![](https://cleanupday.org/draft/images/CCD19%20English%20Flyer.jpg)
Coastal Cleanup Day is a state wide event, the world’s largest single cleanup day event. There are over 100 sites in San Diego where volunteers are needed and will be sponsored.
I volunteer with ‘I Love a Clean San Diego’, especially when they have a site on the list that we use. This year I chose South Shores. We’ve often biked along Mission Bay through South Shores, we’ve used the restrooms and I’ve used the RV dump station.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiA0gbSq95YY6hyphenhyphendDwodQNO5AgR5DKATiCTRHDPGk3pd9cq8PywOrewAjqG5uke8Kbi1-AQKQW-SxY_okVfDjvNnzhDclG0YbrBlqibMDGWkNVarcYqHCGqjZeS2Ty9lkUyOFUt6-4w2-g/s640/IMG_1034+%25281024x768%2529.jpg)
I arrived a little early to check out the RC aircraft. I've seen them often but have never really checked them out.
Who knew??? it’s a private club field, and my idea of doing a cleanup, in the private fly-zone, was not really how I wanted to spend my time.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGr1pMox3OjjKO9w5CYa-EHKU8Hya8KXztdHI-yFEwMXhhVW1FsZbM_E9l8dy6rzJ6XLPWUvg4bU5yAEGsB706-ysTpr0tkgtAanr2NMjmysLYj0ofxJ6Kqj5d5AOpX6WKCYFb_Iks5Qs/s640/IMG_2240+%25281024x768%2529.jpg)
.
Back at Cleanup base station, check-in was quick and easy
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCGMQqsr4jEYSJ-Or1QTpJBqWamQu8v9ldbesVZf2gqMK1egB5r8Wgs95Z8e-KyXTspPP8u_wgMrKJ9-X0zRlD8_g2NAmxYL7rTBREOEspON22zsZYw1BqVjTG43IXK0028BpLqzheGpI/s640/IMG_1025+%2528753x1024%2529.jpg)
After the 'Thank You' and 'Safety' talk we were told to always work in pairs … bugs, snakes, gopher holes, yadda-yadda.
I took off alone with a quick stop at the RV dump station.
<no picture, we’ve all seen the detritus at a dump station>
it's not pretty, but better in the trashcans than the bay.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNHynFhNTpsEcA38HdvIVdvn8LFRfAydj5-zVRS6r9ZcSfZNhKxYX8cl9kfZhKxHUnr42viVikE1t08P9bSTy40QAmnxUJjRNam9kMF9qGhyphenhyphenoCBrIP7sAgShFNQZesy1h2nGvovXEljWm/s640/IMG_1028+%25281024x758%2529.jpg)
With that done, and a fresh pair of rubber gloves, I notice that most of the 50+ volunteers are either in the parking lot or on the trails by the water. It's a warm morning and bayside is tempting, but that's not where the real trash is.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXAcq5VDe9oq_PeXz9MZzi2bMwdTKelWVuz7nYqJShxbhC5yW8UfyPtAJaO1h8XVlJLQjn43Ls0ErcFPyoDZ5ZlrStif8K5A7_tl89CAXC39RTBVgEkWHPtFAJbxOmgqyaGAn4ZKdawur/s640/IMG_1032+%25281024x760%2529.jpg)
Little did these gals and kids know as they walked the parking lot, that just beyond the bushes is a trove of trash.
It was there I filled my bucket and a couple trash bags. But the prize was an anchor buoy! I thought it was a beach ball when I first saw it. Nope!, at least I could roll it back.
While there I saw another abandoned camp nearby. At that camp there was a mattress, a bunch of take out food containers and a latrine. The trash filled my last plastic bag, the contents of the latrine filled my 5 gallon bucket and the mattress I had to drag out to the street.
There’s no way I want to carry all that back to the collection area, so I retrieved my truck. I parked the truck facing oncoming traffic, at an unauthorized gate, near that private RC flight zone - yup! the one that did not want my help … And where’s a cop when you don’t want one? Right in front of my truck - with his lights flashing!
“Do you need assistance?” That’s better than asking for my credentials! After I explained, he pulled on his gloves and helps me load the mattress and trash bag, but I’ve had my Hep shot and load the latrine contents myself. Nice cop!, I did not get his name, nor did he ask mine. but thanks for the help!
The efforts of the day were awarded various prizes – biggest group, best bucket decorations, etc. But I won 3: biggest find – the mattress; most unusual – the buoy; and … drum roll … most disgusting – the latrine contents!
Better in their plastic bag than my bay!
I’m quick to get back home for a well deserved shower, than Fran and I get on our bikes for a ride to PIFA!
What’s PIFA? – that’ll be in the next blog….
I volunteer with ‘I Love a Clean San Diego’, especially when they have a site on the list that we use. This year I chose South Shores. We’ve often biked along Mission Bay through South Shores, we’ve used the restrooms and I’ve used the RV dump station.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiA0gbSq95YY6hyphenhyphendDwodQNO5AgR5DKATiCTRHDPGk3pd9cq8PywOrewAjqG5uke8Kbi1-AQKQW-SxY_okVfDjvNnzhDclG0YbrBlqibMDGWkNVarcYqHCGqjZeS2Ty9lkUyOFUt6-4w2-g/s640/IMG_1034+%25281024x768%2529.jpg)
I arrived a little early to check out the RC aircraft. I've seen them often but have never really checked them out.
Who knew??? it’s a private club field, and my idea of doing a cleanup, in the private fly-zone, was not really how I wanted to spend my time.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGr1pMox3OjjKO9w5CYa-EHKU8Hya8KXztdHI-yFEwMXhhVW1FsZbM_E9l8dy6rzJ6XLPWUvg4bU5yAEGsB706-ysTpr0tkgtAanr2NMjmysLYj0ofxJ6Kqj5d5AOpX6WKCYFb_Iks5Qs/s640/IMG_2240+%25281024x768%2529.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnl3IlxsVXjvMxvauW3rD9xljHKbDD43ChIEyPgqpO7Brn-cX49Wu8NGhi0GfU3M71J6QKRczYxu8rOlwaUB8U8bBmvvIdQLLZiuos6DGoZ1E4YrzOqktPY8AP2G2xruiughmtMO3JXMim/s640/IMG_2238+%25281024x768%2529.jpg)
Back at Cleanup base station, check-in was quick and easy
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCGMQqsr4jEYSJ-Or1QTpJBqWamQu8v9ldbesVZf2gqMK1egB5r8Wgs95Z8e-KyXTspPP8u_wgMrKJ9-X0zRlD8_g2NAmxYL7rTBREOEspON22zsZYw1BqVjTG43IXK0028BpLqzheGpI/s640/IMG_1025+%2528753x1024%2529.jpg)
After the 'Thank You' and 'Safety' talk we were told to always work in pairs … bugs, snakes, gopher holes, yadda-yadda.
I took off alone with a quick stop at the RV dump station.
<no picture, we’ve all seen the detritus at a dump station>
it's not pretty, but better in the trashcans than the bay.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNHynFhNTpsEcA38HdvIVdvn8LFRfAydj5-zVRS6r9ZcSfZNhKxYX8cl9kfZhKxHUnr42viVikE1t08P9bSTy40QAmnxUJjRNam9kMF9qGhyphenhyphenoCBrIP7sAgShFNQZesy1h2nGvovXEljWm/s640/IMG_1028+%25281024x758%2529.jpg)
With that done, and a fresh pair of rubber gloves, I notice that most of the 50+ volunteers are either in the parking lot or on the trails by the water. It's a warm morning and bayside is tempting, but that's not where the real trash is.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXAcq5VDe9oq_PeXz9MZzi2bMwdTKelWVuz7nYqJShxbhC5yW8UfyPtAJaO1h8XVlJLQjn43Ls0ErcFPyoDZ5ZlrStif8K5A7_tl89CAXC39RTBVgEkWHPtFAJbxOmgqyaGAn4ZKdawur/s640/IMG_1032+%25281024x760%2529.jpg)
Little did these gals and kids know as they walked the parking lot, that just beyond the bushes is a trove of trash.
It was there I filled my bucket and a couple trash bags. But the prize was an anchor buoy! I thought it was a beach ball when I first saw it. Nope!, at least I could roll it back.
While there I saw another abandoned camp nearby. At that camp there was a mattress, a bunch of take out food containers and a latrine. The trash filled my last plastic bag, the contents of the latrine filled my 5 gallon bucket and the mattress I had to drag out to the street.
There’s no way I want to carry all that back to the collection area, so I retrieved my truck. I parked the truck facing oncoming traffic, at an unauthorized gate, near that private RC flight zone - yup! the one that did not want my help … And where’s a cop when you don’t want one? Right in front of my truck - with his lights flashing!
“Do you need assistance?” That’s better than asking for my credentials! After I explained, he pulled on his gloves and helps me load the mattress and trash bag, but I’ve had my Hep shot and load the latrine contents myself. Nice cop!, I did not get his name, nor did he ask mine. but thanks for the help!
The efforts of the day were awarded various prizes – biggest group, best bucket decorations, etc. But I won 3: biggest find – the mattress; most unusual – the buoy; and … drum roll … most disgusting – the latrine contents!
Better in their plastic bag than my bay!
I’m quick to get back home for a well deserved shower, than Fran and I get on our bikes for a ride to PIFA!
What’s PIFA? – that’ll be in the next blog….
Sounds like a productive day you had and the help from the friendly cop was a bonus.
ReplyDeleteVery productive day. Overall several tons of trash were removed the coast.
DeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteThanks, and it was indeed a lot nicer once we finished up.
Delete