Just to let everyone know how my week went: Loaded truck got 17.5 mpg there and back again. The days were warm; the water was cold, the wine flowed well. With all the dry weather the waterholes that swallowed my in-laws ram last year were dry as a bone. That was a first for me. The beach above the high tide was extremely tough, soft, and deep. The Tundra had very little problems though, 20 psi and cautious application of throttle and it rarely spins. The horses were out in force for photo ops. The beachcombing was magnificent. We never made all the way to the sound with the canoe, but we managed to paddle around the canals to the mouth of the sound. What stopped us was boat traffic, big fishing boats with big wakes. It would stand to reason that if you're a large boat in a narrow/shallow canal and you see a smaller boat/canoe you'd throttle back a bit and not try to swamp them. There are some unreasonable people in the world, though. We didn't capsize, the kids screamed as the canoe went through the wake, but it scared the hell out of me as I just got nosed into the wake in time. Anyway, that was exciting.
I managed some decent tugs. Mostly people who take off down the beach, unprepared, no straps, no shovels, no clearance, full tires. Tuesday we to town to be more "supplies", nearly high tide and we come upon an Avalanche. He's sitting just below the tide line. Driver said his 4wd wasn't working. I offered the tug. He declined. "Tides coming in, you know", I said. "yes, but I don't want to hurt it anymore than it already is" ; "besides a tow driver said he'd be back down here shortly". "you realize its about 275 for a tow?" "Yes, but I really don't want to make it worse."
" Tides coming in, you know" "Yes, thanks anyway" "Kay, good luck"
I tried to help at least. It got better a few miles down the beach. Acura MDX. Tugged them, they were grateful, gave up their beach drive and turned back for town. 3 miles later, I tugged them again, high centered a swell of sand. Almost to town; theres a Caravan, yes a minivan, sitting in the sand. He said; "It's Allwheeldrive, I thought it would make it"
You gotta give him credit, he made it almost a mile. Following the Acura and the van, "there it is, the pavement, is that minivan stuck?" Yep another minivan. this one was 3 car lengths. Tug, got a beach photo of the "Stuck on the Beach club" (Their name for themselves, not mine)
Later in the week we came across a Frontier, stuck trying to free a 4Runner. We used our shovels and a Jeep on 33's tugged. Frontier and 4Runner both freed separately.
Our last day, we managed a Ford Explorer, remember boys and girls, the combination of a HEAVY vehicle, no clearance and alcohol do not ever mix.
What do all these people have in common? No preparation. With the exception of the Frontier there was not a towstrap or a shovel among them. Everyone had full tire pressure, no one planned to drive the sand, just thought it'd be fun.
Everyone was very friendly and offered various beverages, or cash amounts which were politely refused. We simply asked them that if the situation were reversed just stop and offer assistance.
Anyways, this isn't a rant even if it reads like one, its just a long winded expression of how much fun I had. I enjoyed every minute of it. From the beachcombing todigging under a 4runner it was a blast!
The only downer was a conversation with a local telling us that the county was planning a road and a mall, because some of the homeowners were complaining that they couldn't get to their house easily and they have no place to shop! Anyway I've said enough this round. Any questions?
