Yesterday was a statewide Adopt-A-Beach Winter Clean up day sponsored by the Texas Land Office. Here in Port Aransas, the temperature was 40 degrees with an 18 mile an hour wind. Felt more like 34 degrees and spitting rain to boot. There were some brave souls who turned out to pick up litter and small plastic pieces
More than 512,000 volunteers have removed more than 9,495 tons of trash from Texas beaches since 1986. The next statewide cleanup is scheduled for April 20th.
I hope you enjoy the tour.
A shout out to a sponsor.
The check-in table.
The wonderful people who set up the event and make sure all the volunteers have everything they need. (I know it looks like they are standing in Minnesota)
Nothing like a friendly fire to help keep warm.
A Texas Land Office truck.
Here is a form ready for check-in.
Volunteers get a calendar if they wish.
Some nice patches for your down jacket.
A favorite place that fire.
Someone has built a sand tribute to Jesus. Although a bit random, we see sculptures frequently. The sand becomes an excellent vehicle for expression.
A volunteer hard at work. Notice the raging waters behind him.
More volunteers braving the cold and picking up a bag, data card to record the type of trash, and a pencil.
It is tough to leave the fire but we must.
Here is the score for the day. We think there is a mistake in identifying the crab trap tag as from Tennessee since that is a landlocked state. It might be Louisiana.
Fiction Favorites 
A shoutout to you and those other hearty volunteers for working to keep your beautiful beach clean!
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It is a never ending task. For every person picking up trash there are ten throwing it down. Thanks Lori. BTW I took pictures the real volunteers did the work.
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I am so deeply distressed by people who litter. It is a despicable habit.
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Me too. I’m especially distressed to come across paper plates, bottles, beer cans, and diapers on the beach. Yes, diapers. So disgusting.
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Nice work, John. Glad to see responsible people like you helping to preserve the beauty of nature. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you for the comment, Mark. I took pictures. The real helpers were out there picking up the mess. 😊
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Great work, John, but such a pity it’s necessary.
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My feeling as well. For the minority of folks who really care their is a majority of folks who don’t give a damn about sustainability. The minority make a very small dent in the dross level.
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Great project, dear John & a worthy example to follow! 🙂 Thanks for telling us! Twiggy participated too, didn’t she? 🙂
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Twiggy was nestled snug in her home. It was too cold for her. It is a worthy example.
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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😊
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They really accomplished a lot in the short time they were there. Bravo. Shame on all the litterers who threw the junk. The artwork was great. 🙂 — Suzanne
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In this day and age I still am gobsmacked that people can simply litter with no remorse. Thanks, Suzanne.
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Well done to you John on this fabulous initiative. The sand art is amazing!
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The art was sitting out there all by itself. Someone’s contribution and no doubt a statement about their faith. Thanks, Robbie.
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Great cooperation with the residents, especially in that windy weather. I see George P. is the Commissioner.
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Yup. He is very involved. Thanks, GP.
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Now that’s one well-done sand sculpture! More importantly, a tip of the cap to the volunteers and their efforts to keep the beach as it should be.
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Thank you, Frank.
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This is a great program and kudos to everyone for braving the elements. It’s sad to look at that tally sheet and realize that the bulk of it is the result of careless/selfish human behavior.
Maybe the crab was on vacation.
Thanks for being out there and sharing with us, John.
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Crab on vacation LOL. Thanks for the laugh, Dan
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I’m always amazed by people who are able to create such amazing sand sculptures. I can hardly keep a sand castle together. It’s nice to see such a great turn out despite the weather. Thanks for sharing, John! Enjoy your Sunday.
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Thank you, Jill. Enjoy as well.
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I truly admire anyone who acknowledges that we owe a debt to Mother Earth, John, and acts accordingly.
Well done, everyone.
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These folks are dedicated for sure.
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Looks like fun. That Tennessee crab trap is odd. Maybe in rivers and lakes?
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Could be. Thanks, Charles.
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John,
I feel as if we’ve come a long way from those days of “Don’t Be a Litterbug” ads on TV. But when I read this list, I think there is still a long way to go. Is smoking not prohibited on the beach? Not that the people who would litter really care, but just wondering.
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Smoking is allowed. Litter is not but hard to police. Those cigarette filters have a half life of 1000 years yet people just feel the beach is an ashtray.
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I’m surprised smoking is allowed. When I used to partake, I hated the smoke police. Now it’s an absolute Godsend. I’m still of the opinion you don’t have to be ushered to Siberia in order to partake, but there are certain public domains to which it should be smoke free. Beaches should be one of them, seeing as how they serve as a natural ash tray to those who light up. And when I dig for crabs near the water at dusk, I don’t wanna come up with butts.
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I want you to be President or at least governor of Texas. You can outlaw smoking totally. Thanks, Marc.
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They’re gonna come after me big time, John. For all those crumpled up packs of Marlboro I have in my closet.
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I can see you and those red packets
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It was Reds to Winston to Reds to Camels to Reds to the light beer whites.
I don’t think I’d make it through the senate subcommittee investigations. Especially if they uncovered my dalliances with e-cigarettes as well . . .
Yikes.
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Well my choice when I was dumb was Pall Mall.
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Thank goodness those days are in the rear view.
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Yup. Of course when my time comes I’ve instructed my spouse to roll me up to the grand canyon edge and hand me a martini and a Marlboro. I’ll take it form there.
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THAT is a Boss move right there.
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Ha haha.
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Truth.
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Ill have a beach, thanks..
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Would you like tropical weather with that?
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No humidity if that’s possible
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“One beach. Tropical it and hold the humidity.”
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Thanks John. Sunnyside is always up…
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😄
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It’s crazy…doesn’t surprise me, but still 😱😱😱 plastic & cigarettes 🚬 = human been there
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Very true. Sometimes human’s suck.
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I’m so thankful for all the people who pick.up other peoples trash. It sad at what people leave behind including those toxic cigarettes that a dog could get. Thanks for sharing this.
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I think dogs are smarter than people when it comes to cigarettes. 😀
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🙂
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It’s amazing the difference one person can make, and when it’s a group, the entire landscape can be transformed. Bravo to everyone who pitched in. Thanks for sharing, John.
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Thank you for the visit and comment, Gwen. These folks are amazing.
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Some random pieces there, one shoe? Did Peg-leg make landfall again? 🙂
Seriously, it’s sad to see those numbers, especially the plastic and cigarette butts. Thank you to everyone who cares for our environment!
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Thank you, Jacquie. I loved the peg-leg reference.
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Nice project. Shame it’s necessary, but good for you guys for doing it.
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Thank you, Craig..
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That’s a lot of trash! ^5 to all the volunteers for braving the wind, and cold to collect the trash!
I don’t know what’s the most puzzling one shoe, or the crab trap tag from TN? 😉
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I know right? Thanks, Deborah.
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What a fantastic project! It irks me to no end that there is trash on any beach anywhere. If everyone simply picked up their own trash, it would solve everything! Thanks for sharing, John!
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You are so right.
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That sounds COLD!! I guess you’re having to share a bit of our nasty weather. Folks here at least are dressed for it — even having a fire on the beach doesn’t take away the sting of a strong wind. Stay inside, my friend!
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It was cold. I think I have been ice fishing in Michigan and it wasn’t that cold.
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I suspect it’s the same for you — when that east wind blows, it can be 50 degrees and still be miserable. It’s good to see so many turned out, despite the weather. It’s amazing how many tons of trash are picked up from all the locations in a year, and a shame that those who deposit it aren’t the ones made to pick it up. I do think I remember reading that someone or some groups are monitoring the ships now — they’re as responsible for trash on the beaches as the landlubbers are.
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The oil derricks add their share.
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Sad that such a group needs to exist (but great that it does). I guess those ads showing turtles and other wildlife strangled by the six-pack rings or with straws up their noses still isn’t enough. People are such pigs.
One would think there would be designated smoking sections, at least…
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This is the Republic of Texas where it’s citizens are free to do whatever they want. A smoling section on the beach would require the National Guard to enforce. Thanks, Dale.
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I hear ya, John. People are just so inconsiderate…
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Regrettfully
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Well done, John. It infuriates me how people leave their trash everywhere. I was noticing trash along the highways in our community yesterday – seems like more than usual, and it’s shameful. Bet that fire felt good!
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It infuriates me as well. Sadly it is not getting better. I think the litter habit passes from generation to generation. 🤬
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Kudos to these brave souls!
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Thank you, Jo.
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The oysters from Texas are good right now. Had a dozen a few nights ago. I only eat them in winter.
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I gave up oysters after a major bout of food poisoning in 1996. These were from Tomales Bay in California.
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Yikes. I will only eat them from cold places in winter months.
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What committed people to brave the cold and wind. Great spirit! 🙂
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They are. Thanks, Rhonda.
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A terrific project for your community, John. I am constantly astonished by the amount of trash people throw out of their cars, leave behind at parks, and generally litter whatever space they have. Most of all, I have never understood why so many smokers do not consider their butts to be trash. I’ve even had repairmen put their butts out on my driveway, in my flower beds, and a few times, even in my garage. Good job by Port Aransas citizens.
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Thank you, Michelle. That cigarette butt thing is universal. I will be glad whn smoking is totally banned.
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