Crystal Beach FAQ's

[Odd Duck]

Lone Star Free Ride​

Crystal Beach, TX​

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=S+One...,+TX+77650&hl=en&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr


This is a "simple" ride with no sponsors. There may be a single group meal, but it looks like this year will be mostly bring your own. There will be cobbler on Saturday night. Follow your nose on the beach. If you can't find it, you are too drunk.

Parking and camping is allowed on the beach with a beach parking permit. These permits are available at the local convenience stores (several less than 5 miles away) and from local officers that will be patrolling the beach off and on.

RV's can drive and park on the beach (no hook up's on the beach, but there are nearby RV parks). Here's a link to the nearest RV park: http://www.bolivarpeninsularvpark.com/ There is also one called Sand Dollar RV Park, sorry, I don't have a link or phone number. [They were very nice about making a deal with us - they let us fill up with water, then let us dump as we left for the price of one overnight stay, we actually parked on the beach. They were happy and so were we.]

There are no gimmicks, we just hang out and ride. We expect around 80-90 people - riders and families. There will likely be around 45-50 riders. Friendly dogs are welcome, but must be under control. There will likely be too much beach traffic to let your dog run loose at this ride. This ride is the first weekend of spring break for most of the Texas school system.

All are welcome. Please be polite, pick up your trash, and don't break any glass on the beach. With this many people, you need to have good wave manners (especially large sitdowns). We don't want any injuries if we can help it.

The only real rule for our freerides:

Don't do anything that makes me stop riding to take you to the hospital!


A few safety suggestions for everyone: PLEASE READ! http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/28587

 

[Odd Duck]

Q: I know many of you are local to this ride, so can we get an idea of what type of gas we can expect to be available near the ride? Or do we have to bring enough for the whole weekend?

I run 100 octane, so I am hoping there is 110 available there, or at least something at or above that.

Put my mind at ease!

A: The only thing you'll find in a pump down there is 87, 89 or 93 octane. You'll need to pick up anything higher than that in Houston or bring it with you. QuickMick might know a place to get it.

Note that if you bring fuel - you either have to disguise it carefully to bring across the ferry - or take the long way around.

More on that: If you go on the ferry and they see you're carrying gas cans, they must be filled with water. Not only can you not take cans with gas across, but you also can't take empty cans across. They will make you turn around and fill them with water, and since all the gas stations charge for water, it'll cost you a few bucks to do so.

They don't search for them, they just watch for them.

Q: Where exactly is the ride area?

A: The ride area is about 9 miles after you get off the ferry. Pretty much turn towards the beach at 9 miles - if you can't find us from there: you're blind.

Closest gas is 1.5 miles or so away - so roughly 10.5 miles from the ferry.

Closest food is the Outrigger Grill. Up at the highway from the ride area, look to the left - there it is.


Basic beach rules (some from the actual authorities, some from Penguin):

• No ATV's (4wheelers) on the beach. Golf carts and "utility vehicles" (gator, rhino, mule, etc) are allowed
• No Glass on the beach (that includes in a vehicle). Put it in a cup, or drink from a can.
• Speed limit is 15mph
• No smoking in my house if you come inside.
• Please do not litter - I will have a trash can & bags on the beach. Use them...especially for the jello shot cups.
• For those coming from out of state - TX does not allow anyone in the passenger compartment of a vehicle to drink alcoholic beverages. That means driver, shotgun seat and rear seat occupants as well. I don't know how the law interprets that with regard to the bed of a truck. So - if you want to go down the beach to "The Zoo" (the spring break party area) - please be aware of that rule!
• The cops at "The Zoo" have absolutely no sense of humor. They will arrest you and put you on "the bus" to Galveston.
• There have been cases of dolphin strandings in Crystal Beach & Galveston. If you see a dead or dying dolphin (on the beach or a floating carcass) - please notify me so I can call the proper authorities.
• Please do not drive through my yard, unless I tell you it's OK. Golf carts and pit bikes are fine - but if you have a car, park along the road like normal people :biggrin:
• If you do go to "The Zoo" - bring a video camera - you never know what you might see! :bigeyes: Night vision on a video camera is a GOOD THING! :biggthumpup:

 

[Odd Duck]

Other info you might need:

Originally Posted by The Penguin
first off, visit www.crystalbeach.com - every rental company has a link there.

my house is in the Bluewater subdivision - here are some others that are right nearby:

Swede's Real Estate www.swedesrealestate.com
1-800-624-0071 - ask for Kelly Comeaux and tell her you're with the Jet Ski Group.

Here are a few houses and their rates (managed by Swede's) right near mine:
Sundial: http://www.swedesrealestate.com/sundial.htm (already rented)
Our Blue Heaven: http://www.swedesrealestate.com/ourblue.htm
A Brand New View: http://www.swedesrealestate.com/brandnew.htm
Sage: http://www.swedesrealestate.com/sage.htm
Fraid Knot: http://www.swedesrealestate.com/munch.htm
The Getaway: http://www.swedesrealestate.com/getaway.htm
Ol Blue: http://www.swedesrealestate.com/olblue.htm (already rented)
Blue Note: http://www.swedesrealestate.com/bluenote.htm
Sunny Day: http://www.swedesrealestate.com/sunny.htm
Bahama Mama (no link - but should be cheap since it's near the highway)

of those above, Sundial, Our Blue Heaven, A Brand New View and Bahama Mama are recent rennovations or relatively new construction.

Beach or Bay Realty: 1-888-61-beach
Cobb Realty: 1-800-880-2622
MORE: 1-800-880-1380

Swede's has the most homes in my immediate area - the rates listed above are the winter rates - which should be correct (or close).

I will put up a few at my house as usual. I may be able to rent or borrow the neighbors house again this year (It will sleep 6 or 7)

When they say a house sleeps 6 - they mean it. They can kick you out of a rental for sleeping more people than the house can accomodate. Rentals may or may not include linens - be sure to ask.

There are several RV parks in the area - links are on the CB webpage in the center bottom of the main page

if you need more info or help with anything, please PM or email me.

 

[Odd Duck]

Thanks to jdc for the research. Prices are March of '08.

NORTH
Houston Yamaha Motorsports
9550 FM 1960 Road West
Houston, TX 77070
Phone: (281) 890-2020
http://houstonyamaha.com/
Sunoco 114 L - $7.50
VP fuel jug w/nozzle - $36

EXTREME MOTOR SPORTS/KAWASAKI
29935 STATE HIGHWAY 249
TOMBALL, TX 77375-4113
(281) 351-2220 Phone
sunoco 110 UL - $7.80
VP fuel jug w/nozzle- $36

Smiley's Racing Products of Houston
1622 Sawdust Rd.
The Woodlands, TX 77380
View map
281.362.7872
http://www.smileysracing.com/
vp 110 L - $8.00
vp 113 L - $9.30
vp fuel jug - $20.95

HiperFuels
12969 W Hardy
Houston, TX 77037
281-447-7200
http://www.hiperfuels.com/

Houston Performance
14610 Tomball Parkway #403
Houston, TX 77086
(281) 893-6080
http://www.houstonperformance.com/
Not selling currently - supposedly $4.75

SOUTHWEST
Houston Yamaha Motorsports
11941 Southwest Freeway
Stafford, TX 77477
Phone: (281) 530-8600
http://houstonyamaha.com/
Sunoco 114 leaded - $6.50
VP fuel jug w/nozzle - $36

Autobanh Motorsports
10800 Roark Road,
Houston, TX 77099
Telephone: 281.495.0660


EAST
Houston Raceway Park
2525 FM 565
Baytown, TX 77520
281.383.7223
Sunoco 103 - $7.50
Sunoco 110 - $7.00

AJ's Racing fuels
1313 Sheldon Rd.
Channelview, TX 77530
281-452-1983
111 L- $6.50
114 L - $7.75
118 L - $8.75
vp fuel jug - $21.95

 

[Odd Duck]

Surfside information

Please see this thread for info about Surfside ride this year.

http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/51403

 

[The Penguin]

No need for parking stickers so long as when you hit the beach - you head EAST (left)

 

[The Penguin]

Here's a better map since Stanek Road does not go through to the beach:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou....988021,-95.258074&spn=0.035962,0.059652&z=14

 

[Wave Chaser]

Has anybody been along the blue water highway from Galveston yet or is it best to come in off FM 2004.

I know after IKE alot of the road was washed out.

 

[The Penguin]

faster for you to come 2004 than to drive all the way down Galveston Island.

 

[Moondance]

First thread probably needs to be updated or deleted.

 

[Odd Duck]

Maybe we should split the thread and make a separate Surfside sticky? I hate to delete the Crystal Beach stuff, we'll be back there someday.

 

[The Penguin]

If you'll glean all the useful information and start a new thread - I'll make it a sticky.

 

[swaggggg]

a ride at crystal beach would be cool....