Texas Padre Island Big Shell Cleanup

[I-10pinz]

http://www.billysandifer.com/cleanup.htmHope this link works, but this is 14 March 2009. We try to make it, and have seen a pinz there before. There is always a need for rides for people who show up without a 4wd to get to the work areas. Its not really back breaking or nasty work, its actually fun, and a good excuse to get out on the beach. We've got it on the schedule for this year, thought some of you might be interested. By Thomas using 4's handle.

[andy]

Hey Thomas, long time no post. Does Cuatro still have his Pinz? Thought about you guys a couple times when I took my 712 to Fritz in Victoria and had to turn off I-10 at the Luling exit to go south.

Coincidental that you would post this right now. A couple of days ago I made the acquaintance of another Texas Pinz owner, Bill Burge when he came to Del Rio and we had lunch. He goes to PI quite a bit with his 712 and does the camping thing. That got me considering a group Pinz trip to PI, but I hadn't gotten it sorted out enough in my mind to post anything yet.

We have at least 2 or 3 Pinzes in the San Antonio area. We have at least two in Houston. That would make a pretty good contingent and might even be newsworthy. For me the trip would probably be about the same as going to Big Bend, maybe a little more.

Do ya'll camp out or find a hotel/motel when ya go? it's a one day deal right?

Got anymore information?

Cheers,

Andy

[I-10pinz]

Yep still got it and you should have come up and seen us while you were that close, as for the cleanup its a day thing and to avoid posting false info I'll just wait for senior to post later.

4

[andy]

I thought about "cruisin"" the high school to see if there was a 710 there. I wouldn't have had any idea of where to go find ya'll.

That trip was more like spur of the moment, in the sense that I grabbed a chance to go when I had some feeding I could put off.

But, a round trip from Comstock to Victoria is a haul. I leave here at around 5 in the am get there close to noon and turn around and go back. It's about 7 pm when I get back here and that's with no stops except for fuel and one stop to get something really quick to eat. It's right at about 700 miles round trip.

If I have to go back I'll post something or try to send ya a pm. No offense, but I hope I don't have to go back, because that will mean a Pinz is injured. Later....

Andy

[texas pinzgauer]

Andy,

Tell me about your experience with Fritz's in Victoria. Are they a capable job in your mind?

David

[andy]

Dave, yes he is capable. The big thing to remember is when I bought the 712 I knew what I was getting and I realized things were probably going to break. But for the price it was a steal.

Fritz fixed a problem in the tranny for me and pretty much had to rebuild much of it. The second time it was a minor problem, that my eyes couldn't find and he did some other stuff like check the compression etc.

The guy from Texas Pinzgauer (not you) in San Antonio takes his stuff over there and both times I've been there have been other Pinzgauers getting work done.

His bays are always full and he keeps his shop very neat. He is a little guy and nice as can be. I'd love to have the time when I'm there to just BS with him.

I don't think his work is anymore expensive than the local Ford garage.

Gotta run.

Andy

[I-10pinz]

Thomas the senior here now. Yes,its a one day deal. The cleanup is the
Big Shell area in the National Seashore, past the 4wd sign. We usually get there Fri. night, stay in the Best Western about a 1/2 file from Snoopys on the island. Arrive at Bob Hall pier Sat. morning around 7 if I remember correctly. The straw boss there kind of lines vehicles up and starting about 8 sends them off in groups of 6-10. There are always people that are going to work the cleanup that come in cars, and they are kind of divied up amongs the vehicles that have room for passengers. The first string out usually stops first and gets out starts picking and bagging an area, the 2nd string of vehicles leap frogs them, third leapfrogs them, etc. After you finish your little area, you load up and move ahead to next unpicked area. You leave the bagged trash and there are folks with flat bed trailers moving up and down the beach loading them and taking them out. Its not really strenous, and the trash isnt "nasty" stuff-its been sea washed and sun dried. Seems like we do this till noon or a little later, again memory serves correct. Then you move back to the staging area for free hotdogs and drinks, plus you get a t shirt. We normally come home afterwards, its only about 3hrs.
We're open to however you folks might like to go about it. Camping, motel, spending the rest of the day fishing. A trip to Snoopys is always good-good food, wonderful view, good people watching, Pete that runs it is a good guy. A stop in Corpus at Texas Surf Museum and Surf Club Records is good. Charles Henry, another great guy is there. Quality T shirts, Texas music cds, the surf museum, and good food and live music next door at the Executive Surf Club. We've still got the pinz, our spastic on again off again sale efforts have proved fruitless. As have the sale efforts for the class 9 race buggy and the 24 acre parcel of land. Tight times I guess.

[andy]

Thomas, we were on the road last nigh when I read this. Let me check motel availability etc. I think the wife has something going in the Valley that weekend so I may end up alone anyway. Might bring one of the girls.

I could trailer one of the Pinzies and make it back home on Sat. or possibly drive one and hangout until Sunday am. That's why I want to check on motels and rate.

Isn't that weekend sort of close to Spring Break?

Andy

[I-10pinz]

Let me try and find which one we have stayed at. We will trailer ours down also. What is it, about 5hrs for you back home? Come out 90 thru Uvalde to Hondo and go South to Corpus?

[andy]

Trailering it will be about 5 or 6 hours. I've looked at a map and could cut southeast from Hondo to Pleasanton, but I'm not sure how much time I'd save on back roads. Otherwise it's 90 to 410 in San Antonio, 410 to I-37 and down to CC. Hondo to 410 is about 1/2 hr.

Pinz time, barring any problems would be close to 7 hours.

If you can, please go ahead and let me know where you all stayed and where you will be going to stay.

Andy

[andy]

Thomas, if it is Spring Break, motels will be at a premium and there will be tons of people. Probably, too many people.

Andy

[I-10pinz]

Its very close, just before spring break. I'll look tonight and find the motel.

[I-10pinz]

We normally stay at Best Western at 14050 SPID. Its easy for us because its just up the road from Bob Hall Pier. There is also a Hampton around there.

[andy]

10-4, I'll check it out. I'm thinking maybe I'll go to just to say hi to you all. Let me see if they are gonna be booked. I'm getting cold feet cuz I'm not sure I want to be around a bunch of drunk college kids. Worthwhile project, but at what price?

Andy

[I-10pinz]

When we have been before it was happening before spring break. You are also down on the PINS well past the 4wd sign so even during spring break I dont think they get down there. I'll try and find out when spring break for some of the schools are scheduled.