Happily reporting from the beach right here at Seagrove Villas :wub:! Hubby and I arrived Saturday afternoon just in time to catch the tail-end of the Seaside Community Yard Sale...what fun! Snagged a great pair of flip flops for $10 and had a relaxing, delicious lunch at Rendezvous Caf?.
We were down for a week in August with our kids and grand children...which is wonderful, but this week in October is OUR week! Yesterday we were up at 6:30 AM and down at the beach for our first morning walk. We walked a while, then came back to the beach at the Villas, dragged our chairs and umbrella down and sat together just enjoying our favorite place in the world! After a bit, we left our coffee cups at the chairs and took another walk the opposite direction...east. We passed a gentleman walking a black dog, throwing a tennis ball...and noticed that he and another woman were removing chairs & umbrella's that were set up...even going as far as to throw the umbrella's into the trash dumpsters. I thought it a bit odd since it didn't appear to me that the chairs had actually been left up through the night. We had been down on the beach late to see the gorgeous moon rise Saturday night, and by the the time we left there were very few people and items left on the beach. When we turned around to walk back to our chairs, we could see that the man we had past earlier was dragging our chairs and umbrella up the beach to the dumpster! :angry: Please sir...I don't live here and get up early to see sunrises and stay at the beach to see the sunsets...don't deprive me of beach space because you're lumping all visitors into one category! The fact that our coffee mugs were sitting right there, one full of shells we had collected on the first half of our walk, was a clear sign that our chairs hadn't been left overnight! This morning it's windy and rainy...so our walk will have to wait, but tomorrow I suppose I'll have to put a sign on my chairs or something...:idontno:
beachmabeachmaBeach Lover151 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
beachmaBeach Lover151 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover5,108 views
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Just CuriousJust CuriousBeach Fanatic316 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Just CuriousBeach Fanatic316 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticCleaning up trash is one thing, but throwing away someone's chair is another. I don't like people leaving their crap overnight either, but if everybody went around doing what they thought was the right thing we would have a mess on our hands. That is why we have Code Enforcement; they have a system in place to distinguish what has been left overnight and what wasn't. Since they have started enforcing the code again the beaches look much better. The best thing to do is call them when you see something wrong, and let them handle it.
jdjdBeach LoverAtlanta96 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
No, it's not a private citizen's responsibility to enforce the ordinance, but dealing with piles of other people's junk 365 days a year gets to you.
Noone complains about the multiple organized beach cleanups every year (especially the one on July 5th) or the many bags of trash locals clean off the beaches every year, but somehow picking up abandoned chairs and tents is akin to kicking a whole litter of puppies.
Yes, some people are getting a little aggressive about it, but I really can't blame them - it's incredibly frustrating to constantly see the increasing amounts of crap littering the beaches w/ no owners in sight.
"picking up abandoned chairs and tents..." That's the issue here...are they really abandoned and shouldn't you be 110% sure of that before you take someone's property?
"w/no owners in sight..." Do you ever set up a chair at the beach and then take a walk? What if I want to do a 2 or 3 mile training walk/run on the beach? I would certainly be out of sight, and hen I do get back I would appreciate my chair still being there so I can sit in it!!! I'll be in Seagrove next weekend. I will be placing a chair on the beach and leaving that chair to run 3 miles. Please leave my chair there 'cause I'm gonna need to SIT DOWN when I return!!! :blink:
jdjdBeach LoverAtlanta96 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
Cleaning up trash is one thing, but throwing away someone's chair is another. I don't like people leaving their crap overnight either, but if everybody went around doing what they thought was the right thing we would have a mess on our hands. That is why we have Code Enforcement; they have a system in place to distinguish what has been left overnight and what wasn't. Since they have started enforcing the code again the beaches look much better. The best thing to do is call them when you see something wrong, and let them handle it.
Now see how simple and easy this is???? :blush:
scooterbug44scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertYou may leave your beach chair or tent TEMPORARILY to take a walk, swim, or a run, but there are literally hundreds and thousands of people who leave their piles of crap there for days or permanently because they can't be bothered to clean up after themselves.
All I am saying is that as those piles of clutter and crap continue to grow at an exponential rate, my outrage at overzealous beach cleaners decreases at an exponential rate............................and I cheer for anyone who takes a stand against it!
I can't take a walk without stepping on abandoned toys & trash, detouring around vacant tents or chairs, or coming across giant holes in the sand that I could hide large pieces of furniture or several bodies in.
People are turning our treasured beaches into landfills - and you wonder why people are taking it upon themselves to clean them up?
All I am saying is that as those piles of clutter and crap continue to grow at an exponential rate, my outrage at overzealous beach cleaners decreases at an exponential rate............................and I cheer for anyone who takes a stand against it!
I can't take a walk without stepping on abandoned toys & trash, detouring around vacant tents or chairs, or coming across giant holes in the sand that I could hide large pieces of furniture or several bodies in.
People are turning our treasured beaches into landfills - and you wonder why people are taking it upon themselves to clean them up?
jdjdBeach LoverAtlanta96 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
You may leave your beach chair or tent TEMPORARILY to take a walk, swim, or a run, but there are literally hundreds and thousands of people who leave their piles of crap there for days or permanently because they can't be bothered to clean up after themselves.
All I am saying is that as those piles of clutter and crap continue to grow at an exponential rate, my outrage at overzealous beach cleaners decreases at an exponential rate............................and I cheer for anyone who takes a stand against it!
I can't take a walk without stepping on abandoned toys & trash, detouring around vacant tents or chairs, or coming across giant holes in the sand that I could hide large pieces of furniture or several bodies in.
People are turning our treasured beaches into landfills - and you wonder why people are taking it upon themselves to clean them up?
scooterbug, I mean no disrespect to you, and as I have been visiting these treasured beaches 4 or 5 times a year for about 15 years, I too, want to see them well cared for, as we should care for ALL natural areas such as beaches, forests, etc. I am a HUGE environmentalist for the record. I just think it can be done in a way that is reasonable, and without mistreating the folks that want to use these beaches. For example, the person who started this thread is at the Beach in October. Tourist season is mostly over, right? So really, are the beaches so littered right now as to warrant someone going around throwing everything away? Probably not! I do understand how frustrating is must be if you live here and see trash on the beach; it makes me angry too. But a little common sense is in order here! Someone keeps saying "it is what it is" to justify this guy vandalizing peoples' property right under their noses. But that saying holds true also, if you choose to reside in a resort area. Lazy, inconsiderate tourists leaving their messes...it is what it is. I, for one, promise to always do my best to preserve and protect South Walton beaches in any way I can. Thanks for letting me share my $0.02!!!
bluecatbluecatBeach Fanatickentucky399 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Don't put all tourists in the same apple basket.Don't know who left all the empty beer bottles on the beach in Grayton last week,but I picked up quite a few .No matter who leaves junk on the beach, they are slobs who probably live in filth at home .Hope they read this if they can read.
We are home from the beach after an incredibly wonderful time! I wanted to add an addendum to my original post. I did receive an apology via pm from "overzealous beach cleaner" which I accepted. He was very gracious and admitted his commitment to helping to keep the beaches beautiful and clean for everyone had crossed over the line. We all have had the best of intentions go awry from time to time in our lives! That being said, I still disagree with self enforcement of laws/codes from private citizens. My question since we have had this experience, is there a way to include volunteer "taggers" who could work w/TDC to identify items that are being left in violation of the codes? I also have to say because we were on vacation and were able to literally spend 8 - 10 hours a day on the beach last week, that we observed some of the cleanest beaches ever this trip. I think visitors as well as locals are "getting it" for the most part...Most visitors follow by example.
I'm going to try and add a few pictures here, but will try to post a little more detail in a little trip report under a new topic later.
:wub: Always planning the next trip before we hit the 331 bridge!
I'm going to try and add a few pictures here, but will try to post a little more detail in a little trip report under a new topic later.
:wub: Always planning the next trip before we hit the 331 bridge!
sunspotbabysunspotbabySoWal InsiderSanta Rosa Beach5,000 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Insider
sunspotbabySoWal InsiderSanta Rosa Beach5,000 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal InsiderLooks like a happy ending. :clap: Thanks for sharing your experience.
JdargJdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
JdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertGlad you had a nice trip.
Yes, the beaches are much cleaner right now- it is not the busy season. If you ever visit Memorial Day- Labor Day, you know what we are talking about- the summer season is getting worse every year. :(
Yes, the beaches are much cleaner right now- it is not the busy season. If you ever visit Memorial Day- Labor Day, you know what we are talking about- the summer season is getting worse every year. :(
NotDeadYetNotDeadYetBeach Fanatic1,416 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
NotDeadYetBeach Fanatic1,416 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticLove that sunset picture. :wub:
Glad you had a nice trip.
Yes, the beaches are much cleaner right now- it is not the busy season. If you ever visit Memorial Day- Labor Day, you know what we are talking about- the summer season is getting worse every year. :(
Well, actually we do come down every summer usually in early August, but sometimes June. This year we stayed in a house in Majestica in Seagrove. A few years ago, it seemed like everyone left their stuff either on the beaches or under the beach board walks...even the beach chair guys! We've just noticed improvement in the last few times we've been down. :blush:
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