Padre Island Run?

[Shaggy]

I am planning on heading to Padre Island National Seashore at least once over the holiday break. The beach is just south of Corpus Christi and is about 60 miles long. Any stock 4x4 should be able to make it, and a 2wd might be OK with careful driving. Hurricane Bret had cut some passes through to the Laguna Madre, but they had almost closed as of last weekend and the entire beach is accessible. The beach is not a rock garden of a mud pit, but it is always interesting. The cost is $10 for a 7-day pass or $20 for a year. If anyone is interested in going, post a reply.

Brian

 

[DrewP]

Shaggy,

Where do you start from? Port Aransas? I live in Austin and would be interested in going, but I might be tied up over the holidays. I might have to drag my boat down and do a little bay fishing as well. No problem for a stocker? I was fishing on Baffin Bay in October and heard some guy had to get helicopter rescued from the top of his jeep. I guess he drove through the hurricane cuts when the tide was low and got stuck trying to make it back across when it was high.

Anyway, I'd be interested it going...would you tolerate a jeep(not mine...a friends)?

Drew Payne

p.s. Have you ever off-roaded on Fort Hood?

 

[Shaggy]

The place is a national park, so you have got to go through the main entrance south of Flour Bluff to start. There are some places you might get a little stuck, but hopefully helicopter rescues will not be necessary. If you have some sort of place to hook a strap it's no big deal. My schedule becomes real flexible once I get done with finals next week, so any time is pretty much OK. Fishing in the surf is excellent when the water is warm, but I have never tried it too much in the winter. Tarpon, reds, and spanish mackerel were still hanging around the jetties a couple of weekends ago. I don’t mind other makes of vehicles at all, last time we went there was a pair of ZR2’s, a TJ, and my Explorer.

I’ve never been up to Fort Hood, and I did not even know that it was still open to 4x4’s. If the holidays are all booked up for you, there is a Tx4x4 club run and campout the last weekend of January.

 

[GJarrett]

TIME OUT fellas.....

Civlians can go four wheeling at Ft Hood???
TELL ME ABOUT IT !!!

Gerald, trying to find SOMEWHERE to trail from Dallas ...

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

I would not mind going but not sure how my 2wd would do... I could try to get my friend and his Explorer eb 2dr to come. His Explorer has a body lift but it should do OK...

Let me know a good date I might tag along...



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Kris Guilbeaux
--
http://www.tisd.net/~guilbeau/explorer.html

 

[Shaggy]

I work on campus in the chem./micro labs, so when class gets out Wednesday I’m off for about a month. Name a date and I’ll be there, just give me a day or two notice. I would prefer to go before Christmas, but it does not really matter. The trip can be done w/o ever using 4wd, because there is usually at least one pretty good path to drive on. Getting off in the soft stuff or up in the bumpy areas is the fun part, but it is also the most difficult. You should be able to learn the limits of you truck quickly and be able to avoid problem situations.

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

shag,

Do you know any one else that might want to go that have Explorers that would be really cool if you did then I could take my dig. camera and take pictures and get rick to post them...




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Kris Guilbeaux
--
http://www.tisd.net/~guilbeau/explorer.html

 

[Shaggy]

Kris:

I can’t think of anybody else that has an Explorer that might go. A lot of my friends have 4x4’s, but I’ve got the only Explorer that sees any off-road use. Is your friends the green one with the body lift? If only a couple of people are going to go, we could go to Matagorda Beach. It is not as far away and the beach is a little easier on the vehicles. There are supposed to be trails running all over the place, but the only time I’ve been out there we got rained on and did not cover anything but the beach.

Bring your camera, and I’ll get my Explorer airborne for a truly net worthy picture.

Brian

 

[DrewP]

GJarrett,

Well, you used to be able to off-road on Ft. Hood but they closed it down about 2-3 months ago for an environmental impact study. They might open back up to motor vehicles, but you'll want to call them to make sure. The numbers are:
Ft. Hood AACC 817-287-8398 or 8203 whichever you can get through to. There are motorcycles and jeep guys with huge tires, locking diffs, and other crazy stuff.

Shaggy, sorry but I'm all booked up for the Holidays. Thanks for the offer though.

Drew

 

[Mando]

How far is the run from Brownsville? I live in Matamoros (crossing the border) and have a few free days after Christmas.

What are you planning to do during the run? Is there something to see or do, or is just to hang out? How long would it take?

Me and my 4x4 Explorer would be happy to be there.

P.S. What is Ft. Hood?

 

[Shaggy]

Mando:

Padre should be 2-3 hours north of the border, but that is just a guess. The drive up and down the beach takes at least 4-5 hours, but you can easily spend the whole day playing around. I can’t think of anything specific to do, but I have made about 10 trips and it has not got old yet. It is just an interesting place with a lot to see.

Any day between Dec. 26-30 works for me. I’ll let you and Kris work out a final date if he wants to go, then we can figure out a time place to meet.

Brian

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

I talked to my friend "Ben" today and he does want to go... The date I chose was Wed. Dec.29,1999 It is hard for me to day off from work So I requested that day off and it gives me enoght time to get my radiator fixed (it cracked two days ago) andI might get my new headers on by then too(I should get them monday)...

What does every one else say...



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Kris Guilbeaux
--
http://www.tisd.net/~guilbeau/explorer.html

 

[Shaggy]

Sounds like a plan. Went down to the creek last night and gave the Explorer a good flogging. Now the belt squeeks and the exhaust has come loose and is leaking. Something to fix before we go, too. Didn't finish the beer 'till the sun came up, and I have not got to sleep yet. Ugh. If you need to get a hold of me, my # is 553-7071 or cell 361-319-5922.

Brian

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

OK, Change of plans Shaggy would it be problem to go on the 30th instead of the 29th wrok kind of did not give me that day off but the 30th is now free... And Mondo would you be able to make it to padre Island? What do yall think...



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Kris Guilbeaux
--
http://www.tisd.net/~guilbeau/explorer.html

 

[Shaggy]

The 30th is fine. What time do you want to leave? Are you going to come through Port Lavaca? If you are, we could meet in town somewhere and then head down there.

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

I am not sure how to get there off hand so it would be best to meet in Victoria or Port Lavaca and drive there together and I am sure you know of some good spots... Do you think me should leave about 11:00 how does that sound... We need to make a plan before we go so I tell ben and Let another one of my friends know because he wants to ride with us...

I have yet to get my headers on but hopefully I can get them on before thursday So I can see how they work...


------------------
Kris Guilbeaux
--
http://www.tisd.net/~guilbeau/explorer.html

 

[Shaggy]

Can you meet me in Port Lavaca around 10:00? I don’t think it is really out of the way for you, and Victoria is the wrong way for me to go. If you take a left at the first light coming into town, you will see an Exxon across from Port Cities Ford. Seems like as good as place as any to meet.

Good luck with those headers. I put a set on my old truck, and they were a pain to install. If you end up trying to pull an all nighter and need a hand, let me know. I would sort of like to see how hard they are to do in case I ever get a pair.

What is the final vehicle count now? I’m still trying to convince a couple of my friends to go, but have not been able to get and confirmations yet.

Brian

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

I am hoping to work on the headers today after the car cools downI just got off work. That sounds like a good place to meet and I good time too... The count is 2 explroers and 1 navajo... Got the video camera a new battery and two memory cards for the digital camera...



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Kris Guilbeaux
--
http://www.tisd.net/~guilbeau/explorer.html

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

The headers are on D**m those things were a B***h to put on (yelling about first degree burns on my arm) but the car sounds good (except the new cat is not sealing on the factory muffler very good) But the power improvement is great I just need to get a new cat back since it is still the stock muffler.

oh if you need to get a hold of me my cell # is (361)655-0061.



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Kris Guilbeaux
--
http://www.tisd.net/~guilbeau/explorer.html

 

[Shaggy]

Glad that you did not have too much trouble getting them on. You might want to bring food and something to drink, because there are no places to buy anything on the beach. If you have tow straps and stuff pack them, but I should have enough to go around if we need them. I have got to pick up people in the morning, but I'll try to be on time.