Post Spring Break Clean-Up

**Baldy** · 03-21-2009, 01:56 PM

Hey,
I just walked down the public beach today and was APPALLED at the trash littered up and down the shore from the spring break kids. I just moved here in Dec. and haven't heard much on the community effort to keep the beaches up. Are there any? If so, where do they meet? I'd love to know.
Anyways, myself and about 15-20 locals so far are planning to meet up on the shore of Santa Rosa Beach at around 3:30 P.M. on Sun. and are planning to work our way down the shoreline with trash bags. I figure we'll start at one end and work our way down the beach. All are welcome to join and help. Hopefully, we'll be able to get most of the bulk of the garbage, but we are guessing that it'll take a few "meetings" on Sun. to clean the gulf shore side. I haven't looked on the bay side yet, but if anyone has seen any problem areas, feel free to report them and we'll get there too.
It's OUR backyard and long after the irresponsibility of the visiting kids are gone, we're still here. I encourage you to join us or just pack a garbage bag or 2 in your pocket the next time you go to the beach. DON'T FORGET, the real money comes from the summer crowds and no one wants to sit on a litter-strewn beach. It falls to us to keep our area beautiful and clean. If you see a tattooed bald guy with a Rottweiler and a garbage bag walking past, feel free to join in for a bit. It'd be nice to meet some other eco-friendly people helping with the same cause.
Jake

**Beach Runner** · 03-21-2009, 02:00 PM

I do this every time I am at the beach, which is quite frequently. I confiscate items for our renters' use, and when I have enough, I put them out by our trash cans so that people can pick them up and recycle them.

The amount of just plain trash last year was more than I'd seen in the entire 21st century.

I hope it's not even worse this year.

Thanks for doing this!

**Rita** · 03-21-2009, 02:04 PM

.
Thanks for your efforts!

I'd love to be able to join in but alas ....

.

**Jdarg** · 03-21-2009, 02:12 PM

Once the warm weather hits (now!), I am at the beach 2 or 3 times a week, with a huge stock of trash bags in the car. Every visit includes a trash pickup session. I think most locals and 2nd homeowners that use the beaches are regular trash picker-uppers!

**Hop** · 03-21-2009, 02:37 PM

sadly...beach clean up is part of living here. It is really unbelievable to me that people could knowingly drop their garbage on the ground....ANYWHERE?!?! It does seem that people truly lose their Da#n minds when they go on vacation.

DD · 03-21-2009, 06:00 PM

I'd be right along beside you if I lived there.

**Jychf** · 03-21-2009, 10:02 PM

and let's not forget filling in the holes that they've dug everywhere....the family and I will definitely be a part of the clean up!

**Baldy** · 03-22-2009, 02:02 PM

Cool...
Then it's a nature date. I'm bringing my fellow muso Mike and after careful deliberation, will be leaving Merc (my Rottie) home. She's big, drooly and friendly but might get in the way of picking up trash. See you guys at 3:30 I've got the 1st roll of bags. :)

**Allifunn** · 03-22-2009, 03:20 PM

I walk Grayton Beach as often as possible and I have two bags...one for trash and one for treasure...it is a good day when my treasure bag is heavier than the trash...today there was very little of each. I am happy to say that Grayton Beach is in pretty good shape.

**Rita** · 03-22-2009, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by Allifunn

I walk Grayton Beach as often as possible and I have two bags...one for trash and one for treasure...it is a good day when my treasure bag is heavier than the trash...today there was very little of each. I am happy to say that Grayton Beach is in pretty good shape.

That is a good sign! Maybe the Grayton-lovers "get it".

.

**Baldy** · 03-24-2009, 05:32 AM

Hey All,
Thanks to everyone that showed, you ROCK!!! For those of you that came later, sorry if you missed us. As we were picking up on Santa Rosa Beach, the lifeguard hailed us and told us that we were needed in Miramar REALLY BADLY, so we relocated to Bad Ass Coffee, parked there and combed the crap out of it to 800m past Pompano Joes. 8 full bags of trash. in that small stretch. I wanna strangulate the guy that flyered this week. HEY BUDDY, UNLESS YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE IS CRABS, SEAGULLS AND FISH, YOU'RE NOT EFFECTIVELY MARKETING. GET A RADIO SHOUT OUT OR SOMETHING.
Maybe next collection run, we'll start collecting company names on the pollution and start a wall of shame... They probably don't know that they're doing it that much.
ANYWAYS, if you came, you rock, if we missed you, sorry but good on you for showing up. We'll catch up next Sun. at 3:30.
Peace to all,
Baldy

**Miss Kitty** · 03-24-2009, 05:40 AM

Baldy...you rock! Thanks for this update and y'all keep it up! I'll be down soon and would love to join this crew! Maybe if you keep this thread going, someone will learn a lesson about littering...like it's NOT cool!

**Jdarg** · 03-24-2009, 09:09 AM

Thanks Baldy- the sheriff at Grayton this weekend told us that Miramar was a cesspool - more like PCB MTV spring break than normal. Wonder if more condo owners needed money and rented to the college and high school crowd? This sheriff was just shaking his head, and seemed happy to be working at Grayton (which was very crowded too, but not too many rowdy spring breakers).

**Baldy** · 04-02-2009, 02:52 PM

I'm rounding up another crew on Sun. at 2:30 P.M. weather permitting. Maybe this time, we should meet at Pompano Joe's and split in two. That area was the worst of the treks that I've made so far, but I haven't gone as far as the beaches over in Ft. Walton. Any news on them?
Baldy

**BeachSiO2** · 04-02-2009, 03:10 PM

For those catching up with Baldy this weekend the eastern half of the parking lot and the restroom have been open since March at the Miramar Beach Regional Access, adjacent to Pompano Joe's, in case that would be a hindrance to you.