As you all may or may not know, the north side of the Matanzas Inlet is off limits to beach driving for the nesting shorebirds. You can only drive to the area near where the overlook is. Here is a link to the newspaper article. http://www.staugustine.com/stories/0505 ... _044.shtml

I know this shouldn't present a problem this time of year since we don't get our usual northeasters. Hopefully the birds will be gone before the fall season so the NPS can allow access back in that area.

And don't forget. Everyone has to be off the beach before 7:30 pm from now until October 31 for sea turtle nesting season. I am a local kiter and recently picked up a second job helping the St. Johns County close the gates at night. So I can relate to when the conditions are good and there is still daylight left to be had.

So now EVERYONE has to be off the beach or just cars have to be off the beach? The beach closes at 8pm 7:30pm or now before 7:30pm. Last year we were getting run off the beach a little after 6pm.

Just vehicles have to be off of the beach before 7:30. Some gates get shut a little earlier than others in order to patrol the whole stretch from Matanzas inlet to A street, but it's generally after 7pm.

Taught down there on the north side of Matanzas yesterday. Took the boat so no issues with parking. A bunch of other kiters just parked at the flags and rigged there, no worries. Birds were concentrated in the dunes, so no issues with them and the kites. Wind was solid 15-20 knots from the NNE, pretty flat on the inside, current pumping. Overall great day for the start of FCK Kite Camp 2009! More of the same this afternoon.