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Come Experience The Natural World Of Padre Island
National Seashore With Captain Billy Sandifer!
Attention Volunteers! The 2011 Big Shell Beach Cleanup is scheduled for March 19th this year.
This event just can't happen without the help of our volunteers and your help is needed again. See you there!
16th. Annual Big Shell Beach Cleanup
The Big Shell Beach Cleanup will be held Saturday, 19 March, 2011. Volunteers will meet at Malaquite Pavilion on PINS
and the event will commence at 7 a.m. To reach Malaquite Pavilion just stay on S.P.I.D. through Corpus out onto N.
Padre Island where it becomes Park Rd. 22. Just keep driving till you come to the entry gate of PINS. Tell the
attendant you are there to volunteer for the beach cleanup and you will not be charged admission. 2nd. Set of buildings is
the Malaquite Pavilion. Huge parking lot. It’s on the left side of the highway. All volunteers will be back at the
pavilion by 2 pm. 4 wheel drive vehicles, trailers for hauling trash in and out of the work area and working volunteers
are needed. Walking volunteers are welcomed and those without 4 wheel drive vehicles will be afforded transportation to and
from the work area. Those unable to pick up trash but having 4 wheel drive vehicles are most welcome to aid in hauling
volunteers. The event doesn't re-schedule and will take place rain or shine. Use the map below to help coordinate where to
line up, park, and get ready at the Malaquite Visitor's Center.
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Big Shell Cleanup Parking Lot Diagram
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Snacks, water and soft drinks will be available in the work area and refreshments will be available at Malaquite following
the event courtesy of CCA Corpus Christi Chapter and Dominos Pizza. Long trousers and sturdy foot wear are recommended.
Don't pick up broken glass or flammable items. Report them to your section leaders. Volunteers will receive event t-shirts.
This is a worthy event and it's only possible because of volunteer participation. Won't you please come and join us.
Capt. Billy
The 2010 Big Shell Beach Cleanup
As I stare at the words on the line above I wonder if it shouldn't read "The David Ainsworth Beach Cleanup" for without Ainsworth
Trucking Company we would have been in a real bind getting trash off the beach this year. We only had a couple of trailers show
up to haul trash. It's easy enough to understand. Taking your trailer down island to haul back trash may very well damage your
trailer or cause serious mechanical problems to the towing vehicle that could prove expensive and timely to repair while you sit
without a vehicle to get to work on Monday. That is why I have always said that those pulling trailers never really get the credit
they deserve for they aren't just showing up and working their backsides off picking up trash; they are risking loss or damage of
expensive equipment. And this year it caught up with us. Knowing this before we did, the Creator put Ainsworth Trucking Company in
our lives and the plain and simple truth is we would not have got it done without them.
Mr. David Ainsworth and his operations manager, Kenny Smith, showed up with 2 big rubber tired front end loaders and each was
pulling three 16 foot trailers that they had put 4 foot sides on for the occasion. The stats this year are impressive. The
Bassler's Port Mansfield Group had 90 people and got 5 miles of trash. The North end event had at least 450 volunteers and the
total amount of trash was 103 tons. Close to 17 miles of beach was cleaned. But somehow to me personally the numbers are
overshadowed by the pure heart and drive of the volunteers this year. This event was extremely tough, from the very beginning,
the weather hammered us, we had vehicle problems galore and we just kept on going and did it anyway. We ran alongside trailers
in sheets of ice cold rain in high winds, we got on our knees and pulled our trash bags behind us when we couldn't stand up any more,
soaking wet clothes actually dried on us as we worked in the chill and low humidity of the incoming Cold Front.
Everett Johnson and Pam arrived at the parking lot with a hot brake and never got to participate. Tyler Thorsen was a Section
Leader and his front right wheel began making loud clunking noises in route to this assigned work area and he ended up stopping
short and working where he was. I realize this year that unless you were there I simply can’t explain this event to you. It’s
all heroes with hearts as big as Texas and the absolute determination to make things better for their having been there. We
learned this year we need bigger tool boxes. Mr. Ainsworth sheared off the first ball hitch he ever saw give way in his life
and several of us spent 45 minutes with a hammer and 2 rusty pairs of vice grips trying to replace it. We got it done but then
the replacement broke also. 2 in one day. Finally Mr. Ainsworth ended up tying a tow strap around the bucket on the front end
loader and the leading trailer’s hitch and pulled the whole shebang in backwards for 26 miles of beach. During this adventure
the tow strap broke 6 times. By the way, he didn’t have a helper and was doing all this single handedly. Beginning to get the picture?
I’ve never said it before but there is not a single event in Texas to compare with this. And that ain’t Billy bragging; that’s Billy
being very humbled at being blessed by the Creator to be allowed to play a small role in this unbelievable event. In a world that
sometimes seems to have gone crazy and is filled with "it’s all about me and how big my fish is, or my truck is or my boat is"
types there is absolutely nothing even in the same league with this event and the wonderful people who come from all over and spend
their Saturday straining their backs to the limit while asking absolutely nothing in return simply to make outdoor Texas a better
place to visit. Thanks to all our sponsors: David Ainsworth and Ainsworth Trucking, Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation, Sharkaton, CCA Corpus
Christi Chapter, Stephen and Donna Gregory and Miller and Kathie Bassler, Smartshield Sunscreen, Tex-Maps, David Sikes and the Corpus
Christi Caller Times, Everett and Pam Johnson and Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Ron Behnke and the Salty Angler, Time Warner Cable,
Tex-Maps, Daniel Dain and Domino’s Pizza, Jay Gardner and the refreshment crew of CCA Corpus Christi, and Coastal Bend Audubon Club.
Special Thanks to Ace Leal, Gambler and crew for the hard work put into the t-shirts. Michael Laskowski Sr. and Jr. of Trac-Work, Inc.
Railroad Maaintenance & Rehabilitation officed in San Antonio provided 550 pr. of sturdy work gloves for volunteers and we are
extremely thankful to them for their kindness and support
We broke over 2 millions pounds due to 103 tons this year. So now we have 2,030,000 lbs. of trash removed. YOU ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE "MY HEROES." Your humble brother in the sand. Capt. Billy L. Sandifer
Big Shell Beach Cleanup March 14th 2009
Those who visit and fish the area South of the 15 mile area of PINS beach
regularly for any length of time soon realize there is really nothing easy
about it. It’s harsh and hostile and totally unforgiving and it always has
been. Guess that’s why I have loved it so for so long. Hard and hostile
places breed strong, self reliant, col orful people and these are the people
who have been my chosen family all these years. Simply planning and
executing a successful day’s fishing can become quite a task. Then if tides,
winds and weather aren’t just perfect (and they rarely are) it becomes more
and more complex and difficult
Now imagine 502 people showing up before
daylight on their day off with many traveling hundreds of miles to be there
in 45 degree temperatures with drizzle and 24 mph North winds and picking up
800,000 pounds of debris (most deposited by Hurricane Ike) and you have the
story of the 14th. Annual Big Shell Beach Cleanup. From toddlers to school
children to red necks to house wives to PhDs. Bikers to Environmentalists to
Cowboys. All equal; working side by side and doing their absolute best to
get as much debris as possible collected and removed from the National
treasure that is PINS and which means so much to so many.
Their reward for
this day of pain and strain in miserable weather was an event T shirt, some
sunscreen and "Fishbites" and a map and a pair of gloves. Most got hotdogs
and pizza. Kinda’ slim wages but the real pay off was 9 3/4 miles of clean
beach in the Big Shell and a couple of miles cleaned by this year’s Port
Mansfield group of 25 volunteers who came across by boat and were met by 4
wheel drive trucks which had driven in from the North end. This portion of
the event is a first and was organized by Miller and Kathy Bassler of
Bassler Energy Services of Deansville, Tx.
Another first in this year’s
event was that NPS (National Park Service) personnel at PINS were full
partners in the event and not only worked with us but furnished invaluable
heavy equipment and trucks. To the NPS personnel it was just another day in
the trenches as they’ve been battling the debris since Ike and their effort
continues now. For days prior to the event the "backdrug" roads through Big
Shell with large front end loaders so volunteers could get in and out of the
area. It remained extremely difficult to pull trailers south of the 20 mile
but without their efforts it would have been impossible. I’ll stand tall and
tell anyone that NPS personnel led by Facilities Manager, Larry Turk, have
done more work on PINS in the past year than has ever been done there before
The bone chilling, wet and cold conditions made hard work miserable for
everyone but our volunteer truck drivers pulling trailers really had a tough
time in the soft sands South of the 20 mile. Even the most experienced got
stuck at least once or twice and had to be pulled out. I don’t think I’ve
ever given these trailer pullers the full credit they earn and deserve. They
risk and endanger their personal property more than the rest of us and that
extra effort needs to be realized and acknowledged. So a great big and well
earned special thanks go out to these hard working folks. Most of the
volunteers were back at Malaquite by the official ending time of 2 p.m. but
quite aa few worked beyond that and 8 of us joined NPS personnel on Sunday
and continued the effort till we simply could go no more.
Prior to this event the first 13 events picked up 1,030,000 pounds of trash.
The 800,000 pounds collected during this event brings the event total to
1,830,000 pounds. This record event collected as much trash as 10 previous
ones had but I think it very important not to "steal the thunder" of earlier
events as there are 2 big reasons for this years tremendous amount of trash
gathered. First off there was that much more trash to pick up and secondly
the NPS joining in helped dramatically Everyone who has worked in any of
these previous 13 events has worked their backsides off just as much as this
year.
We are grateful to all of our sponsors and I’d like to recognize them
individually. CCA Corpus Christi Chapter provided hot dogs and refreshments
for volunteers at Malaquite. Daniel Dain and Domino’s Pizza provided pizza
for tired volunteers. Coastal Bend Audubon Society furnished the restrooms
at the 15 mile. Fishbites, Smart Shield Sunscreen and Texmaps furnished
product for volunteers. HEB Plus of Flour Bluff donated a gift certificate
for sundry items. Michael Laskowski Sr. And Jr. Of Trac-Work, Inc Railroad
Maintenance and Rehabilitation officed in San Antonio furnished 600 pair of
work gloves and then personally hauled 4 trailer loads of trash. David
Ainsworth of Ainsworth Trucking in Corpus Christi provided 2 truck and large
trailers filled with ice chest and bottled water for volunteers. Jerry B’s
Kayak Sales and Rentals of Corpus Christi donated coupon discounts to
volunteers.
Without "getting the word out" this event would never exist and we are
extremely grateful to Kellie Smith and Time Warner Cable Media Sales, Texas
Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Salty Angler and David Sikes and the Caller
Times for the great publicity they gave the event. Thanks to Gambler
Specialitys for doing such a good job of the t shirts and to Ben Beaty for
his awesome graphic design of the shirts although I must say I’m prettier
than depicted. As rough and tough as depicted I’ll admit; but prettier.
Another first for this event is financial contributions to the event and
other worthy causes on Padre Island through donations to the newly formed
"Friends of Padre." The board of FoP is made up of Dr. David McKee, Tyler
Thorsen, Steven Naylor of Round Rock and myself and we were all personally
"in the trenches" with everyone else as well as managing the organization.
Substantial donations were received from Mr. Leon McNinch and Jim Mayo of
the "Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation, Stephen and Donna Gregory (they paid for
all the t-shirts and made a sizable donation as well), Kathie and Miller
Bassler of Bassler Energy Services in Deanville, Tx. made a donation and
organized the Port Mansfield volunteers, Sharkathon, Mr. Jimmy Jackson of
Beeville, TX. And Mr. Johnny French.
Sunny Beaches.org was present with 37 volunteers. Mrs. Alvaredo brought 19
school children from Robstown, Tx. Awesome.
And my friend of more years than I care to recall, Mr. Ace Leal, who you may
only know as "the t-shirt guy" deserves a very big THANK YOU ACE because he
earned it several times over this year. He not only handled most of the
chores concerning the t-shirts; which has been unusually complicated this
year but has been my main "go to" guy on every aspect of planning this very
complicated event. When everyone else was busy with something else Ace’s
reply was always "sure I will" or "I’ll be over in a few minutes."
I am very proud and blessed to be a part of this event. If you take a moment
and think about how crazy everything around us is these days and how many
people are getting caught behaving horribly over selfish greed and a total
lack of concern for anyone else or any thing but themselves this event
stands tall and proud as proof that there are still kind, concerned,
selfless people who not only are willing to give of themselves but to
eagerly do so simply because something needs doing and nothing is expected
in return. Each of us walked among such people Saturday and were counted in
their number and it honors us and it honors PINS. As always, YOU ARE MY
HEROES. Humbly your brother in the sand,
Capt. Billy L. Sandifer
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY
During 2007s "event of record" 440 people picked up 95,560 pounds of
trash and cleaned 13 miles of beach on PINS. During Saturday’s 2008 event
400 people picked up 115,500 pounds in bags and including large items
brought in the total is estimated at 65 to 70 tons.
 They cleaned 13.7 miles of beach. Less people yet record distance cleaned and record amount
of trash removed. We surpassed the 1 Million pound mark by 30,000 pounds. Although the morning temperature was a brisk 42 degrees some volunteers
traveled in open vehicles from town into the work area and I observed
volunteers in wheel chairs picking up trash in two separate sections.
Although Capt. Ron Behnke of "Salt Water Angler" is recovering from
serious back surgery he and Julie were there with other family members and
pulling a trailer and also gave the event high quality advertisement. A
well earned thank you to the Behnke family and their publication.
 David Sikes of the Corpus Christi Caller Times went out of his way to give the
event as much exceptional press as possible and so did the publication,
Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, the local Corpus Christi CCA Chapter and
Time Warner Cable Media Sales.
Ainsworth Trucking Company continued to be
not only a major financial supporter of the event but furnished 2 trucks
and large trailers loaded down with ice chests of iced down bottled water for volunteers in the field and hauled huge loads of trash out. Mr. Henry
Perry, Ainsworth Trucking Company, is invaluable in the field due his
experience and good common sense and is a genuine blessing to this event.
 The Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation was a major benefactor and the event is
indebted to them and extremely grateful for their support. So is Mr. Jim
Mayo of Mayo Ranches andalthough he prefers not to be mentioned I find it
impossible not to do so. C.C. CCA President, Troy Adler, and Brush Country
C.C.A. were in the "trenches" walking the walk" rather than talking the
talk..
Michael Laskowski of Trac-Work Inc. Purchased 500 pair of work
gloves for the event and then pulled a large trailer in the work area
gathering trash. TAMUK ANGLERS and Sunny Beaches Org. Furnished solid
number of volunteers.
 Daniel Dann and store manager, Stephanie Benham, of
Domino’s Pizza delivered pizzas for volunteers at the conclusion of the event and CCA Corpus Christi’s Jay Gardner whipped up a goodly supply of
his famous cheese-chili dogs as well.
Co-Organizer, Tyler Thorsen, of www.corpusfishing.com and board member of CCA Corpus Christi, was as
invaluable as always and so was long time friend, Ace Leal, the t-shirt
man and another co-organizer. Mr. Joe Escoto, the new superintendent of
PINS, and Cynthia Rubio of the Turtle Recovery Program spend the day
likewise "walking the walk" in the work area and off duty Park Ranger Pat
Donahue patrolled the area with a full first aid kit should problems
have occurred.
 Smartshield Sun Protection, H.E.B., TEXMAPS.com, "Fishbites" and
Carsonmap.com continued their wonderful support . Gambler’s Specialities
Ink of Corpus Christi did an awesome job on the t-shirts in short order
and my dear friends, Dr. David McKee, Ph.D. at Texas A&M University-Corpus
Christi and businessman, Steve Naylor, of Round Rock continued their
dedication to this worthwhile endeavor.
Mr. Brian Hawkins of the "Texas
Country Reporter" T.V. show filmed the entire event and a show on it will
air in May. Gas is over $3.00 a gallon, personal commitments overwhelm us
all in our everyday lives and it was a cold morning to get up on your day
off and drive some distance at your own financial expense to do hard
physical labor all day. The title of this comes from my ol’ military days, "Above and Beyond the Call of Duty." 
Throughout the event it kept running through my mind for I realized that was exactly what was happening right
before my very eyes and I am overwhelmed with admiration for all of you.
If "what goes around really comes around" you’ve all bought some
exceptionally good karma on this deal. Your are my heroes.
Your Friend and
Admirer,
Captain Billy L. Sandifer
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