It looks like May 20 - 23 will be good turnout for the NAPKA meet up . Folks from Oregon , Washington and Canada.

Apexx , Libre, PL, Mg and Ivanpah. It's face off time ! :smug:

Not so fast, see email. Got news from Morrie
( is it possible to ride and dig all at the same time ) the House Bulter can cook what we caught.

Hehe racing at a capped speed could be fun. What's the limit 25mph?

Sunset isn't all that much further...

So, are we still on for Grayland then, or do clams trump kites?

$%$$$$^*$
I just got word of this also, thanks Morrie. This is the second time in two months. I'll contact Parks tomorrow and see if something can be worked out. They were pretty adamant last time that the two groups could not share the same space. Clam diggers are pretty focused. I don't know how crowded it got last month during their dig, but maybe there is a way to work around this. The digging is supposed to be over by noon each day.

Hopefully I'll know something by Friday.
Bottom line this pisses me off. Obviously Fish and Wildlife does not have to look at other groups special permits.

I thought the goal was to have kitebuggiers co-exist with others using the beach access. I dont think we should cancel since I have no doubt that the BC Crew can ride around the other obstacles.
Garry Point is a postage stamp and we have Single Line, Dogs, Walkers, and other buggiers to deal with. So we just need to watch out for vehicles.

thats just my wooden nickel thought.

guess its back to secret locations 1, 2 or 3

Part of the point of opening the beaches has been to open them to buggy tourism. AKA us Canadians + all Washington.

Sunset hasn't got the imposed speed limits and isn't that much farther.

The people at Grayland are winning me over. The Governing body, not so much ! Keep up the good work Fletch !

I'm all for Long Beach only because I got into the paper. Hehehe

So we re-book to Oregon???

Waiting for an answer but I have the long weekend off.

I can be in Las Vegas in 2.5 hours on Friday morning and be on a plane back on Monday night. Last resort is to visit Dino and invade his farm.

Bottom line is I just want to ride.

tide times?

OK, first it is not us that cancels. Washington State Parks do not issue special permits during clam digs. Since we apply early and Fish and Wildlife doesn't they overrule.
I just got off the phone, Park Manager whats us to cancel, he is willing to discuss it further with others but I really don't think it will make much difference. The issue here is congestion. Last weekend or the last clam dig had well over 10,000 people out on the beach according to DFW estimate during their drive by. Yes, the dig is over at Noon but if the weather is nice many and according to Parks many of those folks hang around and stay on the beach. We would be an attraction which would keep them on the beach. They park where we park and walk where we fly, so we would be flying around 3000 plus cars and 10,000 folks. I have mentioned that many people have reservations and have made plans for this weekend, he will talk to his bosses tomorrow if we want to go ahead with this. I'm not looking for a positive outcome, in our meetings with them last year they were pretty adamant that we wouldn't be out there during a clam dig.
Give me your thoughts.
I can push this and work around the clam dig closure and hope for the best in congestion or we cancel and reschedule this event and go to Sunset.

Evans

1. going by the email, i thought many already got their clam dig in.
how many more will come out?

1a. isnt the clam dig in one section only? how do they keep track that each person only took their limit?

2. can we move further up the beach or down the beach?

3. do we have options to use another WA, Beach ... say Ocean Shores?

4. why make dates when we need to cancel it last minute?
(this isnt directed at you, but at the Parks) you have people travelling up from Oregon and down from Canada

I had 10 days to cancel the house, im now past this point of no return. Can I bill the Parks now.

opening WA beaches = Canadians coming = Toursim (small or big)

IM B IT CHING CAUSE IM ITCHING TO RIDE.

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1. going by the email, i thought many already got their clam dig in. how many more will come out? 1a. isnt the clam dig in one section only? how do they keep track that each person only took their limit? 2. can we move further up the beach or down the beach? 3. do we have options to use another WA, Beach ... say Ocean Shores? 4. why make dates when we need to cancel it last minute? (this isnt directed at you, but at the Parks) you have people travelling up from Oregon and down from Canada I had 10 days to cancel the house, im now past this point of no return. Can I bill the Parks now. opening WA beaches = Canadians coming = Toursim (small or big) IM B IT CHING CAUSE IM ITCHING TO RIDE.

1.According to the news release last one for the season.
2. The dig covers the entire beach, as well all other beaches. North and South
3. see 2
4. Yes, I agree.( I'm not taking it personally) had this same question this morning with Parks. They are frustrated as well because Dept. Fish and Wildlife take precedence over them. They don't have to look at Parks schedule. Parks become the heavy. He told me that if DFW scheduled their clam dig for this coming weekend they would be having this same conversation with the surf competition in Westport.
One side of me whats to push this, and coexist, but it probably would not be an enjoyable weekend trying to fly and dodge thousands of vehicles and people. I can push and hope for the best, that folks leave at noon, but we become an attraction which will keep many of those people out there. A catch 22.
The other side of the equation, is that if I push and they say ok give it a shot and something happens we lose.

It irritates the hell out of me that DFW do not have to look at anyone else's agenda, that they can just randomly schedule their digs when they want to. My experience with hardcore clammers stay out of their way. They are a focused group. It's a family event for many also.

Hopefully I can get back my deposit if I have to cancel. I will be sure to let them know it is because of the Fish and Wildlife clam dig that canceled my plans.

well BC Crew ... do we move to new location of Sunset Beach, OR???

i need to know asap to cancel and find new housing in Oregon.

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well BC Crew ... do we move to new location of Sunset Beach, OR??? i need to know asap to cancel and find new housing in Oregon.

Yes, after much deliberation and conversation this is the best thing to do. We need to cancel this event at Grayland. Even though we could make it work after the official clam dig expires at Noon, having to dodge 1000's of cars and people would not make for an enjoyable weekend. Also, if any kind of incident was to happen it would set back even further any progress we have made to this point. I'm sorry, but it is out of my control, and also it really is out of Parks control . DFW, have the say on this.

Hope this doesn't cause a lot of undo hardship.

glad that quincy is the weekend after. no clams in quincy:evil:

Hummm....too bad, this is a disappointing situation.

Looks like we can't bank on events in Washington even if the group has a permit.

Makes it hard for scheduling and for booking accommodation....

Thanks for your efforts Morrie and Fletch; this must be very frustrating for you too.

do they actually have that many people show up to dig?

Catch 22 indeed.

We want to win these beaches and yet it is becoming less and less a win for us all the time. It is supposed to be win, win.

I don't think we want to push ourselves on to the beach on a dig day. This was going to be too big a group of us and too much potential to offend the clam people's post party.

Even when we have done the right thing and opened Washington beaches I have a feeling that the 25mph speed limit will be the reason to keep going to Sunset. That + getting schooled by my original heros!

I am 70 - 30 for going to Sunset ? Will see if Airin is still up to it.

Pity .... We had a way cool sounding beach cottage booked ! :ticking:

:dunno:

P.S. 10,000 diggers ! :wow: The poor clams will be decimated !

the clams... the beach. pot holes.

Poor Clams need to join the Plovers union! :D

Sunset Beach has been spectacular!

A huge open beach, not a soul around for miles.
Just me, Jimmy and Bison rippin it up!

It would be great to have you guys in town!

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Poor Clams need to join the Plovers union!

Made my day

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Looks like we can't bank on events in Washington even if the group has a permit. Makes it hard for scheduling and for booking accommodation.... Thanks for your efforts Morrie and Fletch; this must be very frustrating for you too.

Yes, it is frustrating. Part of the issue, is the beaches are run by a number of entities. Parks, Fish and Wildlife, State Patrol or Highways, and as with any government agency they don't talk to each other. Parks has been very cooperative in this process, they were caught off guard in this decision by DFW as well. But it puts them in an enforcement position. DFW opens the beach to a clam dig, Parks has to enforce the traffic. DFW enforces the #of clams. So I can see their (Parks) position.
I could have pushed the issue, but that number of folks out there would not have made an enjoyable day.

On a somewhat upside, if we were not under a permit system, our group could of gone ahead and continued the plans for this weekend only to find the beach saturated with people, great winds and no place to fly. So, thanks to Morrie, we at least got a heads up.
On another note, I have been at Sunset when they had a late afternoon clam dig. Unaware I was out buggying and all of a sudden it was like I was buggying on I5. It was constant traffic. Washington beaches are very popular for clam diggers.

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Even when we have done the right thing and opened Washington beaches I have a feeling that the 25mph speed limit will be the reason to keep going to Sunset. That + getting schooled by my original heros! I am 70 - 30 for going to Sunset ? Will see if Airin is still up to it.

For me, I am pursuing this because it is the way it should be. I like variety. Being retired I am on the beaches many times during the middle of the week to avoid people. I like having the flexibility to go a variety of places to buggy. I like Sunset I will might show up down there this weekend. The 25 mph is ok with me I am quite happy cruising 25 + - up the beach with no one around. I guess I would rather have a few obstacles , like speed limits, clam digs, etc to not being able to use an area at anytime.
I hope you guys can still make a weekend out of it in Oregon, and I hope to see some of you on a Washington beach in the future.
Long Beach in August? Maybe later in the Fall we have two more events to reschedule.

Evans

Thanks again Evans. Glad to hear that you have more opportunity to fly on the beaches when it is less crowded. And I too, like you, could be happy with sub 25 mph speeds.

I'm going to give the Washington Beach events a pass...given the long drive and the rather unpredictable situations that seem to arise when trying to kite among the cars on the beaches there. :barf:

But, hey, if you ever make it up our way, I'd be happy to give you a personal tour of our local kite patch :roll: any weekday! :wee:

having to book / cancel hotels, phone up shops to stop promoting is difficult and time consuming.

maybe something the Parks should consider for next time, as I assume there are actually a lot beach use events that we just dont know about.

- some of us need advance warning
- are the rest of the dates in good standing? have we had one event yet?


off to Sunset Beach, i REALLY need to get OUT and Ride. where is the SUN?

Airin, Well, I hope there is an opportunity for you to fly on the Washington Beaches, with out the unpredictable situations. I agree it seems like this year there has been a bit of unexpected unpredictability. My last email from the the Parks essentially said the same thing. The uncrowded part, I still have to go to Oregon to enjoy that. You never know, I may take you up on the tour up North. I get up that way ever so often. My son lives in B-ham it is just a short venture further on. My passport is still current.

It'd be great to see you up here, Evans! Anytime!

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Originally posted by ripsessionkites I'm all for Long Beach only because I got into the paper. Hehehe So we re-book to Oregon??? Waiting for an answer but I have the long weekend off. I can be in Las Vegas in 2.5 hours on Friday morning and be on a plane back on Monday night. Last resort is to visit Dino and invade his farm. Bottom line is I just want to ride.

could we count on more support if you were in all the local papers,
Mr.President
Richard Lui - KC88
Richmond, BC, CANADA
it's good to know we can count on you for your help and support

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Originally posted by bigkid Quote: Originally posted by ripsessionkites I'm all for Long Beach only because I got into the paper. Hehehe So we re-book to Oregon??? Waiting for an answer but I have the long weekend off. I can be in Las Vegas in 2.5 hours on Friday morning and be on a plane back on Monday night. Last resort is to visit Dino and invade his farm. Bottom line is I just want to ride. could we count on more support if you were in all the local papers, Mr.President Richard Lui - KC88 Richmond, BC, CANADA it's good to know we can count on you for your help and support

if you need support im all for it ... just let me know how / when / where / what.
(just ask, in my books ... im not a mind reader)

because I was going to Grayland next weekend, I passed to message onto several kite shops in the area and a little down south and north to get the word out.

the House was happy to know that we were returning again for another visit.

as long as Grants wants to head south, im there at the other events.

NAPKA needs everyone and needs to move forward. Im hoping that anyone who puts on an event (NABX, JIBE, WWB, DBBB, SOBB, World Cup, SPO, Eurocup, Romo, etc etc) will list it under NAPKA.

PS. Im looking forward still to pics and articles to move the Newsletter forward.

When there is a clam dig in WA it is wall to wall people. Thousands show up even if the dig is in the dark with lanterns. The night digs are cool all you see is lights up and down the beach for as far as you can see.
Sunset sounds like a much better plan.

It looks like it is 50 / 50 as far as dropping out goes for Canadians.
I am expecting I will still go ? I will investigate hotels and things tonight.

When is low tide at Seaside ?