Keep Off The Dunes

"Telling the truth so you don't have to!" -- Smiling Joe

I googled smiling joe and found a website with this quote and this attached photo. I need to ammend the photo caption to read dunes instead of border.

A keep out sign plunked in the middle of the path with a single chain draped between stakes would be more than enough for me. Or dune fencing; whatever. But really, the county needs to evaluate what is more important: ticking off some tourists temporarily or harming the future of tourism (by losing beach) in the long run? I know extra dollars are scarce, but since that and many other paths are so well-traveled and are so convenient, would building a flat walkover (a la Watersound) be OK? Or would that be damaging too?

The dune system, if invaded by flat walkovers (walk-thru) would fail during storms, due to the low area of the flat walk-thru. Also, they would only accumulate as debris in the water and on the beach after the major storms, due to the wave action ripping them appart. It is not really a long walk to go one or two blocks to the east, and you just may meet some good folks along the way.

The distance between two points is not always a straight line.( this is more for the nerds, so don't fret if you don't comprehend.)

A keep out sign plunked in the middle of the path with a single chain draped between stakes would be more than enough for me. Or dune fencing; whatever. But really, the county needs to evaluate what is more important: ticking off some tourists temporarily or harming the future of tourism (by losing beach) in the long run? I know extra dollars are scarce, but since that and many other paths are so well-traveled and are so convenient, would building a flat walkover (a la Watersound) be OK? Or would that be damaging too?

Most of that portion of dunes in the middle of Grayton belongs to the State. As part of the plan for the turnover, I heard there was a new boardwalk planned. The existing boardwalk will be removed and a new one built more towards the middle with some type of observation deck. I imagine they might close off one of the drive on points. The one on the west would make sense to close and dunes could be built there.

"Telling the truth so you don't have to!" -- Smiling Joe

I googled smiling joe and found a website with this quote and this attached photo. I need to ammend the photo caption to read dunes instead of border.

OMG that is too funny. You have to photoshop "dunes" in there somehow. There's your new avatar.

See, we wouldn't have minded walking a block or two. It's just that the only signal that we may be doing something not quite right was that we were walking down what I presumed was a private drive (for those houses behind Red Bar) before hitting the footpath. But then again, the beach seemed to be RIGHT THERE and was easily accessible. Wide open, with a well-traveled path. Had no idea it was a problem for the dunes. If it's not OK, there needs to be a good way to redirect people. Unless you want to hang out there all day and redirect them yourself, SJ ...

Rednecks like to keep it in the family. Why can't you convict a redneck for a crime? ... because all of their DNA is the same.

:shock:

:clap_1:

OMG that is too funny. You have to photoshop "dunes" in there somehow. There's your new avatar.

See, we wouldn't have minded walking a block or two. It's just that the only signal that we may be doing something not quite right was that we were walking down what I presumed was a private drive (for those houses behind Red Bar) before hitting the footpath. But then again, the beach seemed to be RIGHT THERE and was easily accessible. Wide open, with a well-traveled path. Had no idea it was a problem for the dunes. If it's not OK, there needs to be a good way to redirect people. Unless you want to hang out there all day and redirect them yourself, SJ ...

Not my gig. I would rather enjoy watching the kids play in the water and on the beach and hear the sound of water.

New Sign to eliminate confusion behind the Red Bar.:clap_1::clap_1::clap_1:
If now they would let me block it off with rusted razor wire.



Recognize this dune crusher? Obviously he is one of those play-stupid A-holes. He was staying at Margaritaville today Aug 13 2005.



While taking his photo, I asked him why he was walking on the dunes. Can't he read the signs?

He says, oh, where is the access? as he is reading the sign with the arrow pointing to the left for access. I pointed out the two accesses to him, and he says, Sorry, I didn't know. If he did not know where the accesses were, deduction tells me that he obviously went down this path to get to the Beach, so he had to walk past this sign, he just doesn't care. He will be back too. He is staying at Margaritaville, behind Red Bar. I sure wish Margaritaville owners would post some good info encouraging peeps to use the real accesses. Maybe they do, I don't know. Darn White Shirt. He's got the collar on the Polo shirt flipped up like one of those grandkids of John Gotti. Real cool -- Jerk!

New Sign to eliminate confusion behind the Red Bar.:clap_1::clap_1::clap_1:
If now they would let me block it off with rusted razor wire.


Recognize this dune crusher? Obviously he is one of those play-stupid A-holes. He was staying at Margaritaville today Aug 13 2005.
<--snip-->
Darn White Shirt. He's got the collar on the Polo shirt flipped up like one of those grandkids of John Gotti. Real cool -- Jerk!

Good the new sign's there, but truth is, there's always gonna be dumb masses like this that can't be bothered - sorry doesn't apply to me - way too cool/busy/important - even if the street, walls, everywhere where plastered with signs.
(man, i just gotta get me one of those cool white shirts!! )

There's more than a little bit of irony here. Look in the background of the 'jerk' photo...all the cars and trucks parked on the beach. With permits, no less.

There's more than a little bit of irony here. Look in the background of the 'jerk' photo...all the cars and trucks parked on the beach. With permits, no less.

The vehicles use a designated access, which does not go through the dune system. By driving on the small area of the beach, I do not see them tearing down the dune system. (The area of beach in So Wal is very limited for permitted vehicle beach access. The problem with dune crashers extends the entire length of beach in So Wal.) However, I do think the western most access should be reconsidered. Grayton would be much more protected if dunes were aloud to build on that end. However, a walkover would be needed at that location. As more and more people get Beach Access permits, the County should maybe look into Grandfathering in current permit holders, but limiting new applicants. The vehicles are restricted by hours too, so they do not interfear with the turtle nesting, like the perma-tents.

New Sign to eliminate confusion behind the Red Bar.:clap_1::clap_1::clap_1:
If now they would let me block it off with rusted razor wire.

Wow, now that is clear! Who put that up?? Fess 'up now!!

I love this board!

Wow, now that is clear! Who put that up?? Fess 'up now!!

I love this board!

I think the owners of the house next to it placed it there. They have also blocked off their driveway to help discourage traffic through their driveway. :clap_1::clap_1::clap_1:. I would like to add that it is a very Grayton sign. Grayt job!

Good the new sign's there, but truth is, there's always gonna be dumb masses like this that can't be bothered - sorry doesn't apply to me - way too cool/busy/important - even if the street, walls, everywhere where plastered with signs.
(man, i just gotta get me one of those cool white shirts!! )

Wait...how did you get so close to this guy!!

Righteous indignation can get ugly.
We have tourists who come here for the first time who understandably do not appreciate the impact that they have on the beach ecosystem. Many of us probably create the same sort of havoc when we visit areas with which we are unfamiliar. A friendly, polite reminder will do more good than a bunch of ranting dune Nazis.

As I sat on the beach yesterday as the sun was setting, I could see much more damage having been done earlier that day by the locals in their four-wheel drive vehicles than all of the white shirted tourists have done this summer.

If we really are serious about preserving the beach ecosystem, let?s close the beach to all vehicles, restore the dunes where the vehicle entrances are located, and build boardwalks across the dunes to the beach. Sure, portions of the boardwalks may be destroyed by storms from time to time, but they can be rebuilt.

?We have met the enemy, and the enemy is us.?

Wait...how did you get so close to this guy!!

Kurt told me that there was a new sign posted at that location, and we noticed less people walking through the dunes. So, I walked up to see and read the sign posted where the driveway meets the dunes. It was such a good looking sign, I went back to grab me camera, and as I was taking the photo, I notice this guy walking through the dunes toward me. So, I siezed the moment, with a brief interview at the end. The well worn path leads right to this sign, so, without an optional route, he had to face the music.

I am a long time owner in the area. I have resisted getting a beach driving permit on principle all these years. As an ex-"professional environmentalist" I made the choice to forsake the convenience and walk a little further, because it's the right thing to do for so many reasons. The irony is, it seems like many who are vocal about preservation of beaches overlook the vehicle issue as insignificant, (because there is a well-worn area that's "used" to cars, someone said)... yet they rail over two feet walking a well-worn path. Please, everyone, I know it's hard to break lifelong habits, but we need to wake up. If you're honest with yourself, you know it's harmful. It is well documented that vehicles damage the beach. A recent environmental study (based in New Zealand, but applicable to all beach regions) has found that vehicles are the #1 most damaging unnatural entity to a beach. Add the obvious fact that fumes are (ob) noxious!

It is sad to see such righteous indignation, as someone else apty put it, by those who are doing equivalent damage.

As more and more people get Beach Access permits, the County should maybe look into Grandfathering in current permit holders, but limiting new applicants.

I have a great deal of respect for your passion and activism, so I don't understand your viewpoint on this. The real answer is NO cars on the beach. Phase them all out. Especially now in this critical stage. For the love of our beach, please open your minds and eyes to this irony.

Mary N.

Although your post seems to have stopped this thread dead in its tracks, as you can see, I agree and support your position.

There are too many people who rail against innocent tourists, many of whom are small children, but those same people drive beach vehicles across what, if not driven on, would be dune areas. Also the trash that I see left on the beach comes in large part from people who are in those vehicles.

It is distressing that people who live on or near beaches on which they cannot drive come to Grayton with their vehicles and dump their trash and spoil the beach closest to where we live. I sometimes wish I could return the favor, but I get over and walk around and pick up their trash.

I apoligize for the righteous indignation.

I would not oppose the end of vehicles on the beach. There are far too many now. Five years ago there were very few by comparison. My main concern is for safety though. Someone is going to get hurt.

Some visitor to this thread might get the wrong impression and think that vehicles are everywhere on the beaches. Driving is only allowed in SoWal in a small are in Grayton Beach and Inlet Beach. A few hundred yards out of 26 miles of beaches.

The damage to the dune system up and down the beaches by foot traffic (thousands and thousands of feet, not just 2) is what this thread is about. Feel free to start another thread about vehicles. I know there have been a few, a couple with polls also.

http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=297&highlight=vehicles