She'll be underwater soon...

That's what I told my friend. It was't anything he didn't already know. The tide was rising fast and it was quickly becoming evident we were in big trouble. In a few more minutes, it would be too late. 

The National Sea Shore is a Government protected stretch of sandy beach on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. A sanctuary for migratory birds and other critters. It's also a place  vacationers use for recreation. One of which is four wheeling. If you have the required safety equipment, and pass a cursory inspection by a park ranger, you can drive your four wheel drive vehicle on the beach. We both had 'brand new' four wheel drive pickup trucks. This was our chance put them through their paces on the sand dunes. Both vehicles passed the inspection easily, having the proper safety equipment. The inspector issued to us the required permits and we were officially licensed. Time to get onto the sand dunes and do some serious driving. What could possibly go wrong? 

There is a trick to driving in soft sand. Lower the pressure in the tire until it's almost flat. If you don't, you'll quickly bog down and get stuck. We dropped the tire pressures. I was the lead truck and slowly drove off the pavement onto the sand. The result was immediate. The engine labored hard to move the truck in the soft sand. I didn't need  brakes. When I took my foot off the accelerator, we rolled to a stop quickly from the sand's resistance. In minutes, after adjusting to the new surface, it was time to explore the dunes. Both vehicles clawed at the soft sand to get up and down the steep dunes. Some, so far apart, it felt like we on the Sahara desert. My friend's wife shot video of our progress. At one point, we positioned the vehicles on two separate dunes so she could video the distance between the two. They looked like toys in a kid's sand box. 

Not sure who's idea it was but, we decided to drive close to the water. It was similar to the ads on tv where you see a vehicle driving at the water's edge as it splashes up and over the windshield. Like I said before...what could go wrong?....Well...have you heard the saying 'Murphy's Law?'...it applied here.

I glanced into my rear view mirror and saw my friend stopped at the water's edge. Why would he stop, especially in that location? He was flashing the truck's headlights. Was he signaling me? I quickly spun my vehicle around and headed back. As I approached, it was apparent his vehicle had become stuck in the sand..not only was it stuck but, the front tire had completely separated from the rim. The truck was leaning toward the water. The waves were getting closer. Must replace the missing tire, and fast. We got out the jack and a flat board specifically used for jacking up a vehicle in soft sand. In short order the wheel was off and the replacement wheel and tire installed. The waves started splashing against us and the truck. I jumped into the driver's seat and stood on the accelerator.....nothing. It just sat there, all four wheels spinning. Time was running out and we were in trouble. She'll be underwater soon, I thought.

We'd called the Coast Guard but, they wouldn't reach us for an hour. That would be too late. Then, racing along the beach, came a jeep. It drove directly toward us, pulled up and stopped. 'what's the problem?' one of the passengers drawled, clearly  intoxicated. In fact, all four were drunk. "We're stuck, can't get it out". "Let more air out", one yelled. In full panic mode we waded through the waves and dropped the air pressure even further. That was the only thing left to try at this point. I jumped into the driver's seat and stomped on the accelerator pedal. Instantly, the truck lurched forward out of the hole and away from the encroaching waves. We did it! We saved the truck from a total dunking. I looked around to thank the guys in the Jeep. They were gone, racing down the beach once again, waving and laughing..probably at the two of us, soaked and covered in wet sand. Sandy, wet and little wiser, we continued our ride that day. It really was a fun day, and exciting.

Some time later, we sat down to watch our little adventure on the video we'd shot. It would be fun to watch it for the first time. So many neat shots that we'd set up for. Up and down the dunes, the 'stuck in the sand' debacle. After we were settled in, beer and popcorn at the ready, we turned on the player.......................NO DISC IN THE CAMERA, it was empty!!

Jake T