Rachel Pack remain confident they’ll get it all completed in time. This week co-builder and designer Steve Sherrod added six supporting steel legs, to allow the Chatarra to sit on the ground, with enough clearance to protect the paddle wheel and rudder. The team hope to have the remaining raft work completed this weekend. “It seems we never have enough time or money, but these days it's the same story for so many. So, we feel blessed to be in Baja, and to have so many supporters and friends to help us make this happen.” says John Pack.  
 

The Chatarra Project comes with three separate goals. The first one is to raise awareness regarding the increasing presence of trash on the Baja and to get people involved in taking care of the fragile peninsular ecosystems. In addition, the two adventurers aim to create and support in each community they visit a network of people who will commit to keeping their area as clean as possible. The third goal they set for this challenge is to establish a Clean Baja Day. This is an event for the whole family during which both adults and children will learn the true value of keeping Baja clean.

Chatarra is funded through donations, sales of the Chatarra Project T-shirts, and through the goodwill of the people who support the project. The Chatarra raft will be launched from the beach of Campo Ocotillos on June 20 at the bottom of the morning tide. The official launch time will be when the Chatarra is lifted by the rising tide.

In the past weeks, the team has made incredible progress. The raft is gradually getting pieced together with the help of friends and sponsors. Recently, the Pack family organized the Chatarra Jam, an occasion to spend time with friends, have fun, enjoy food, listen to good music, and to pass the word around about The Chatarra Project. The Jam included lots a great local musicians including Denny Flannigan, Sam Grubb, Frank Braal, Steve Lord, on tenor sax was Philip Singletary, Carol Lord, and even John Pack sat in a set on guitar. The jam including a special appearance and performance from Pancho and Sal of the Rio Samaya Band.

The Chatarra Project is a project of the Baja Good Life Club (www.bglclub.com) and is financed by the support of it’s members and friends. The Baja Good Life Club, a social travel and discount club dedicated to foreign residents of Baja California. The company’s core purpose is to enhance the lives of our members by providing exclusive discounts, events and activities, and by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news and information about living, working and playing in Baja California. The company has been publishing in Baja since 2007.

Contact:

Aura Catalina Radican

Baja Good Life Club Editor

AuraCatalina@bglclub.com