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Flying Into the Sun
“Tourists in Mexico are warned not to drive at night. Cows, burros, dead animals or broken-down cars might be just around the bend—even bandidos. Tonight, the danger is crazed, drug-running gringos flying down the mountain, blowing past anything threatening their rhythm.”
~Flying Into the Sun
In 1979, a Mexican army truck and a small U.S.-registered airplane race toward each other on a remote airstrip in southern Mexico. Their game of chicken marks the end of a young surfer’s true-life smuggling odyssey involving midnight powwows with indigenous Zapotecs of Oaxaca, paddling kilos of marijuana across the Rio Grande on surfboards, learning to fly, and a stint in the Oaxaca State Penitentiary.
Narrated by the main character, Flying Into the Sun is not just a true-crime adventure memoir. It is an introspective, coming-of-age tale that weaves through a secret Mexico and chronicles the fast-changing 1970s in the U.S. with its emergent culture of long hair and drugs, rebellious youth versus hostile law enforcement, and the music and pop themes of the times.
The author worked his way up through general aviation to become a pilot for American Airlines, where he flew twenty years and retired as captain. Previous literary endeavors include publishing the insubordinate aviation tabloid Houston Air News, as well as writing stories for national and regional publications such as General Aviation News, the Portsmouth Herald and the Texas Flyer.
Chapters
* Prologue (Chicken)
1 Mexico
2 El Salvador (Bandidos)
3 Costa Rica (The Brotherhood)
4 Oaxaca (The Zapotecs)
5 The Rio Grande
6 Solo Run
7 Oil Initiative
8 Learning to Fly & Rainbow Weed
9 Saga of the El Camino
10 A New Era
11 Pop
12 La Carcel (Jail)
13 Kilos
14 La Casa Grande (The Big House)
15 Escape
16 Kilos Again
17 The Judge
18 You Will Be Free
19 Disco Sucks
20 What’s Your Purpose?
21 Southbound with Our Ears On
22 Cocaine All Around My Brain
23 Volcan Orizaba
24 Flying Home
* Epilogue
* Thanks
* About the Author
PRAISE FOR FLYING INTO THE SUN
“This is fantastic!! It's going to be BIG! I see a movie!”
~Chris Cantara, pilot & owner of Seaside Aviation, LLC
“So many great parts in the book. Magical Mystery Tour down the mountain was excellent. The book reveals a Mexico that tourists never see.”
~Eric Knight, semi-pro surfer
“F****** awesome!!!!!!!!!!!”
~Dave Bicknell, guitarist and software engineer
“I think it's great. You are a very accomplished storyteller. As a US expat living in Mexico I found the Mexican details to be quite accurate.”
~Tom Bailey, retired expat living in the Yucatán, Mexico
"I just finished this book. It’s killer. I loved it. 5 stars. A true story about some wild, crazy times in the 70’s. I really felt like I was there with you. I got a bit nervous a few times. Great Read. Hate that it ended."
~Sandi Syndergaard, moderator of the Original Over the Hill Hippies FB group
Yup, I love books. And I'm always happy to find out about a surf/ travel book that takes me back to places I've been to, or back to a time I've missed. Flying into the Sun is a mix of both...a time before smartphone navigation in rental cars or even planes, and what more a surfboard can be used for than just riding waves...
Worth a read.
~thefreesurfer.com
~Flying Into the Sun
In 1979, a Mexican army truck and a small U.S.-registered airplane race toward each other on a remote airstrip in southern Mexico. Their game of chicken marks the end of a young surfer’s true-life smuggling odyssey involving midnight powwows with indigenous Zapotecs of Oaxaca, paddling kilos of marijuana across the Rio Grande on surfboards, learning to fly, and a stint in the Oaxaca State Penitentiary.
Narrated by the main character, Flying Into the Sun is not just a true-crime adventure memoir. It is an introspective, coming-of-age tale that weaves through a secret Mexico and chronicles the fast-changing 1970s in the U.S. with its emergent culture of long hair and drugs, rebellious youth versus hostile law enforcement, and the music and pop themes of the times.
The author worked his way up through general aviation to become a pilot for American Airlines, where he flew twenty years and retired as captain. Previous literary endeavors include publishing the insubordinate aviation tabloid Houston Air News, as well as writing stories for national and regional publications such as General Aviation News, the Portsmouth Herald and the Texas Flyer.
Chapters
* Prologue (Chicken)
1 Mexico
2 El Salvador (Bandidos)
3 Costa Rica (The Brotherhood)
4 Oaxaca (The Zapotecs)
5 The Rio Grande
6 Solo Run
7 Oil Initiative
8 Learning to Fly & Rainbow Weed
9 Saga of the El Camino
10 A New Era
11 Pop
12 La Carcel (Jail)
13 Kilos
14 La Casa Grande (The Big House)
15 Escape
16 Kilos Again
17 The Judge
18 You Will Be Free
19 Disco Sucks
20 What’s Your Purpose?
21 Southbound with Our Ears On
22 Cocaine All Around My Brain
23 Volcan Orizaba
24 Flying Home
* Epilogue
* Thanks
* About the Author
PRAISE FOR FLYING INTO THE SUN
“This is fantastic!! It's going to be BIG! I see a movie!”
~Chris Cantara, pilot & owner of Seaside Aviation, LLC
“So many great parts in the book. Magical Mystery Tour down the mountain was excellent. The book reveals a Mexico that tourists never see.”
~Eric Knight, semi-pro surfer
“F****** awesome!!!!!!!!!!!”
~Dave Bicknell, guitarist and software engineer
“I think it's great. You are a very accomplished storyteller. As a US expat living in Mexico I found the Mexican details to be quite accurate.”
~Tom Bailey, retired expat living in the Yucatán, Mexico
"I just finished this book. It’s killer. I loved it. 5 stars. A true story about some wild, crazy times in the 70’s. I really felt like I was there with you. I got a bit nervous a few times. Great Read. Hate that it ended."
~Sandi Syndergaard, moderator of the Original Over the Hill Hippies FB group
Yup, I love books. And I'm always happy to find out about a surf/ travel book that takes me back to places I've been to, or back to a time I've missed. Flying into the Sun is a mix of both...a time before smartphone navigation in rental cars or even planes, and what more a surfboard can be used for than just riding waves...
Worth a read.
~thefreesurfer.com
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 13, 2018
176 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 23, 2019
Fun read!
As a 45-year-pilot now living in central Mexico and delighting in my flying my Old Cherokee in this beautiful country, it has always intrigued me just how my inventive, creative countrymen were able to provide us with “the good stuff” back in our hippy daze. The beauty and generosity of the Mexican people shined through, even with the less-than-fun experience in jail. If you liked this one, you should also read “The Wayward Marine” by my buddy here in San Miguel de Allende, Peter Dunev, available on Amazon (Chinooks in Vietnam).
As a 45-year-pilot now living in central Mexico and delighting in my flying my Old Cherokee in this beautiful country, it has always intrigued me just how my inventive, creative countrymen were able to provide us with “the good stuff” back in our hippy daze. The beauty and generosity of the Mexican people shined through, even with the less-than-fun experience in jail. If you liked this one, you should also read “The Wayward Marine” by my buddy here in San Miguel de Allende, Peter Dunev, available on Amazon (Chinooks in Vietnam).
November 21, 2018
Great book. See my review on amazon.com.
January 14, 2021
This book was hard to rate. It was interesting and entertaining, but the title and cover of the book is very misleading. The title and cover suggests that the book is about drug-running across the border by airplane - an airplane is pictured, the title says "Flying", and the subtitle says "airplanes".
But while the book is definitely about smuggling drugs, airplanes don't even enter the picture until 80% of the way through the book, really only the last ~10% has any real flying action. And even then, it's just one drug run that's discussed. The author even mentions how that was the only one he did.
The majority of the book was about smuggling drugs by car, and a very large portion was about (not to spoiler it), let's just say "entanglements with the local judicial system". Which was all very interesting, but again, the title and cover really advertise the "aviation" aspect of the book, which really just wasn't there.
But while the book is definitely about smuggling drugs, airplanes don't even enter the picture until 80% of the way through the book, really only the last ~10% has any real flying action. And even then, it's just one drug run that's discussed. The author even mentions how that was the only one he did.
The majority of the book was about smuggling drugs by car, and a very large portion was about (not to spoiler it), let's just say "entanglements with the local judicial system". Which was all very interesting, but again, the title and cover really advertise the "aviation" aspect of the book, which really just wasn't there.
August 10, 2020
Pretty Crazy
A crazy tome from a crazy time. As a frequent visitor to Mexico and being one who appreciates and respects the culture I enjoyed reading the spot on observations and recollections of time spent there. As a commercial pilot a d CFI I cannot believe the chances he took and survived to tell this tell. The indiscretions of youth are a funny thing indeed. I suppose the author has proved that for certain individuals anyway, soaking ones brain in dope has no long lasting effectcs, since he somehow managed to trick several entities into employing him as a professional pilot with a very sordid past. I dont think that would "fly" now a days. But that is an opinion only and as such, worth what you paid for it. The book was entertaining and written well, the humor and audacity of the exploits kept things moving quite well, actually.
A crazy tome from a crazy time. As a frequent visitor to Mexico and being one who appreciates and respects the culture I enjoyed reading the spot on observations and recollections of time spent there. As a commercial pilot a d CFI I cannot believe the chances he took and survived to tell this tell. The indiscretions of youth are a funny thing indeed. I suppose the author has proved that for certain individuals anyway, soaking ones brain in dope has no long lasting effectcs, since he somehow managed to trick several entities into employing him as a professional pilot with a very sordid past. I dont think that would "fly" now a days. But that is an opinion only and as such, worth what you paid for it. The book was entertaining and written well, the humor and audacity of the exploits kept things moving quite well, actually.
November 7, 2019
Wow. Read lots of books one after the other and this year this one is at the top. Not that I can 100% relate but I grew up surfing about the same period (mid 70s)Southern California near the Mexican border. I surfed in Baja south of Tijuana there as a late teen couple times. Never would have taken the risks he did. I have no complaints about what he did. Just maybe envy, maybe. Weed was always from Mexico except Thai sticks. Or so I was told by other yutes who did that sorta thing..;)..oh I hated disco music then too. Loved the music insertions. I saw Pink Floyd about the same time too, Anaheim Stadium.........really brought me back.
August 14, 2019
Great story line. Many of the locations and airfields he mentions I have visited. It was a different time in Mexico and Houston was a different place.
In those days I too spent days, often alone, in Mexico with no fear of the local community. The only folks with guns wore green or blue uniforms.
The one smuggler I met in Baja was both cordial and friendly with the unsuspecting newlyweds who ventured to close. I, having learned the signs to look far hanging around New Orleans, sat quietly in the corner safely.
This is an authentic view of Mexico before the turn of the 21st Century.
In those days I too spent days, often alone, in Mexico with no fear of the local community. The only folks with guns wore green or blue uniforms.
The one smuggler I met in Baja was both cordial and friendly with the unsuspecting newlyweds who ventured to close. I, having learned the signs to look far hanging around New Orleans, sat quietly in the corner safely.
This is an authentic view of Mexico before the turn of the 21st Century.
June 2, 2020
Very lucky Gingerbread Man( so far) where’s he at now?
“You gotta know when to hold-em... know when to fold-em... know when to walk away and know when to run...you never count your money while you’re sittin at the table. They’ll be time enuf for countin, when the dealins done”. Does our Sky King believe fate and destiny are really done with him? I think he’s back into the high life right now(that he is retired) Do you remember what the Gingerbread Man once declared “ can’t catch me I’m the Gingerbread Man!!”
“You gotta know when to hold-em... know when to fold-em... know when to walk away and know when to run...you never count your money while you’re sittin at the table. They’ll be time enuf for countin, when the dealins done”. Does our Sky King believe fate and destiny are really done with him? I think he’s back into the high life right now(that he is retired) Do you remember what the Gingerbread Man once declared “ can’t catch me I’m the Gingerbread Man!!”
June 14, 2020
Overall this book was a decent read. It moved along at a good pace, however the section in the jail went on a little long. While it is understandable the author may have wanted to demonstrate the feeling of the unknown, or frustration, it got monotonous. Additionally, we got a lot of information on characters that just kind of hit a wall and were wrapped up in a sentence. Still, the book was a quick and entertaining read.
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April 4, 2021Great adventure read!
A great recollection of an adventurous youth! Told with great detail & romance of a life well-lived! These stories rarely end "happy". Thoroughly enjoyed reading as I sit at home in Costa Rica
A great recollection of an adventurous youth! Told with great detail & romance of a life well-lived! These stories rarely end "happy". Thoroughly enjoyed reading as I sit at home in Costa Rica
November 19, 2022
the fertile world between imagination and reality is well traveled here. Paul Ogier's immersive detail reminds me of another neglected masterpiece set along the Rio Grande, Seeds of Man by Woody Guthrie. And next time I hear the phrase "Man of Papers" I'll smile and remember this delightful read.
December 21, 2023
Amazing true story. The author writes engagingly for a fun read. The description of what he was playing in tape deck was fun to know and anticipate in upcoming chapters, with "Already Gone" by the Eagles being a favorite. It is a similar book to the memoir, "Bad Karma."
September 4, 2019
Super book
Wow life is really strange and I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I had a hard time placing it down keep up the great work life is good Adios might amigo...
Wow life is really strange and I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I had a hard time placing it down keep up the great work life is good Adios might amigo...
September 17, 2019
Good adventure tale
Really good book, easy read. I could see myself in scenes the author depicted, as well a leaned more about the if the beaten path Mexico
Really good book, easy read. I could see myself in scenes the author depicted, as well a leaned more about the if the beaten path Mexico
December 10, 2020
Awesome. Fun read!
March 18, 2021
The Golden Years!
This book took me back to the 70's and helped me relive the best part of my life. A fun read!
This book took me back to the 70's and helped me relive the best part of my life. A fun read!
April 29, 2021
Fun book. Read it in two days. It should be made into a movie.
August 6, 2021
fun summer read
Super interesting, well-recounted tale of adventure. Perfect summer “getaway” and a lovey glance back to a different time…. thank you!
Super interesting, well-recounted tale of adventure. Perfect summer “getaway” and a lovey glance back to a different time…. thank you!
January 13, 2023
This book is a true story written in a style that adds suspense and thrills to the story. I came to like the people characterized in the story, even the bad guys! Well done!
November 11, 2023
Great adventures
This is a great book of a kid coming of age and being a weed head in his youth. He had fun, and later on got serious. Great book!
This is a great book of a kid coming of age and being a weed head in his youth. He had fun, and later on got serious. Great book!
April 10, 2022
Well written.
True stories, or those based on real experiences are always more interesting. An easy to follow, interesting, well written yarn of a misspent youth. My sympathies to your father!
True stories, or those based on real experiences are always more interesting. An easy to follow, interesting, well written yarn of a misspent youth. My sympathies to your father!
March 10, 2022
Paul Ogier is a legend. I had the opportunity to message with him on Facebook for a couple days. Very nice guy, full of incredible stories. If you love adventure and risk taking, this is for you. It’s like if dazed and confused and narcos had a baby.
March 7, 2019
When we were young, we were lucky. We had a sanctuary with no adult supervision. A place to hang, build our own surf boards, and get our minds right while we sat around trying to guess each other's future. Paul Ogier introduced me into this little band of brothers when we were attending a high school somewhere in Houston, a mere hour from The Beach where so many great adventures begin for the young. The Summer after high school saw the nascent fanning-out of our little social club, each one going his own way. It's funny how our guesses were all wrong. You think you know your friends, hell, you think you know yourself. But you don't. Maybe you never will.
Flying Into the Sun is Paul's adventure story and it happens to be true. You won't be able to guess how things turnout, but it'll bring a smile to your face and wisdom to your outlook on youth. Bravo, Paul.
Flying Into the Sun is Paul's adventure story and it happens to be true. You won't be able to guess how things turnout, but it'll bring a smile to your face and wisdom to your outlook on youth. Bravo, Paul.
May 11, 2021
Glorified drug smuggler saga but entertaining none the less.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews