Just got word from a friend on the scene today. At just before seven this morning they shut off the lot and the overflow for the day even with the pouring rain. My buddy Eric just drove three hours to get there and he was turned away. Tommorow he is facing day surgery on a suspect lump on the inside of his leg so he cannot make it back. He is, to put it mildly, upset. This just ain't fair. The guy lives and breathes to fish up there and he ain't gonna be able to this year like he has in the past. This sucks even though he knows he could take my truck anytime he won't no matter how much I tell him he can. The ranger at the road block told him they are certain that tomorrow will be the last day for the permits. I blame this whole stupid mess on the internet, cell phones and the most important fact that the CCNS way of doing this is archaic. 4/10 ended up on a Saturday, on Easter weekend that had a fantastic weather report. Then the internet, cell phone frenzy and newspaper and radio stations broadcasting the news that from thier slant is always the worst.
I think it's time to for the CCNS to do one of two things. #1, issue an unlimited number of permits and regulate the number of vehicles using the beach daily when the alloted number of vehicle quota on any given day is reached stop the access for that day. #2, and this is the one I favor, have the renewals done by mail with a certain date for reply. If you don't re-register by say, 3/15 you have to go up to the station and go through the whole process again and take your chances if they stay with a limited number of permits to be issued. It's time for the MBBA and other organizations to put some pressure on the feds to re-think this process.
Just my two cents. Fire at will.
