GPSL HELPFUL HINTS Rev 1.1

GPSL HELPFUL HINTS Rev 1.1
1.1 Added Ham-ilton Repeaters
General:
Rules around Pecan Plantation
Thursday June 16, 2016
Directions to the FAA Tour
Directions to Cousin's BBQ
Directions from the DFW area to Pecan
Directions from the Granbury area to Pecan
Friday Presentation Day @ Clubhouse See Schedule
Saturday Balloon Launch Day See Map Enclosed
Frequencies:
FAA Tour Talk-in FTW Rptr
:146.940 PL110.9
Granbury Repeater Talk-in
:147.080 PL88.5
Simplex chase and launch field :446.100
EOSS Team chase and field
:446.200
Flights South: Glenrose Rptr
:147.020 PL88.5
Flights East: Cleburne Repeater :145.490 PL 88.5
Flights SW: Stephenville Rptr :147.360 PL 110.9
Flights South: Hamilton Rptr
:442.475+ PL 88.5
Flights South: Hamilton Rptr
:147.200+ PL 88.5
General:
Rules around Pecan Plantation:
Pecan Plantation is genuinely excited to have GPSL here! The event staff has
helped with the planning of meals and encouraged publishing of an article about
the event in our local news journal. To help aid your experience here, I have
outlines some pointers:
When entering Pecan Plantation at either gate, there are two lanes of traffic to
the right side of the guard shack. You will want to avoid the right most lane, it
uses an RFID tag to allow automagic gate opening for residents. The lane
closest to the guard shack is the manual, visitor lane. Stop there and let the
guard know you are here for the GPSL conference and they should let you in.
We have golf carts and other vehicles on our roads. Everything has the right-ofway over cars. This includes golf carts, pedestrians, bikes, deer and airplanes.
Yes, we really do have airplanes that cross streets here, so be very vigilant near
the east side of the airport. Golf carts are plentiful and yikes! will make left turns
when you are about to pass them, so be very wary of golf carts! If a golf cart is
at a stop sign or driveway perpendicular to the main road, they do not have right
away over you if you are on the main road, but still be wary. I have had golf carts
run stop signs and pull out in front of me like they had a death wish!
We have very helpful, but often very serious guards. Though unarmed, they do
have a fleet of cars, snapshot radar, radios, cell phones and have the ability and
right to give you a ticket just as a public officer can do. They can call Hood
County Sheriff or State Troopers (often on site) for backup. So be very attentive
to signs and speed limits! :)
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Obey all street signs. Perform full stops at all stop signs
Obey max speeds which are 25mph unless otherwise posted
Do not drop my name if ticketed, it may increase your fine a lot! :)
They will give you a ticket for 5MPH over, and on a bad day maybe even
3-4MPH over, so watch your speed carefully. Yes, we do have those
residents that will tailgate you when you drive at the speed limit…
Happens all the time.
Hood County Sheriff and State Patrols have full jurisdiction here. They too will
give you tickets for driving violations.
We have very serious deer. It is birthing season. Singles, twins and triplet fawn
are being born now and will be plentiful while you are here. Compared to
northern and Colorado deer, our southern deer are tiny! Fawns are near 12”-16”
tall when born, so they are often hard to see in the ditches or grasses!
Older deer, via Darwinism, usually behave quite well around traffic. Younger
deer (just born) are unpredictable and are prone to run in front of your car.
Please drive slowly when you see deer near the road. You will typically see lots
of deer at morning and evening hours.
If you have trouble navigating Pecan, look for the numerous signs that point you
to various amenities. For example, once through the front gate and across the
river, you will see signs pointing you to the Clubhouse, Airport, Stables,
Beaches, etc. If you are hopelessly lost, call! We are happy to talk you in via
phone or radio!
ON to the Schedule of Events (see online details for the latest listing!)
Places to be:
FAA Tour: 13788 Federal Aviation Administration Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas. Be
there a bit before our 2:30 CST appointment on 6/16/16.
NOTE: The address sometimes shows up in the wrong spot on Google Maps!
The location is not on the east of HWY 360, it is west of HWY 360.
WRONG!
Please note the small parking lot just inside
of the driveway just off of FAA Blvd. Park
there. It is best to back in if you have a large
vehicle, it can get a little tight.
Remember your Driver's License.
Just to the south of the parking lot is the
small guard shack. We will gather there.
Inside is a TSA like metal body scanner and
guard who will wand you if you have metal
in/on your body. Leave stuff in your car just
like you would when getting on a plane. I am not sure they allow pics, I never
tried, but a flash will likely be a troubling issue.
Turn cell phones OFF at this point.
We will begin the tour of the ARTCC building after passing through the scanner
and being escorted by the FAA supervisor from the guard shack to the main
ARTCC building. We will likely break up into two groups so we don't overwhelm
the various areas of the tour. We will meet up again before departing for
Cousin's BBQ.
After the FAA Tour:
After the tour we head for Cousins' BBQ. Traffic will likely be very heavy, stop
and go. Be patient, we have a lot of time allocated for the trip to Cousins BBQ.
Here's the address:
5125 Bryant Irvin Rd.
Fort Worth, TX 76132
(817)346-3999
There are several ways to get to Cousin's BBQ from the FAA facility. All will likely
be slow going. Here are example routes, I usually travel the route in blue:
After Cousins BBQ, Head to Pecan or Granbury:
See following pages:
Pecan Bound:
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Leave Cousins, head back north to I-20 on Bryant Irving.
Take I-20 West to HWY 377. Take 377 South.
You will be in the City of Benbrook area. Caution – Construction area.
Follow 377 South to Fall Creek Hwy, AKA Hwy 167. Note: GPS units and
Google Maps often want you to go several miles more into the back gate.
Wrong… Pecan bound attendees turn left onto Fall Creek, AKA Hwy 167.
Take Fall Creek Hwy AKA Hwy 167 to Montecello, (7 mi) then into Pecan.
Remember to go into the left most lane of the right two lanes and beg the
guard to let you in, noting you are with the GPSL. Offering money helps.
Head straight, crossing the bridge and entering the traffic circle. People in
the circle have the right of way.
Exit the circle and follow the wooden sign as directed to the Clubhouse via
Plantation Blvd to Orchard, Orchard to Wedgefield, Right or west on
Wedgefield to the next traffic circle, then exit south to the Clubhouse.
Hilton or Granbury Bound:
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Leave Cousins, head back north to I-20 on Bryant Irving.
Take I-20 West to HWY 377. Take 377 South.
You will be in the Benbrook area. Caution – Construction area.
Follow 377 South to 377 Business, Granbury Business District exit right
Cross the bridge, pass through a light and the Hilton is on your left.
From Granbury to Pecan:
• From Pearl Street, head west through the Granbury Square and keep
going to the light at Pearl and Morgan.
• Turn left or South at the Light (feels east to me – but it is South)
• Stay on Morgan crossing 377 and continuing. Morgan becomes Hwy 144.
• After several miles (5?) turn left at the light Hwy 144 / Mambrino Hwy
• Continue to follow Mambrino to the back gate of Pecan.
• Stay in left of two right lanes passing through gate. Tell the guard you are
with the GPSL.
• Continue through to the traffic circle, turn right and exit first right towards
Clubhouse.
Saturday Great Plains Super Launch Day!
Please be aware that the area is an active airport. Airplanes may be taxiing near
where we are filling balloons!
The area is also an active Emergency Medical Services location. The helipad in
the view below is used very frequently. Therefore the driveway must allow for
ambulance access to the helipad!
Please parallel park along the driveway and in the parking lot area near the
pavilion. If needed for gas fill, you may be allowed to park in the grass, please
let Michael K5NOT know of your needs!
Park only as
shown in light
green, along
the entrance.
DO NOT BLOCK
AMBULANCE
ACCESS TO
HELIPAD
Pr
e
p
Ar
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