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Borrego Springs, CA

Thursday, September 4, 2014

A revolting find

With Bridget and John gone for the week to pick up their new rig, the onerous task of checking the two pit toilet locations fell on my shoulders this time.  Somehow Bridget has been blessed with that task this year.  It turned out that all I needed to do was restock some TP.  With the cooler temps, I didn’t even have to hold my breath. (It was not revolting.)

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Janice had also asked if I could get some shots of early signs of fall on the refuge for their Facebook page in my wanderings this week.  Black-eyed Susans and lots of goldenrod surely herald the ending of summer.

The rain stopped long enough yesterday for me to finally get all the mowing done around the maintenance compound, residences, and RV sites.  That takes up a good portion of a day. 

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Everyone is ‘busy as a bee’ around here right now when the rain stops.  After I got the mowing done, I headed off to restock the kiosks with pamphlets.  I figured they might have gotten a lot of use over the past holiday weekend.  I was correct, but sometimes I wonder about the public.  At the Balsam Lake kiosk, I found two dog bowls and a huge thick dog tie out wrapped around a big tree.  No dogs, no people, no vehicle.  Why would someone leave all this stuff behind?  I put it in the back of the truck to clean up the area and moved on.

At the Mitchel Bridge kiosk, someone had ripped off the top of the pamphlet holder so every pamphlet inside was soaking wet.  Why?  I looked all around, but couldn’t find the top.  I suppose they chucked it in the Ottertail River. 

At the Co. Rd. 29 Information kiosk, everything was gone except some fishing regulation pamphlets, and they were squashed into each of the five holders.  It also looked like someone had taken a hammer and smashed a part of one of the display pictures.  Why?  These things were disgusting and a little revolting, but it didn’t end there.

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The final example of debauchery came today as I made a trash pick-up run through the Blackbird Wildlife Drive.  I stopped for a moment’s contemplation at this beautiful overlook of Pine Lake.  The bench is dedicated in the memory of someone who found this spot special.  There is the quote “Rest in Peace” on a placard on the seat.  As I turned around to leave, I found a used condom just behind the bench.  Utterly revolting!  Made me mad.  Obviously, some member of the ‘public’ spells Peace along the lines of piece.  Baring teeth smile  Did I clean it up?  Yes, I did, but not without a few expletives!

Good Lord!  What are some people thinking?  I continued on and tried to get my mind in a better frame of thinking.

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Thankfully, I spotted this gorgeous maple beginning to spread the fiery colors of fall.  I won’t be here for the peak color season this year (assuming my fridge doesn’t crap out on me again), but perhaps the aspens will have donned their golden coats when Nurse Ratchet and I make it to Yellowstone. 

Speaking of Nurse Ratchet, he told me today that his bag is already packed and he is just waiting for the plane to arrive in Phoenix to bring him north to Fargo! Open-mouthed smile  Let the adventure begin!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

28 comments:

  1. Sorry you encountered those displays of disrespect and vandalism. Today's world is not the one of my childhood . . .

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  2. So sad that so many people have absolutely no respect for anything. Love that last picture. Sure hope we see some beautiful fall colors while we're out east.

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  3. Please don't grind your teeth to the gums in disgust! I hope those erring humans get their just rewards!

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  4. It is disgusting makes you wonder why they even go to beautiful places when they are so black hearted. I hate seeing this kind of thing I hope I never see someone doing these things.

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  5. I just don't understand why people who would come out to the Wildlife Refuge would have so little respect for it. Disgusting is the right word for sure. Love your fall pictures. They will make the facebook page beautiful.

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  6. I know exactly how you feel about those acts of "vandalism" and your disgusting find. This year has been better but last year we had to deal a number of times with several revolting things and we ask ourselves the same question "Why!". Hope tomorrow is better.

    Enjoy your time with "Nurse Ratchet"! Guess he won't have to wear his nursing hat this time round?!

    www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

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  7. Discouraging for sure...what ever will they do without you next summer? Just as a heads up Dogs especially Pitbulls have been coming up missing all summer...speculation is they are held to see if there is a reward if not they are sold as bait dogs or medical research. I have never heard of so many missing dogs ever...:(

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  8. Not much to say about the disrespect to public lands and shared parts of our beautiful country....and to think how much time and effort so many including yourself give to make the visits special for visitors .... No words for it ....but thanks always for all that you do, Judy ....

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  9. Egads. Some people have no conscience! They just can't enjoy the beauty of the land. Eventually these jerks will leave behind something that can be traced to them.

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  10. I know you are looking forward to your trip south. Sounds like you guys will have a great time.

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  11. Goldenrod gets a bad rap from folks with allergies, but I think it's just beautiful... and is home to so many insects! Sorry about the litter... disgusting for sure!

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  12. I just don't get it. . .vandalism. . .destruction. . .cigarette butts. . .and ugh. . .really?

    but on a brighter note. . .the falls colors are looking fabulous. . .

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  13. I agree with Janice (above). Concentrate on beauty, not the beast.

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  14. I can't believe how disrespectful some people are of public property. Just wonder how they treat their property.

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  15. Just stay home if you don't appreciate what a beautiful place you are visiting! Go home and deface your own property!

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  16. The human race can be truly disgusting.. why do people do those things, what joy can they find in that? will never understand... the goldenrod is beautiful... you are going to have SUCH a great trip!!

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  17. What the hell is wrong with people? Honestly, I find the condom less revolting than damaging the other things - they will have to be replaced or fixed and that's time consuming and costly. Karma, baby, Karma....

    You sure are busy and have a lot of different duties. Thank goodness for Volunteers like you! :)

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  18. Some people are such pigs, they mess nice things up and then they are the first ones to complain about it. We found lots of damage at the COE we workamped at. Just senseless and aggravating.

    My big pet peeve is trash along the highways. But then it gives inmates something to do... ;c)

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  19. Well, the maple tree sure is pretty! Can't say that about some of the folks that have visited the refuge!

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  20. Frankly, I would rather find that than a diaper-which we did find on a trail in Arkansas. If you bring it- take it home. It is not really that hard.

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  21. In the Oregon Deschutes forest there are mountain bike trails with numbered posts along the way. The posts correspond to map locations. For some reason there are people who bring guns into the woods and shoot the signs. It is the most aggravating and stupid thing I've seen in quite awhile. Some of the posts are well into the woods, so it was probably done by mountain bikers. People!

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  22. Vandalism is something that has pretty much remained a constant over the years. Kind of mystifying.

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  23. We've found a couple of those revolting "surprises" too. A good reason to keep some disposal gloves handy.
    Teri
    markteri.blogspot.com

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  24. Sometimes you just can't believe people.

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  25. As they say, "You just can't fix STUPID"!!

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  26. I have never understood people who disrespect property. Don't they realize they are doing it to themselves? Guess not! I guess they were raised by trolls!

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  27. The phrase pit toilet is enough to make anyone cringe:( I have given up trying to figure out why so many people are driven to these acts of disrespect and vandalism. Stupidity is the only thing I can come up with, but I suppose it is more complicated than that.

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