Traveler III
Drove down to the pull off near the southbound Skyway rest area that seems to be the popular kiteboarding area. I've been going here since there were only a few tire tracks though deep sand, but not almost the whole area is like a packed parking lot.
Have the day off and planned on taking some time to relax in my hammock by the water, but what I found made me re-think my relaxation time. The trees where I usually hang my hammock have a new trash can buddy next to them. This sometimes hinders the spot depending on when the trash has been removed. Although today I pull in to find trash everywhere. with the growing popularity of this spot it is now becoming a trash haven for people who are too lazy to throw items in a trash can. I am sure the local rangers noticed this as well as they installed the can near the tree, but I was appalled by finding trash left behind that people just cant take the few extra steps to make it in the can.
So my relaxing trip turned into a few hours of combing this section of beach from literal garbage left behind by very lazy people. While it did lend to some well needed exercise, the relaxation was not lost as the more I picked up items left behind the better I felt regarding the situation. As these items are left on the beach, the rising tides can pick up these items and then they eventually make it out to see. I thought if I could help one sea creature have a better day by not trying to eat a piece of plastic, a bag tie, cigarette butt or piece of glass, then it was a really good day. And as i proceeded through my journey today, many passed by and looked at what I was partaking in so I hope this could help others feel the same way.
As time went on and the more passes I made in the area I was working, you think you found all the forgotten trash, but you find one more cigarette butt that you had missed the pass before. Just because trash cans have sand in the top of them to extinguish your cigarettes doesn't mean that the beach is one giant ashtray! I think I filled the garbage can with a few cartoons of butts today, amazing how many people feel the need to just throw these things on the beach as they are enjoying the beauty of nature. Although the most shocking item was the rolls of carpeting I had found near the bushes in my one picture. Cant believe what some people will just discard wherever they feel necessary.
The pictures doesn't do the area justice as I only used my cell phone, but at least I left the area a little nicer for the next people. I would've ventured farther in both directions, but I did not want to interrupt other enjoyment of the beach and water. also, I should have taken a before and after shot of the trash can as it was full once I left. Going to stash a roll of garbage bags in my truck for future visits and clean-ups.
All in all it felt like a great day and time well spent. I pulled out feeling a sense of accomplishment rather than wasting a few hours laying in a hammock. I drove down to another area, but they were all filed with people being a holiday weekend so I pressed on. On my way back to 275, I saw that an older couple had set-up their chairs under the tree area where I had just clean-up. This definitely made it all worth it as someone else can now enjoy the area that is free of broken glass, trash and debris!
Have the day off and planned on taking some time to relax in my hammock by the water, but what I found made me re-think my relaxation time. The trees where I usually hang my hammock have a new trash can buddy next to them. This sometimes hinders the spot depending on when the trash has been removed. Although today I pull in to find trash everywhere. with the growing popularity of this spot it is now becoming a trash haven for people who are too lazy to throw items in a trash can. I am sure the local rangers noticed this as well as they installed the can near the tree, but I was appalled by finding trash left behind that people just cant take the few extra steps to make it in the can.
So my relaxing trip turned into a few hours of combing this section of beach from literal garbage left behind by very lazy people. While it did lend to some well needed exercise, the relaxation was not lost as the more I picked up items left behind the better I felt regarding the situation. As these items are left on the beach, the rising tides can pick up these items and then they eventually make it out to see. I thought if I could help one sea creature have a better day by not trying to eat a piece of plastic, a bag tie, cigarette butt or piece of glass, then it was a really good day. And as i proceeded through my journey today, many passed by and looked at what I was partaking in so I hope this could help others feel the same way.
As time went on and the more passes I made in the area I was working, you think you found all the forgotten trash, but you find one more cigarette butt that you had missed the pass before. Just because trash cans have sand in the top of them to extinguish your cigarettes doesn't mean that the beach is one giant ashtray! I think I filled the garbage can with a few cartoons of butts today, amazing how many people feel the need to just throw these things on the beach as they are enjoying the beauty of nature. Although the most shocking item was the rolls of carpeting I had found near the bushes in my one picture. Cant believe what some people will just discard wherever they feel necessary.
The pictures doesn't do the area justice as I only used my cell phone, but at least I left the area a little nicer for the next people. I would've ventured farther in both directions, but I did not want to interrupt other enjoyment of the beach and water. also, I should have taken a before and after shot of the trash can as it was full once I left. Going to stash a roll of garbage bags in my truck for future visits and clean-ups.
All in all it felt like a great day and time well spent. I pulled out feeling a sense of accomplishment rather than wasting a few hours laying in a hammock. I drove down to another area, but they were all filed with people being a holiday weekend so I pressed on. On my way back to 275, I saw that an older couple had set-up their chairs under the tree area where I had just clean-up. This definitely made it all worth it as someone else can now enjoy the area that is free of broken glass, trash and debris!
