After that activity I decided I would utilize the beginning of a 3 day weekend and go to one of the busiest sites in the area. It is also my favorite training hill, caving adventures, rope descent, ocean wall traverse, stairs, and beach run.
I took my pack and my five gallon bucket to the easily accessed cave. This cave is also known for having hot tinders still burning from fires and almost always bottles and cans left behind. I filled my pack that I'm training with so we become comfortable with one another. I also filled my 5 gallon bucket. As I was walking to my car I noticed a huge black trash bag so I tried to drag it up the trail. It was so heavy I only succeeded in moving it onto half the trail half way creating a pass way blockage. I decided I would come back the following day with gloves and more equipment. I traveled to the recycle center and sorted the plastic, glass and aluminum and was given $3.87. I made a goal that the next day I would get the trash bag off the trail and I would try to double the earnings.
Sunday morning I drove back out to the area armed with my gloves, trash bags, bucket, new rope for the rock descent to the cave, paracord, trauma shears, sunscreen and hydration.
I made my way down to the trail and began digging in the big black trash bag. I put trash in a new trash bag and placed bottles and cans in my bucket and pack and I emptied the dirt and debris at the bottom of the bag onto the side of the trail. I took this load up to my car then returned to the cave I had left clean of all bottles, cans and trash only 20 hours prior. I proceeded to find one fire with still warm tinders along with an accelerant of lighter fluid. Unfortunately I left that alone as to not burn myself. More piles of bottles and cans were left as well so those made their way once again to my bucket and pack. I made another trip back up to my car and was on to my next mission.
As I was driving from the main road into the dirt parking lot I noticed several trash bags had been left by a sign. I started sprinting with my bucket to the sign. They're short 30 yard hill sprints. I began sorting each trash bag removing trash and separating out the bottles and cans into my bucket then running to my car and emptying the bucket into a bag. When I was finished I had 4 bags of recycling, 1 very large bag of trash, many empty beer boxes, a pizza box, men's perfectly great condition flip flops, a girls adorable Hollister tank top and a football.
When this was done I was on to my next task. This is my favorite thing to do and place to be and I'm always grateful for the friend that shared it with me as it isn't easy to find. The last time I posted a picture of myself there I received a lot of messages from concerned friends about the condition of the fraying rope.
My mission here was to anchor a new rope I would be leaving behind for all to enjoy. I would also leave the two existing ropes. I also wanted to descend with my bucket attached to me with a paracord. I was accessing this area to clean another cave. When I arrived at the area I met a couple and their daughter. They watched me anchor the new rope and I told them I would coach them down. The dad and daughter were curious and the mom was cautious, but also allowing fear to take priority. I descended then after a period of time the dad and daughter came down. I then watched the most awesome moment. The husband went back up the rock with the rope and assisted his wife in descending the rock with the rope as I was so excited and cheering her on. It was so awesome when she got down and smiled then said," now how will I go back up?"
I traversed the slippery wall really unsure of my ability and was thankful when I arrived at the cave and found it surprisingly void of any trash or recycling. I made my way back across the wall and up the rock to run my way to the next cave.
In the next cave I found mostly cans and a back pack and towels, but no sign of the owner. This cave provides the most sheltered incredible view and the sound when the waves crash is breathtaking.
The trash made its way to a dumpster, the football found a K9 friend, the flip flops will find a less fortunate man who needs comfort, the tank top will get bleached and the cans, bottles and plastic found their way to a recycle center where I earned $13.85.
Tomorrow is Tuesday where I am blessed with the opportunity each week to run 4 or 5 miles with an incredible group of individuals. You know who truly inspired this cleanup was one of the young men in that group who often times will grab a bag and pick up cans and bottles on our weekly run near this same area. I think tomorrow I will take my pack and run the beach section and see if I can find any bottles and cans left from the fun that was had over the 3 day weekend.
I'm not looking for a pat on the back here. I really want to be successful in the event I'm training for the first weekend in May and it was my way of giving back and getting paid to train. I would like to raise awareness and give gentle reminders to please leave no trace or when you find traces find a way to help remove them. Participate in local trail or beach cleanup projects.
Finally some words from a great person who shared this with me tonight. SISU IN TRASH OUT.
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