26th Mississippi Riverboat Cleanup

Last week was the 26th annual Mississippi Riverboat Cleanup.  This was just my second year for this adventure.  I can't believe this Twin Cities group has been doing this for a quarter century.  There were 75 volunteers and we removed 1160 lbs of trash, 120 lbs of recycling and 11 tires.  When I looked at the dumpster with our trash, it seemed like it was far less of a haul than the previous year. So, I went back to last year's blog and found that we had removed 3.7 tons of trash.  I think there were over 40 tires pulled out last year.  Our boat cleanup crew cleaned up virtually the same spot as last year which included both sides of the river just north of the 494 bridge.  So maybe next year our Conservation Corps hosts will choose another site for us to work on. More details and photos about the event are on their website.
http://www.conservationcorps.org/newsroom2/2017/6/19/26th-mississippi-riverboat-cleanup

I sat on the back of the boat (ok, the stern) enjoying the trip down river while listening to one of the event's team members tell stories about the river over the loudspeaker.  The stories kind of drifted in and out of my consciousness while I watched eagles circling around over head.  One of those stories that caught my attention was of a train accident from 1912 along the river.  It was a foggy morning and the engineer didn't realize the swing bridge was open and off they went into the river with people and livestock headed to South St. Paul where the folks in town could hear the stricken cries of the animals.
http://www.twincities.com/2015/10/14/from-the-archives-train-headed-for-south-st-paul-stockyards-plunges-into-river/

Volunteers on the boat were divided up into 5 work groups.  This year I worked the shady side of the river instead of the steep rocky side.  Lesson learned last year.  Yes, our group hauled out that wooden pallet that got lodged on the tree stump.  Last year I didn't realize that there is a trash contest for most dangerous trash, oldest trash, weirdest trash, etc.  This year I knew to hang on to some bit of trash that might fit into one of those categories.  Last year I found a drug needle but just threw it into my bag not realizing that I might have a winner!  Not going to make that mistake again.

So this year I found that can of carburetor cleaner.  That can looked like it had been there awhile and had a hole worn through it so all the remaining contents of that gets into our drinking supply.  Nice.  I thought I was a shoo in until we heard that one of the cleanup teams on the rocky side had found a hand gun.  Well, there goes my entry for most dangerous thing found.  But....the police were called and it was handed over to them for obvious reasons.  So....if it's not on the boat it can't be entered into the contest.  Darn.  My carburetor cleaner took home the most dangerous win and I selected a nice beer mug as my prize!