Talking Garbage on the Stream - No Buttheads Please!!

Date: April 25th 2011     Weather: 60's      Time: 5:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.

This is just a quick post about picking up trash along one of the streams we fish.  I usually walk up a stream and then take a road back to my vehicle.  I am always disgusted at all of the trash people throw out their car windows.  So today the kids and I decided since it was so nice out that we would go out and take care of some business.  We decided to go to a stretch of stream that is open to the public.  The last thing I want people to remember when they come to fish the Driftless Area is all of the garbage they saw along the road and stream!  When we arrived my son got out of the car and said,"Its kind of like an Easter Egg hunt, but with garbage instead." That made me chuckle.  They were pumped to do some clean up, so we set out.

My daughter Sephora, was jazzed to be the first one on the board with a find.

Four Thumbs up and they are ready to go!

"Don't people know what a trash can is for?"

It wasn't long before their bags started to fill up!

Although not garbage, we decided to eradicate this thistle.

Here a few pics of some of Nature's waste. 

Luckily all of this stuff decomposes and returns back to the land from which it came.  The man made trash on the other hand.  Not so much.  The majority of the trash we found while out were cigarette packages, cigarette butts, soda cans and bottles, and of course McDonald's wrappers.  Looks like some really healthy lifestyles.  Not to mention if most of these people are to lazy to throw this stuff away, I can only imagine what shape they are in.  The government should force these tobacco companies and fast food chains to put garbage cans out in rural areas.  I don't know if this would help or not, but somethings gotta give.  The kids continued to stay in a positive state of mind and onward we went.

It seems like he was having as much fun picking up garbage as he does playing video games:)

My son Ocean, getting deep, going for the Gold:)

One of the land owners along this stretch has a really nice wetland's preserve that Geese, Herons, Sandhill Cranes, Whooping Cranes, Ducks ..etc.... frequent.  I explained to the kids we were out there helping to make sure that none of this Wildlife would be harmed from man's discarded waste.  My daughter thought that was just great.

A couple of resident geese.

Here is the trout stream and to the left all the way back in is some beautiful wetlands.

After a few hours of hiking we decided to call it a day.   We played a little baseball in the newly cleaned area, and then headed home.  I was extremely proud of my kids for the great attitude and effort that they put forth today.   I know it is only a small dent in the extreme amount of garbage along the roadside, but at least this stretch is clean.  FOR NOW!!  Last year we collected two whole full garbage bags of trash.  So I guess people did a little better this year.

Looks like the trusty ole Subaru is a garbage truck today.  Went out with the trash this morning!

So remember those of you who can't seem to be able to reach out your car window and put your trash in a gas station trash can.  DON'T BE A BUTTHEAD!!!  Please put your trash where it belongs:)

Until Next time........Tight lines to all!