A new poster, Mary N., made a pretty good case for ending the use of vehicles on the beach, claiming it's ironic that the same people that curse people walking on footpaths in the dunes are the same ones who drive their SUV's on what would otherwise be dunes. (There are other reasons she didnt bring up, like oil spills, danger of hitting someone, other people having to breathe the fumes,etc)
Not one of you stepped up to defend why you think its OK. In fact, they even closed the thread to discussion. Is this taboo subject, or, I hate to say, are they ashamed? Won't any of you defend your decision to renew your beach permit? (I let mine lapse after Ivan, and I may not renew it at all now. I agree with Mary, I just thought it was the right thing to do at this point.) We are willing to ridicule people walking on paths (and pulblish their photos unknown to them), so it's only fair we talk about this issue openly.
Those of you who have a beach permit, please tell why its OK, when path walkers aren't. This is an important topic for debate. Won't any of you step up?
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Thumper
Replies
80Beach Fanatic
Hopefully there will be towering dunes to appreciate.
....and that takes us right back to that other thread!
Won't it be wonderful to one day see those beautiful tall dunes covered with sea oats again?!
beats on hood
Yeah, luvthebeach, check out my post at Seaside and Seagrove damage/access - SoWal Beaches Forum.
:'(
:'(
Beach Fanatic
Yeah, luvthebeach, check out my post at http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?p=16034#post16034.
:'(
Wow.....that sure puts it in perspective, doesn't it?!
beats on hood
Wow.....that sure puts it in perspective, doesn't it?!No kidding.
Beach Fanatic
Wow...Didn't realize vehicles were allowed anywhere on Seagrove Beach! :shock:The waltontaxcollector site notes that both Seagrove and Walton Park areas mentioned in the ordinance are currently closed.
Beach Fanatic
on the contrary thumper i think you did a good job of furthering this conversation without being too argumentative.....you stated your opinion & didnt blast anyone for theirs
as i have nothing else to add i will gladly sit back & read the opinions of others.....thanks
as i have nothing else to add i will gladly sit back & read the opinions of others.....thanks
Beach Comber
I understand and respect why some don't like it. At first I was a bit taken aback by what I thought was an obnoxious thing. It is difficult to defend on an intellectual basis. However, it seems that it is a long-standing priveledge of living here. While there was once many places to drive on the beach, Grayton is the last. As long as it's permitted, I'll do it.
Yes, some drive too fast, because they have "street" tires. I worry that there will someday be a tragic incident. But dang, admit it, isn't it cool to leave all your chairs and beach toys loaded in a dedicated beach-mobile? Just climb in and go!
Yes, some drive too fast, because they have "street" tires. I worry that there will someday be a tragic incident. But dang, admit it, isn't it cool to leave all your chairs and beach toys loaded in a dedicated beach-mobile? Just climb in and go!
SoWal Expert
I wish I felt up to posting and reading more. I will post some thoughts on this subject later. I have food poisoning and have been out of it since about 1:00am this morning. Hopefully, I will recover in the next day or two and will be coherent enough to voice my thoughts in a clear way. I have read this thread, and hear very valid points, but will later, try to clear up some things for you guys. Keep writing your opinions. I enjoy reading your thoughts and ideas, but feel too crappy to write. I will throw out a thread for you to read in the meantime. It may be a little vague to most of you, but perhaps you can further research the info regarding the lease from the state to the County and driving priviledges. I bet Kurt is aware of this, hence his thoughts mentioned earlier regarding Grayton Beach going back to a beautiful and natural area.
Best to All
Best to All
little sugar
Hey SJ....... sure hope you are feeling better soon!!!!
Beach Fanatic
I wish I felt up to posting and reading more. I will post some thoughts on this subject later. I have food poisoning and have been out of it since about 1:00am this morning.
Ohmygosh SJ....hope you're feeling better soon! Food poisoning...I've been there, done that, and it is absolutely the most awful feeling.
Take care!P.S. Hopefully you didn't get sick from any SoWal restaurant! It'd definitely be a reason to take that name off of the "great restaurants" list!
beats on hood
Yeah, but you know, if seafood is involved, food poisoning can happen at the best of restaurants or seafood vendors. About five years ago I was sick for an entire month after eating bad shrimp from Shrimpers, but I've only heard good things about that place since then. Stuff happens.
Hope you feel better, SJ.
Hope you feel better, SJ.
Admin
Grayton Beach was beautiful this evening. No sun, very still and flat, cloudy and monotone, with an obscured moon. Lots of sea critters out. I saw many birds, fish, crabs, and a sting ray. The lake is still open to the Gulf and probably would have closed in the next day or two but we got a lot of rain today.
The beach and dunes from the State Park on the east of Western Lake all the way over to Gulf Trace is nearly clean with just a few big pieces of debris (lumber) that I can't get in my truck.
The beach and dunes from the State Park on the east of Western Lake all the way over to Gulf Trace is nearly clean with just a few big pieces of debris (lumber) that I can't get in my truck.
Beach Fanatic
Yeah, but you know, if seafood is involved, food poisoning can happen at the best of restaurants or seafood vendors. About five years ago I was sick for an entire month after eating bad shrimp from Shrimpers, but I've only heard good things about that place since then. Stuff happens.
But I bet you haven't been back there since, right?! At least that's how I feel about the place where I got my food poisoning! The only other time I got food poisoning, it was totally my fault. It was in the middle of summer many years ago, and the a/c wasn't working in our car. We had stopped by a well-known yummy Italian sandwich shop in the city and picked up a couple of their special sandwiches, topped with lots of mayo. It was about a 45 minute drive back home. Hadn't even thought about the fact that the sandwiches had sat in the back of the car, with the temp outside nearly 100 degrees! Luckily my son was a baby, so he didn't eat any. My husband was okay with his. But me........ugh! I'd never felt so sick in all my life!
beats on hood
LOL. It's sort of like when I was a kid and ate too many Reese's and got sick. Even now when I look at a Reese's, it makes me nauseated.
Uh-oh! We're A.D.D.'ing - getting off the topic of this thread. I guess we get a grade of F for not adhering to the theme.
Uh-oh! We're A.D.D.'ing - getting off the topic of this thread. I guess we get a grade of F for not adhering to the theme.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
SJ: so i guess you wont be meeting me at cocos?.....seriously though i am SO SORRY to hear you feeling so bad.....go to that health food store you talk about & get some good probiotics....it worked for otter after mexico & now the little otter is on them....
KURT: wish we had gone to grayton tonight to see the critters & help with the cleanup efforts....actually we stayed in tonight which was a nice change of pace....but we will be there throughout the week & pick up anything we see
KURT: wish we had gone to grayton tonight to see the critters & help with the cleanup efforts....actually we stayed in tonight which was a nice change of pace....but we will be there throughout the week & pick up anything we see
Beach Fanatic
LOL. It's sort of like when I was a kid and ate too many Reese's and got sick. Even now when I look at a Reese's, it makes me nauseated.
Uh-oh! We're A.D.D.'ing - getting off the topic of this thread. I guess we get a grade of F for not adhering to the theme.
Oops...you're right BR! Sorry about that Kurt! And I'm sure we don't want to start another thread on food poisoning experiences, do we?
little sugar
Grayton Beach was beautiful this evening. No sun, very still and flat, cloudy and monotone, with an obscured moon. Lots of sea critters out. I saw many birds, fish, crabs, and a sting ray. The lake is still open to the Gulf and probably would have closed in the next day or two but we got a lot of rain today.AHHHHHH Kurt, thanks for the visual, you just made rainy, muggy St. Louis leave my head for a while....... :clap_1:
The beach and dunes from the State Park on the east of Western Lake all the way over to Gulf Trace is nearly clean with just a few big pieces of debris (lumber) that I can't get in my truck.
Beach Fanatic
AHHHHHH Kurt, thanks for the visual, you just made rainy, muggy St. Louis leave my head for a while....... :clap_1:
Hey neighbor....that's my hometown too! We've had some serious thunderstorms, haven't we? I understand some folks are still without electricity. And they're predicting even more for tomorrow.
Ahhhhh....what I wouldn't give to be on the beach at this moment!
Hopefully that'll happen very soon. Unfortunately work back here keeps getting in the way of fun in the sun! 
Beach Fanatic
It's sort of like when I was a kid and ate too many Reese's and got sick. Even now when I look at a Reese's, it makes me nauseated.
I have that same problem with vodka. That's why I stick to scotch.
Christini Zambini
Back to the topic of driving on the beach . . .
The current drive-on accesses have to maintained for emergency vehicles. They are also necessary for others to get on the beach for clean up and repairs to homes and boardwalks. So, letting the dunes rebuild in those small areas wouldn't happen anyway.
Also, the drive-on accesses have no parking lots so if vehicles were banned, it would basically close the accesses.
The issue is controlling the number of vehicles on any given day. Perhaps the county can go to a system similar to the beach fire permits where you buy a permit for a specific day. You could may a reservation several months ahead for the popular days. This would require planning ahead, but would certainly help.
. . . The current drive-on accesses have to maintained for emergency vehicles. They are also necessary for others to get on the beach for clean up and repairs to homes and boardwalks. So, letting the dunes rebuild in those small areas wouldn't happen anyway.
Also, the drive-on accesses have no parking lots so if vehicles were banned, it would basically close the accesses.
The issue is controlling the number of vehicles on any given day. Perhaps the county can go to a system similar to the beach fire permits where you buy a permit for a specific day. You could may a reservation several months ahead for the popular days. This would require planning ahead, but would certainly help.
Beach Lover
i don't think they should be able to drive on the beach myself. however, we usually plop down on the east side of t-time when we are there, and from what i can tell, the cars over toward the west are usually just sitting there, not driving at all. not bothering us at all. It seems like a very short space, and i don't think much driving can actually happen 
i think that they should allow permits only for the folks who are putting in or taking out a boat. doesn't really seem to be much point otherwise.
reece
i think that they should allow permits only for the folks who are putting in or taking out a boat. doesn't really seem to be much point otherwise.
reece
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
I have that same problem with vodka. That's why I stick to scotch.
Mine was Tequila...that is why I stick to beer now.
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
SJ, I am sending good thoughts your way. I hope you feel better real soon. Take Care!!!! I miss reading your posts!!!!
little sugar
Hey neighbor....that's my hometown too! We've had some serious thunderstorms, haven't we? I understand some folks are still without electricity. And they're predicting even more for tomorrow.Hi luvthebeach!!! I have a friend that lives in valleypark who just got her electric turned on last night!!!! her whole fridge had to be thrown away, what a waste :roll: GO CARDS!!!!!!!! :clap_1:
Ahhhhh....what I wouldn't give to be on the beach at this moment!
got any pics?
I was on Grayton today with my living, breathing, thinking on it's own SUV. Saw 3 others on the beach all day long.... Oh ya.... 4 counting the sherrif :roll:
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