Didn't have much money this year, so I tore a page out of my childhood and took the family to the Texas coast for a week. We went to a little place called Matagorda, which is still like things used to be when I was a kid. No McDonalds, No Walmart, no chains of any kind in the little town. Did a little swimming, a little fishing, and a LOT of eating. But for me the most fun thing was taking the buggy to the sand for the first time ever. And guess what? It WORKS! Loose sand that trapped any vehicle that wasn't 4WD, the buggy just floats over. I wouldn't want to stop and then get going again in the really loose stuff, but as long as I was moving at 10mph or more I'd just glide along. I got more waves and thumbs-up than a Ferrari (if a Ferrari ever made it to the beach!). Great fun.
Ha... correct Terry. I ended up with a street buggy when it was all said and done. If you are going to be in nothing but loose sand you want paddle wheels, but they are useless for the street. I drove the buggy into town on the road, as well as to the beach. Something like this is what you use when you are in the DUNES:
Scott that sounds like a blast, what a great get away... Outside of Daytona I can't think of another beach in Florida that would allow you to drive on the beach. Is Texas pretty accepting in that department?
Yeah... most places you can drive on the beach if you can get to it. Texas has a LOT of thin barrier islands, some you can access in a car others not. HOWEVER... it's a "you are on your own" deal. You get stuck in deep loose sand - too bad. On weekends there is usually a courtesy beach patrol that might have a vehicle that can get you out, but on weekdays they are gone. Never fear, there are always kindly mercenaries who will pull you out for a fee. It turns out my week of fun might have been a little more trouble than I tought. I'm finding that the buggy's previous owner cut some corners in places that are not obvious. Looks like he didn't install the usual shift rod bushing on the front of the transmission... so now I have sand in the tranny nosecone. :x I'll take it out this weekend and give it a good once over to see what else might be amiss after the trip to the sand... Wanted to put it on Craig's List this weekend, but that's on hold.