Day 314 - August 21, 2012

lifeguard tower 26 - Ocean Park, Santa Monica CA

trash collected for 20 min. 

5 pounds

1,186.8 pounds total 

5 cigarette butts

Bottled water has an expiration date? 

High temperatures and exposure to sunlight leech BPA (a synthetic hormone in the plastic that damages the human endocrine system) into your water from the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) packaging in single-use water bottles. While bottled water is in transit in closed trucks heating to high temperatures, or stacked in the window at your local grocery store, both conditions are highly likely. 

Maybe we should reset the expiration date?

My summer average of 4 - 5 pounds of trash in 20 min. while cleaning the beach doesn't make me smile. 

The light changes were drastic last night. Fog rolled in, then the sun sunk below the cloud layer, blanketing us in a gold sheen. The first photograph of Tower 26 was taken last from the parking lot. One final look before leaving revealed a whole new beach. If I've committed to cleaning the beach, sunset is the very best time to be out here doing so.