First "quickie" cleanup for 2013

Got out on the Mon with Aaron Sutch of the Mountain Institute last weekend for our first cleanup.

Did the area between Old Lock 10 and the new Morgantown Lock and Dam and also the area near Decker's Creek where we have an information kiosk and litter barrel.  That barrel is working real well.

As you can see, Aaron did most of the work.

It was great to get out on the river and see all the activity. One thing I noticed right away this year: kayak fishing is really taking off.  We saw three people in kayaks fishing when we brought the boat up from Mark's Marine Repair, where she lays up during the winter. Years ago, none.  One person fishing in early May reported landing a 27 inch drum, as the one at left.

By the way, it was nice having Aaron, who is co-chairman of Morgantown's Green Team, aboard.  Not only because he understands environmental issues, but also he can also handle the helm for me.  Very cool.

Some years ago I learned that plastic litter is making its way to the oceans where albatross, for some reason, eat it and die.  Below is a recent trailer for a new movie my daughter brought to my attention.

I've seen lots of photos of dead albatross, with ingested plastic stuff, but I've never seen one actually dying.

It's pitiful. Midway Island is so far away, yet we are managing to destroy life there.
Midway movie.

Petition to Corps of Engineers

Lets see if we can get the government to help us out and get the litter out before it comes down river and goes to the Gulf of Mexico. Click here to sign the petition. Please sign the petition!

Here's an old post related to this.

Getting ready for summer

My river helper Chris with the Monongahela Monitor at Mark's Marine Repair. We got the tarps off her that had covered the boat during the winter, but the top isn't up and in place in this photo.

The Monitor must be laid up each winter for a couple reasons. The 28-foot boat would be a target for large trees that might come down the river in the winter if there's a flood, and also the 130 hp inboard/outboard engine must be drained of water to prevent freezing. It's simply better and safer to have the boat at Mark's during the winter.

Hope to get the boat out this weekend (4/13-14) or next weekend. Then, river cleanups begin in earnest.

Leave a comment, etc, if you want to help out.

Getting the Monongahela Monitor Ready to launch!

The weather is in our favor now, and I'm taking the tarps off the boat and getting her ready to launch soon!

In the grip of Winter

I spell Winter with a capital letter,
and acknowledge that in its fatal "grip"
doth downward the soul descend.

Whether light, that lacketh in the Dim
of darkened Days, is the problem,
I'll admit no knowledge,
Or whether a spirit that dwelleth
in light of the Summer's Sun set the anchor so that,
winds who blow in gray winter taketh away our soul, as did the fish
die and disappear and an epoch change,
and the old die, too.

This, it may well be debated, is Time's trick upon us,
that we must bide the hours slowly as if in Infinity, nay! Eternity.

Ah, summer!

Here are some nice photos sent in by Sue and Jeff from their trip along the river between Morgantown and the Pennsylvania border.  Thanks, Sue and Jeff.