Hour 79: Dabney State Park Cleanup



This morning I was lucky enough to be joined by Allie for the cleanup of Dabney State Park, just west of Portland. It was cold. It was rainy. But we took care of business. This was one of the many cleanups put together around Oregon by SOLVE. (SOLVE has been putting on cleanups along the Oregon Coastline to focus on the cleanup of debris washed ashore from last years tsunami in Japan). Today was a 'riverside cleanup' along the Sandy River. We hiked along the Sandy River, through the state park which provides water access for fishers and boaters. We alse made our way through some of the attached disc golf course. Lots of beer bottles to be found and hauled out. As poor as the weather was, it was good to move around outside and spend some time with Allie.

Thanks to group leader, Conor Rouse, for having us and sharing his pictures.

 

 



Blogger in Gore-Tex



 



Hour 78: Neighborhood Trash Clean Up

No photos today. As I ran out the door this morning to meet up with the NW District cleanup crew, I took a glance at my camera and for just a moment I wished that I had a small, light Iphone to snap pics of the effort.

 

A cool, brisk Saturday morning meetup at the local grocery store and 14 of us split up into pairs up and walked different routes through the neighborhood. We each had a plastic bag and gloves to pick up the litter, mostly food wrappers or plastic cups. I paired up with Sam, a chemical engineer who left his job in product development at Clorox to look for work in the non-profit field, particularly as it relates to protecting the environment.

 

I started to notice the looks Sam and I were getting from neighbors going about there day. Some were of obvious appreciation for the effort we were putting into the community, other looks seemed to be laced with curiousity. A look that said, 'what did they do wrong to have to pick up trash?' I enjoyed it.

I've been busy with work the last couple weeks and at times realize that I've been in worker ant mode, head down trudging through the work week a bit. In these hectic times, I tend to take care of #1 and give little thought to the welfare of what is around me. On this morning of neighborhood cleanup it was nice to be working towards something of which I am not the sole benefactor.