So Caroling, did you get before and after video or photos from the Eastern Lake area? I'm still out of town, so I can't get down there to see the results.
Items on the beach overnight
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So Caroling, did you get before and after video or photos from the Eastern Lake area? I'm still out of town, so I can't get down there to see the results.
On the Bluemountain web cam, the same blue tent has been up for days and yesterday someone put up a red tent and it stayed overnight as well. Seems like these people need a wake up call. Someone go out there and get beachmom that tent. LOL!!! No one will notice it gone.:rofl:
Nothing wrong w/ clear and uniformly enforced rules & laws!!! The special conditions, exceptions, etc. are what give us all the bureaucracy and confusion
. Am I'm north of 30A!Much easier to just say "No stuff on the beach overnight - PERIOD" then quibble about what day it could be tagged, when it will be removed, if the turtles know that it's a private beach, if you have it on your walkover, how far you have to carry things, which phase of the moon it is, etc.
Sounds like you will "notice it gone." ;-)
I was just thinking back over the years and how "crap on the beach" was just not seen or considered an issue - hardly ever. I believe it all started when people started hauling out those big ass tents. They were too big and bulky to put up and take down each day. So, after leaving them up, it became common practice to leave chairs and toys under them. Now we have more and more tents and crap left on the beach (due to more visitors). when visitors come to town and see all the permanent tents up and down the beach, they see an "accepted" practice of tents and crap. (although I don't see how anyone could take this to mean that garbage is acceptable).
Grayton Beach is huge and it is physically difficult to haul everything in your camp for your entire family/group on foot every day. Lots of families literally camp out from morning til night.
I am glad to drive my truck out to the beach with all my toys. But, this isn't a solution to most visitors (thank goodness). I wonder what solutions would be acceptable?
I do know folks who leave tents and neatly piled chairs in the same spot each night. They are great folks who love our beaches and know as much or more aobut them as we do (they certainly spend more time on them than some of us locals). We've talked to them about sea turtles and beach environment concerns; and they are very aware. They feel they are being responsible since they do not leave trash, and they always leave a very clean site, and watch the weather to see if the tent needs to be removed for the night.
Maybe all tent structures should be either permitted or banned. Sometimes its hard to find a place next to the gulf because of these permanent structures (and most have no one under them). I believe certain types of tents should be banned from beaches - some are just not safe - i.e., not made to withstand wind, use of sharp stakes and long ropes in the ground creating hazards for anyone walking anywhere near the tent, etc.
I don't know the solution. But, I am sympathetic to responsible visitors who need reasonable options. I believe most care a great deal about sowal and its environment.
Grayton Beach is huge and it is physically difficult to haul everything in your camp for your entire family/group on foot every day. Lots of families literally camp out from morning til night.
I am glad to drive my truck out to the beach with all my toys. But, this isn't a solution to most visitors (thank goodness). I wonder what solutions would be acceptable?
I do know folks who leave tents and neatly piled chairs in the same spot each night. They are great folks who love our beaches and know as much or more aobut them as we do (they certainly spend more time on them than some of us locals). We've talked to them about sea turtles and beach environment concerns; and they are very aware. They feel they are being responsible since they do not leave trash, and they always leave a very clean site, and watch the weather to see if the tent needs to be removed for the night.
Maybe all tent structures should be either permitted or banned. Sometimes its hard to find a place next to the gulf because of these permanent structures (and most have no one under them). I believe certain types of tents should be banned from beaches - some are just not safe - i.e., not made to withstand wind, use of sharp stakes and long ropes in the ground creating hazards for anyone walking anywhere near the tent, etc.
I don't know the solution. But, I am sympathetic to responsible visitors who need reasonable options. I believe most care a great deal about sowal and its environment.
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I would vote to ban the BA tents. Umbrellas that are easily taken up and down seem to be more appropriate....they were fine for many years around here.
well, that would be my vote for sure. but, good grief! they are so darn popular now!
I think once they have to start putting them up & taking them down each day their popularity will wane. :roll:
I'm all for folks having some shade/protecting themselves from the sun, it's the tents sitting there vacant for days on end that I abhor.
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good observation, Toots. The the madness did seem to escalate with the sale of $79.99 tents being sold at Wal-mart, and the BA holes on the beach seemed to coincide with the sale of BA plastic shovels in our local area. 
There appears to be some bell which rings in people's ears when they set up a BA tent. The bell says, "it's okay to bring everything we own and stake claim to this part of the beach." If they didn't have a tent to mark off their area, I think they would be less likely to leave the numerous toys and chairs, as it would appear more like garbage that someone left at the beach. The tent represents "their claim" to the possessions under it. It is really interesting to note the difference in the typical umbrella user and the tent user. Again, you make a great observation.
While I hate to see gov't step in and make rules on the little things in our lives, such as the type of shade we choose to use, you may be on to something here, though I would rather see the govt enforce the existing rules, rather than creating more rules which will also be unenforced. I vote no on the banning of tents and BA shovels, but I do vote in favor of enforcing existing rules.
There appears to be some bell which rings in people's ears when they set up a BA tent. The bell says, "it's okay to bring everything we own and stake claim to this part of the beach." If they didn't have a tent to mark off their area, I think they would be less likely to leave the numerous toys and chairs, as it would appear more like garbage that someone left at the beach. The tent represents "their claim" to the possessions under it. It is really interesting to note the difference in the typical umbrella user and the tent user. Again, you make a great observation.
While I hate to see gov't step in and make rules on the little things in our lives, such as the type of shade we choose to use, you may be on to something here, though I would rather see the govt enforce the existing rules, rather than creating more rules which will also be unenforced. I vote no on the banning of tents and BA shovels, but I do vote in favor of enforcing existing rules.
I know. I have to have shade - but a big umbrella works for me. how often do you see the entire family sitting under a big tent to get out of the sun? it's usually just a place to store stuff, and maybe one or two people sitting under it, if any.
It does not seem right to stake out prime gulf front spots with huge structures for a week! when they are not being used for much of the time. some of us enjoy the beach after 5pm, and would like to be able to pick out a nice spot - and not squeeze between two empty BA tents. Oh well, the season is coming to a close. thankfully.