WHAT A GREAT DAY PICKING UP TRASH!

 

Today was especially good picking up trash.  I walked for an hour at lunchtime picking up trash on Wilbeth Road.  I started at my house and walked to Main Street, about a mile of walking each way.  There wasn't much to pick up. 

I love that there wasn't much to pick up this year compared to last year, but it's hard on my knee when there's a lot of walking.

After work, I continued where I left off and finished the exit ramp from Route 8 to Waterloo Road.  The left side was pretty easy, because of the guard rail.  I didn't have to worry about getting hit by a car.  I could lean over the guard rail to pick up trash on the street.

The right side, however, was a different story.  There wasn't a lot of room between me and the cars, but at least the cars weren't going real fast, because it's an exit ramp.  I got it all cleaned up, and there was a lot of horn blowing!  I love that so much!  If I'm getting tired, and someone blows their horn, and gives me a thumbs up, I become energized!

After the exit ramp was finished, I headed towards the entrance ramp.  I picked up new trash in the big field.  

Across the street, there's a gas station with a drive through window.  The guy who works there was yelling something out the window, and I figured he was talking to me.  There was so much traffic noise, I had a hard time understanding him, but I got that he wanted me to stop by when I was finished.

I started cleaning under the bridge, and I'm guessing that's where homeless people live, or at least get out of the rain.  There were bags and bags of garbage that needed picked up.  Ick!

It was getting dark, and under the bridge felt too scary for me, so I headed for my car.  When I got to my car, a wonderful young man, named Nye, came out of his house and asked me why I was picking up trash.  

We talked for a while, and he mentioned that he's seeing people all over Merriman Valley picking up trash with trash grabbers.  I almost jumped up and down!  It's working!  People are joining in!  Just wait until summer when I start passing out my t-shirts and trash grabbers!

I drove over to the gas station and was told to pick anything I wanted to drink.  How kind was that!  I told him the story of why I'm picking up trash, and he got on my blog while I was there.  

I made two new friends tonight!  

I'll be back at the entrance ramp tomorrow, even if it rains.  Then I'm heading over to Main & 76.  After that, I'm going to the North Hill neighborhood to finish what I started there.  

It's going to be another really good weekend for picking up trash!