And hopefully back from Boerne early tomorrow to read this. Original message: (No reply yet from the Chamber -- guess I'll look for a phone number Monday) ------------------------------------------------------- And I mean BEACH, not state park campground. Like most of my posts this is going to ramble a bit as I add to it between other tasks. Sorry 'bout that. I'm missing TatP-III next weekend because I screwed up making our calendar for the year. My next "long weekend" off is Friday, November 3rd through Wednesday, November 8th (6 days). That's the weekend of my family reunion. My family rents a beachside cabin every year for the reunion. Not over on the Island, on the peninsula, east of Rollover Pass. Go to the map at http://www.swedesrealestate.com/Publish/map15/index.html and look for "Ampa's Place" on the right side about 1/3 of the way up from the bottom. I'd like to invite whoever wants to come to camp on the beach in front of the cabin. Our family always has lots of "extras" so it's a great opportunity so long as you have a place (bus) to sleep. The place we rent has two bathrooms so it works out with a little coordination. Also, if it's available and we have people interested in pitching in we could rent "Avalon" right next to "Ampa's Place" http://www.swedesrealestate.com/avalon.htm. It's $300 for the weekend at winter rates. It's a no-smoking house so smokers would have to "take it outside" (which would probably allow for greater general use by the group anyway). The only thing is -- I don't know the rules for actually camping ON the beach. The Chamber of Commerce website is pretty sparse on their rules listings (http://www.crystalbeach.com/brulesC.htm ---- Main page at http://www.bolivarchamber.org/). I've written an email to the chamber contact address but since it went out on Friday I don't expect an answer until later this coming week. I'd like to possibly turn this into a "last blast" weekend every year and maybe generate some revenue for donation to the community like TatP. I said as much in the email to the Chamber (a copy of the email is at the bottom of this email). Paul, can you find out how much we generated for the PD last year and this year AFTER their costs for the hamburger feed? Anybody interested in coming down let me know. It's 4 weeks away right now. I'd like to be able to give the Chamber an estimate to further expand on the possibility of making it an annual thing. Gerald ----------------Copy of Chamber email----------------------- Hi, I have a few questions about beach rules. My family rents a cabin each year for a family reunion. It is beachfront just off of Gulf Shores (Swede's rentals, Ampa's Place -- http://www.swedesrealestate.com/ampa2.htm -- http://www.swedesrealestate.com/Publish/map15/index.html). I am also a member of several Air Cooled Volkswagen enthusiast clubs and we like to get together several times each year for campouts. I am missing one of our local (well, Belton, TX -- 300+ miles is local enough, I go to AZ twice a year) shows next weekend due to work issues. I would like to invite those who are able to come camp on the beach in front of the cabin the weekend of my family reunion. That could be one or two vehicles up to as many as 15 or 20 -- but I would expect a maximum of around 5 or 6 (those closest to the area, mostly Houstonians). Looking at your website I see nothing about camping directly on the beach. We all know how to "clean camp" and leave an area as we found it (sometimes better than we found it) and I can probably provide references who can testify to that effect. If this turns out well we may be able to expand it a bit and attract the 15 - 30 VW crowd and generate donations to local volunteer organizations. The show/campout next weekend in Belton generates $500+ for the Morgan's Point Resort police department. We charge $15 to attend and the PD boosters set up a hamburger feed on Saturday. Two plates are included with admission and additional plates are $5 each. We do other things like a silent auction of donated items to generate revenue above the entry fee. The info website for the show is http://www.23window.com/tatp/ I do see the "No bonfires allowed" note. What about smaller fires if we cart in (and out) our own firewood? If there are more than just a very few of us I can also request that everyone cart out their own trash rather than using the local barrels. A few have porta-potties for personal needs. We'll also be able to use the facilities at the cabin as necessary. This would be the weekend of November 4/5/6. Any info appreciated. Thank you for your time, Gerald Livingston