I read the heated discussion regarding canopies, having seen them mangled by unusually high tides and high winds I totally agree that removal is necessary, in addition to the sea turtle issue.

Here's my question: Last year we folded up our umbrella and chair and put them under the wooden walkovers overnight. Ours are canvas and wood so they don't blow away once folded and latched. Last year we did see some people's stuff tagged for removal but they left their stuff out on the beach. We put ours under the walkover near the trash barrels in hopes that this was ok and out of the turtles' way. We did this for 2 weeks last year and hoped to do it again this year. I don't want to lose my stuff and I don't want to hurt the turtle population so please let me know if this is ok with the rules and the safety for the turtles.

I will say that I'm a trash picker upper on the beach, whether in Texas or Florida, I'm all about keeping our beaches clean and safe. You wouldn't believe the amount of broken glass on Galveston Beach, in addition to cans, can pop tops and beach related stuff that's washed up and half buried. I'm so glad that the beaches of the Florida panhandle don't look like that!

why not just go the extra mile and take your chairs and umbrella on up the stairs and into your trunk each day? multiply your leaving your things under the walkover by the number of families on the beach, and you can see the potential problem. whether for sea turtles or just aesthetics, please take your beach things with you each day!

The revised ordinance restricts people from stowing their beach stuff under public boardwalks/walkovers. It will be removed. Anything left near a TDC trashcan will also be removed.

Thanks for helping pick up trash on the beach. Every lit bit helps and others will see you setting the example. I agree with Beach Angel, go ahead and take your beach stuff to the house, and set the example for others to see and follow. The power of observation is incredible. People want to fit in, and they will do as the Romans, when in Rome.

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Just to expand on the above. In case you are referring to a private walkover not maintained by the TDC, it is not illegal to store the items under that walkover. Just not a public one as SJ pointed out.

You may be wondering how to tell if its public or private. If at the bottom of the boardwalk walking onto the beach, there is a two-sided beach safety informational sign that shows a 911 address, beach flag color information, tips to beach goers, and rip current information, that is a public walkover and things must be removed. Also, I believe that all TDC accesses have their letters stenciled on the walkover at the bottom.

...and I will ad to that, if it isn't your own private walkover, the owner may remove it for you.

BeachSi02, the walkover at the west side of the Inn in Blue Mtn has those signs, a beach flag, TDC trashcan, but I've been told (I thought by you), that it is not a public walkover. What's up with that?

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It does have a flag warning sign just like all locations with flagpoles that are not at County accesses, but I am about 99.9% sure it does NOT have the two-sided informational kiosk.

That is just too confusing for the average beach-goer to remember. Let's just keep it simple, remove stuff from beach and walkovers. Believe me, the TDC doesn't want your beach stuff any more than you don't want it taken.

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i have a question about that....what do they do with all that beach stuff? do they take it to the dump or take it to the thrift store or what? i have been curious about that for quite some time now.

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30-A Personal Chef
www.ChefJamieDietrich.com

"Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what's for lunch." -- Orson Welles

Dump...

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Seems wasteful, doncha think? Can't we come up with a better alternative?

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If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow.-Rachel Carson

My guess is that asking the TDC to expend additional resources to process what they pick up is asking too much.
I personally accept it when people put their stuff up under the walkover as long as it isn't a public location. I would be a very happy guy to see everyone go at least that far.

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Anthony

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I agree, ash, but what about either delivering to or being picked up from the TDC by a local non-profit? Is there any resale value in this stuff?

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If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow.-Rachel Carson

Actually it does not go directly to the dump, there is a staging area where the stuff is deposited. I think this gives folks time to call every county office looking for it and come pick it up.

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What procedure do they follow to release it? I would think proof of ownership would be impossible.

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If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow.-Rachel Carson

I think it's just a description and the effort to claim it.

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oh, almost everything has a resale value! thus the glory of yard sales & thrift stores! however, with the amount that they pick up, i can imagine that it would be too much for just one thrift store & i can't imagine them dropping at multiple ones. it's a shame that all that stuff goes to waste. it's a great idea to recycle the stuff & of course putting the extras by the road...i am always on the lookout for good stuff by the road!

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30-A Personal Chef
www.ChefJamieDietrich.com

"Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what's for lunch." -- Orson Welles

gayboi, I believe that was the method they were using prior to writing the new Code.

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Ah okay, I just remember driving by and seeing a mountain of tents, chairs, umbrellas, etc. in the woods. It was a dune of crap if you will.

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Where's the staging area located. We're driving down four of us plus 1 dog in a VW Rabbit instead of our Pathfinder this year (to save petrol and just to see if we can do it.) My husband says I can't, so now it's a mission for me to pack only what is absolutely essential. But, I digress.....

we can't bring our sand chairs. We were gonna buy them and leave them at the rental for someone else to use. If there are some that need a good home because others were too stupid to carry them back every night, then I'll save landfill space and claim some. I'm for reals, is this possible?

No Dilbert brings up exactly my not-so-tongue-in-cheek solution. I think the county needs to set up a simple building, maybe at the welcome center on 98, and give this stuff to anyone who wants it. Put a sign out front, put up some banners on the various area web sites, publicize it with the major beach house/condo rental companies. The amount of abandoned or confiscated chairs, bikes, tents, beach toys, boogie boards, noodles, and the like that go to the landfill has to be staggering.

That was point about the local non-profits. One of them could make some decent money selling that stuff for half price. I know they are all looking for ways to subsidize their projects. Maybe this could help.

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If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow.-Rachel Carson

I really wish someone would take on this project! To do it right, the county and TDC will have to be on board, rental companies will need to include info in their rental packets (or a magnet on the fridge), and there may need to be more than one dropoff/pickup place.

I know so many SoWallers are busy with jobs, families, and other causes and commitments right now, but the person who makes this successful could be a real "SoWal Hero/Rockstar"!

Oh my, there are bikes involved here, too? I need that dump stage address, stat. We can't bring our bicycles either this year. We were going to rent for the week.

I have my doctorate in dumpster diving. I've furnished my entire house from things I've found in opportunity shoppes. My husband is an interior designer --his clients expenses are usually not important -- but at home we are 100% shabby chic.

I am all for not having all that stuff go to the landfill, but also firmly believe just giving it away would be counter-intuitive. We already have too many people who don't care if their $50 tent or umbrella gets confinscated. Imagine how the ranks will swell when we have people taking stuff to the beach that was free in the first place. Please don't go that way.

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Anthony

You probably won't find a bike in the haul from the beach itself. But, I can't tell you how often I see them out by someone's garbage can, waiting for the trash pickup. My guess is that those bikes might need some repair, but on the other hand, the price is right.

It really is a disgrace that people feel it's okay to leave behind even one spec of themselves. We wouldn't dream of leaving it any way but the way we found it, pristine.

We travel light, a few sand chairs and a collapsible cooler. But we have seen the conventions of tents and coolers on the beach when we go, large groups of people who set up shop and rule in numbers, leaving their crap behind as though that section of the beach has been staked out and is TAKEN.

We are just the four of us, and we feel priviledged to be able to enjoy a few weeks a year on the most beautiful beaches in the world (if you as us.) I hope that when our sons take their families to Grayton to vacation, that it is as beautiful then as it is now. And many thanks to the people who are making an effort to keep it that way. We really do appreciate it

I agree, ash. "Free" doesn't always encourage the best behavior in people. I think there's a better solution. Maybe we can find it.

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If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow.-Rachel Carson

Tonight would probably be a good night to go beach shopping.

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The mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is open.

nodilberthere, i am with you, we are closet dumpster-divers, too! shhh, don't tell! jdarg, i agree, something should be done! even if "free" isn't the way to go, at least these items could go to the local thrift store & they could resell & make money to help people in need. (caring & sharing is the only local one that i support--the others are way too expensive. caring & sharing truly help people!) any ideas anyone?

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30-A Personal Chef
www.ChefJamieDietrich.com

"Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what's for lunch." -- Orson Welles