Canopy on the beach

[Smiling JOe]

... Turtles will not nest in areas that are especially noisey and Grayton can fall into the category. I don't believe a turtle nest has been found near Grayton in some time.

In the wee hours of the morning when the turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, they don't hear all of the noise which is there in the daytime. If I correctly recall, Grayton Beach had a nest last year, as did Grayton Beach State Park, and I know that Grayton Beach State Park has at least one nest so far this year.


Fryday, for the record, trucks are not left on the beach over night. Tire Tracks could case problems for hatch lings, 'tis true. I believe the permatents and large holes which are dug, continue to be more of a problem regarding SeaTurtles and emergency access. Do vehicles on the beach create issues? Yes, without question. However, that is a different subject. This ordinance was created to insure unobstructed access by TDC and Emergency vehicles, as well as helping improve the numbers of endangered species such as the Sea Turtles.

In Grayton, most people have willingly complied, and there noticeable efforts are much appreciated.

 

[scooterbug44]

Has anyone considered the potential law suit if someone should get skin cancer and claim the new law made it too difficult to set up a canopy every day? How about a moral obligation to making it as easy as possible and necessary to protect people from the suns radiation while at the beach? Is the moral obligation in favor of the sea turtle? Does the aesthetic value of the water front trump a moral obligation to the health of the average vacationer? Just a thought.

The skin health of the average vacationer is in no danger from a rule that requires them to remove items an hour AFTER dusk to an an hour BEFORE dawn.

I would LOVE to be on that jury, as IMO they have a moral obligation to not be such a moron!

 

[Jdarg]

Kathydwells wanted me to let y'all know that Tent Boy (aka TripleB), sets his alarm on vacation every morning at 6 am. He does this because he cares deeply about the turtles. You heard it here first- Triple B the left wing environmentalist.

He's gonna kill me! Lucky he won't see this until he is back in Alabama!!!!


He and the assistant tent boys sent them up, place the chairs, and get it ready for the day for Kathy and the other wonderful gals in their group.

At the end of the day (after Cabana Boy has made about 20 trips up and down the steps with frozen drinks), the Tent Men (for they are nowmen at the end of the day), take down the tents, and haul them and the chairs and the coolers back to safe haven in the condos. Then Kathy dutifully sets Triple B's alarm clock so he's ready to go for the next day.

And this is how we protect our beaches. Thanks Darlene, TripleB, and the rest of your group! We you!

 

[Beach Runner]

I totally understand why people want tents at the beach. I agree that the main reason I'd use a tent is to protect my family and me from skin cancer. I think that those of us who are locals or who own property in SoWal take for granted that we can go to the beach virtually anytime we want. Speaking for myself, frequently we have days where we don't go down to the beach at all, even though it is a few feet away, because we have a nice view.

But before we owned, when we had a week at the beach, other than taking a lunch break, we'd try to be at the beach from 10 AM until time to get dressed for dinner so we could soak in as much of the sun/sand/Gulf as possible in that short week. Hubby can't take too much sun -- he gets burned easily, whereas I could stay out all day and not get burned (after the first burn during spring break). We've had some skin cancers to show for it. When at some point we don't own in SoWal, we'll definitely have a tent or a huge umbrella at the beach to avoid further sun damage. But we'll remove it when we go dress for dinner. Or hire someone to do it for us.

 

[Fryday_1]

Smiling Joe:

I never stated the trucks were left on the beach overnight, althought I have seen many stay out there until the wee hours of the morning. I was just commenting on how they drive on the beach during the day time. I have seen many an time when a child, who could not be seen due to the height of the truck almost get run over. Unlike my canopy that seems to be a menance to the turtles, these vehicles are very much a danger to the humans on the beach.

But that gives me an idea. SInce the vehicles have to have a permit to drive on the beach, why not issue permits to those of us who want to put up a canopy and live it up for our week. Then the county would have another source of revenue to fund and promote the turtle nesting grounds. It would be a win-win for everyone and most likely alot of money since the canopy/tent thing has really grown in poplularity.

See, no need to be nasty towards me, I am just looking for possible solutions so the everyone is happy.

 

[Matt J]

Smiling Joe:

I never stated the trucks were left on the beach overnight, althought I have seen many stay out there until the wee hours of the morning. I was just commenting on how they drive on the beach during the day time. I have seen many an time when a child, who could not be seen due to the height of the truck almost get run over. Unlike my canopy that seems to be a menance to the turtles, these vehicles are very much a danger to the humans on the beach.

But that gives me an idea. SInce the vehicles have to have a permit to drive on the beach, why not issue permits to those of us who want to put up a canopy and live it up for our week. Then the county would have another source of revenue to fund and promote the turtle nesting grounds. It would be a win-win for everyone and most likely alot of money since the canopy/tent thing has really grown in poplularity.

See, no need to be nasty towards me, I am just looking for possible solutions so the everyone is happy.

The solution to your canopy has already been found. Remove it or lose it.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Smiling Joe:

I never stated the trucks were left on the beach overnight, althought I have seen many stay out there until the wee hours of the morning. I was just commenting on how they drive on the beach during the day time. I have seen many an time when a child, who could not be seen due to the height of the truck almost get run over. Unlike my canopy that seems to be a menance to the turtles, these vehicles are very much a danger to the humans on the beach.

But that gives me an idea. SInce the vehicles have to have a permit to drive on the beach, why not issue permits to those of us who want to put up a canopy and live it up for our week. Then the county would have another source of revenue to fund and promote the turtle nesting grounds. It would be a win-win for everyone and most likely alot of money since the canopy/tent thing has really grown in poplularity.

See, no need to be nasty towards me, I am just looking for possible solutions so the everyone is happy.

As I stated, you are comparing apples and oranges. Remove it or lose it refers only to items left on the beach overnight, with the idea that if the tent, chairs, toys, etc is set up in the day time, it would be attended, and the owner would have the duty to remove it from the path of any emergency vehicles. People are free to bring their tents to the beach, currently. If you don't want gov't to start making more rules, we citizens need to start policing ourselves, so that the need for gov't stepping in doesn't arise. Go to Isle of Palms, SC and you will see that they recently made a law about making sandcastles on the beach, because people were not filling in the holes which were being dug, before they departed the beach.

As for permitting items left on the beach, perhaps you should get up to speed on that, as the County has made the permits for crap on the beach, to be the only exceptions to remove it or lose it. Go apply for a permit, but I'll wager $5 that you won't get it, and would be in violation of the FL DEP if you decided to do it anyway. BTW, the County taking in money for issuing permits is not a win/win. The County's fees would be only to cover staff to process, verify and enforce the permits. It would not be a money maker and even if it was, that would still be a win/lose for the people who are attracted to this area for its scenic beauty and you would still potentially be endangering the continuation of the life of endangered animals such as sea turtles, and potentially endangering the safety of people who would like to walk on the beach without tripping over guidewires, tent frames, stepping on plastic crap, etc. It also would be a loss for the environment due to the crap which is blown into our fragile dunes and lakes, due to incoming storms. I also believe that in the end, seeing all of that crap on the beach makes South Walton feel more like Panama City Beach and Destin, and that will eventually run off the numerous people who were attracted to our beaches due to the natural scenic beauty. I don't poop in your back yard, how about not pooping in mine?

 

[Savethebeach]

Scooterbug,

Say the rule causes someone to opt for no canopy rather then haul it up and down everyday. Are you saying that you would feel no remorse if that someone got skin cancer because of this rule? These are not morons that visit the beach. Most of the people that I talk to on vacation down here are upper middle class professionals.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I'm on a mission, researching the number of people who are actually sitting in the shade of their tents. pictures will be taken and numbers counted as I spot check. Anyone want to take a wager on my findings?

 

[scooterbug44]

I would feel absolutely NO REMORSE WHATSOEVER if someone got skin cancer because they were too lazy to set up or take down a canopy.

Not only is a canopy not a 100% effective sun block, but there are a wide variety of other sun protection options - spray and lotion sunscreens, sunblocks, protective clothing, umbrellas, hats, avoiding the highest UV hours of the day etc.

My sympathy level and regard for someone's intelligence level is dependent on their level of laziness and tendency to blame others for their bad decisions. Book smart and life dumb frequently exist in the same brain.