Our Daily Ocean: Day 250

Before I went to yoga this morning, I decided to do a beach cleanup.  Being a Friday morning in the middle of summer, I imagined the beach being very busy and I started to get nervous.  Having been nearly a month since I was at the beach, the thought of a busy beach and picking up litter amongst groups of people started to make me feel a bit apprehensive and I almost changed my mind!  But, it's time to get back into my comfort-zone and there's only one way back!!! 

So I kicked off my flip flops, grabbed my bag and did my 250th beach cleanup at Access 17!  Oh, right and the beach wasn't busy at all.  But, there was definitely a lot of litter left on the beach.  Here's a list of the top 6 things I picked up this morning:

Cigarette butts: 55

Plastic caps: 15

Straws: 14

Fireworks: 13

Food wrappers: 12

Zip ties: 9

First thing's first, I'm.... getting sidetracked because when I saw this packet of "Fancy Ketchup" that Iggy Azalea song immediately popped into my head.  Well, that and "Seriously? What makes McDonald's ketchup so "fancy"?  It's ketchup. In a single-serving plastic pouch."  I don't get it.   

This cleanup marks the start of me using a new app called One+One.  I've only used it once, but so far so RAD!  I'm officially on the map as the first person on the East Coast to log data and I'm 3rd on the leaderboard!  Want to get the app?  It's free in the iTunes app store. 

July 11, 2014 at Access 17

Litter by weight: 14.5 oz

Cigarette butts: 55

Total cigarette butts removed: 58,015

Our Daily Ocean: Day 235

On Sunday, as I drove to Wrightsville Beach to do a quick cleanup before taking my son to his hip hop class, I thought I knew what I was getting into.  Well,  I was wrong.  While getting onto the island was a breeze, there was loads of outbound traffic and the beach was still packed (ok, packed for February)!!  Apparently, I forgot that it was UNCW homecoming weekend.

I haven't seen major crowds at the beach in such a long time that the sight was a bit overwhelming at first.  Where to walk?  Which way to go?  Does that belong to someone or was it left behind?  There are so many more variables to contend with when people have their chairs, toys and blankets laid out.  Not to mention the larger groups playing various beach games (like volleyball and bocce ball).  It's a lot to weave through while searching the sand for what doesn't belong.

It's hard not to start thinking about summer and what the litter problem will be like with the increased number of visitors to our beach.  I wish there was a way to reach those people before they arrive.  A way to connect our love for the beach and ocean to an understanding and commitment to care for it... even in the midst of getting lost in what it means to be at the beach.

20 minutes on February 23, 2014 at Access 17
Litter by weight: 2 lbs 1.8 oz
Cigarette butts: 16

Total cigarette butts removed: 57,712

Our Daily Ocean: Day 216

With every season, there is something special about the beach.  Of course, summer (my favorite time) means swimming and soaking up the sun.  But when the cool weather comes... I can't help but appreciate a less crowded beach which ultimately means a cleaner beach.  

This is what the beach looked like on November 12, 2013... and yes, I had it all to myself.

Having the beach all to myself on such a beautiful day... was amazing.  The feeling is so special that there's really nothing like it in the world.  The sand stretching as far as I can see and the blue that never ends.... there's healing powers there.  

Have you ever wondered why we're drawn to the ocean? Or why being near water sets our minds at ease?  Dr. Wallace J. Nichols revolutionizes what we think about those questions and reveals the remarkable truth about the benefits of being, in, on, under, or simply near water in his upcoming book Blue Mind (June 2014).  To learn more about Wallace "J" Nichols and Blue Mind, please visit: 

http://www.wallacejnichols.org/

20 minutes on November 12, 2013 at Access 17

Litter by weight: 5.8 oz

Cigarette butts: 51

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 216 days:

56,728

Our Daily Ocean: Day 152

Even though I spent all day last Saturday at Wrightsville Beach for Life Rolls On, it's been way too long since I've done a 20 minute beach clean up.  Whenever there's a long stretch between clean ups, it seems I always feel a bit like a slacker (and slightly guilty) for not doing more.  Then I give myself a reality check and remind myself of all that we have done and continue to do to raise awareness, educate and, of course, clean up.

After my kids and I cleaned up the beach for 20 minutes, we made our way to Surfberry to cool off with some froyo.  Surfberry isn't your average froyo place.  Nope!  They're locally owned by the good people of WB Surf Camp and they're doing things a bit different.  One of the most notable things that they're doing is encouraging people to help clean up the beach.

From Surfberry's Facebook page:

Did you know that cigarette butts are the most prevalent form of litter on earth? Over 4.5 trillion cigarettes are littered worldwide each year! Help our oceans and beaches! Stop by Surfberry and grab a bag- and if you fill it with cigarette butts from the beach and bring it back, we will give you a FREE grom sized shave ice!! The earth and we thank you!!

After talking to a couple of Surfberry employees about how many cigarette butts we've picked up, one of the employees handed me a stack of coupons for FREE shaved ice and told me that if I run out to let them know. (VERY RAD!!!)  Thanks Surfberry!!!

20 minutes on August 4, 2012 at Access 17

Litter by weight: 1 lb 12 oz
Cigarette butts: 227
Straws: 17

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 152 days:

48,579