Grayton Beach 6/24;Good, Bad and Ugly

**30A Skunkape** · 06-24-2006, 01:34 PM

Just wanted to share some observations from the beach today, and maybe vent a bit too.

The GOOD

The beach was gorgeous. Water crystal clear and calm, brilliant sunshine. Talked a bit with Capt. Larry Pentel about the fishing while he was busy cleaning his morning catch. Didn't see anybody trampling dunes. Lots of kids and families having a wonderful time. Basically a good beach day!

The BAD

A young family set up their spot right in front of us. You never met these folks, but I assure you you know these people. Dad's entire right arm covered in tats, as was the side of his neck. Mom was a thin little thing puffing on Marlboro Reds. Baby girl was maybe one and a half years. Nothing wrong with any of this...the thing that sucked was when little kiddo pooped her diapers, they were removed and dad dunked her little butt in the sea to 'cleanse' it before a new diaper was applied. This must not have been good enough for mom as they shortly thereafter got into a very loud, Jerry Springeresque argument and mom stormed off the beach. Yikes. Oh yeah, a frightening spike in the loudharleybike population. I know, lots of people have them now, it's a free country, etc. But they are so damn loud;If you have one, no offense, just realize you hack off lots of people(but that is part of the charm I guess).

The UGLY

Took a walk up the old lake outlet. Looks like this has become the place that cigarette butts and cellophane wrappers go to die. Also noted two lads with a bucket full of blue crabs (gorgeous critters!) but the things had all clawed onto one another in the bucket and when I reached in and grabbed one it was like pulling up a winning chain of Barrel of Monkeys game pieces. Then I saw a bunch of legs that had been shorn off in the bucket and one poor crab may have been a little soft and he was being pierced by another ones claw. the kids were way down the outlet, so I have no way of knowing if these crabs were destined for the boiling pot or not, but even so, they should be in a large icechest while they await the boil.

**aquaticbiology** · 06-24-2006, 02:17 PM

jerrrry! jerrrry!

i went to a beautiful, yet oddly unpopulated, beach with gorgeous palm trees, clear fresh water, and tiny little waves lapping at the white sand beach, beach chairs, rentable pavillions and a full-on bar not 20 feet away

clearwater key beach club

superb food, great bevs, cheap (10 bucks for gas roundtrip in the ragtop) and a free hotel room at the casino

if only i were deaf, then i couldn't hear the kids screaming bloody murder on the other side of the fence or the stupid too-loud pa system blaring nonsensical repetitive pop-rap

actually, with the screaming kids, drunk rednecks and blaring awful music, it looks just like grayton on a sunday afternoon (without the trashy tents and suv's on the beach)

**SHELLY** · 06-24-2006, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by 30A Skunkape

Just wanted to share some observations from the beach today, and maybe vent a bit too.

The BAD

A young family set up their spot right in front of us. You never met these folks, but I assure you you know these people. Dad's entire right arm covered in tats, as was the side of his neck. Mom was a thin little thing puffing on Marlboro Reds. Baby girl was maybe one and a half years. Nothing wrong with any of this...the thing that sucked was when little kiddo pooped her diapers, they were removed and dad dunked her little butt in the sea to 'cleanse' it before a new diaper was applied. This must not have been good enough for mom as they shortly thereafter got into a very loud, Jerry Springeresque argument and mom stormed off the beach. Yikes. Oh yeah, a frightening spike in the loudharleybike population. I know, lots of people have them now, it's a free country, etc. But they are so damn loud;If you have one, no offense, just realize you hack off lots of people(but that is part of the charm I guess).

Probably just some of the local neuvo-rich who sold off 27 acres of swampland in Freeport to some clueless Trump-wannabe developer for a cool few million

**Smiling JOe** · 06-24-2006, 07:35 PM

Did you say Marlboro Lights? I picked up about a pack of butts on the beach today -- all in two piles, along with candy wrappers, an beach umbrella wrapper, a shovel, and from the looks of things this evening, there are about 5 kayaks, several piles of beach chairs, and a couple of tent frames on the beach waiting to get washed out to sea.

-- I didn't see the people who left all of the crap, but I bet they are white people.