Fireworks

 

The humidity over Meriden was thicker than a milkshake from Les' Dairy Bar, and not as tasty.

Visit #1374, Saturday 2 July 22, 7:15-10:30AM, 5.6 miles, 12.9 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 70s, quickly rising to the low 90s, mostly cloudy and very humid.

A few weeks ago I reported the return of the American flags on the I-691 walkbridge. This week I am reporting they were stolen, which is sad because this weekend is the perfect time to proudly display a flag.

Those few weeks back, the flags were in very good condition, and I know from observing them almost weekly they don't deteriorate that quickly. Not very patriotic to swipe them, is it?

The only thing left of the flags was one of the many grommets securing the flags to the fencing.

I hiked up to Castle Craig and am glad to report THAT flag was still there. Props to Francis Scott Key. See what I did there?!

I cleaned up around the area then followed the road to my next appointment.

Earlier this week I received a call from a local hiker reporting a large fallen tree branch across a trail.

I brought my handy chainsaw to create my own fireworks and remove the branch.

The crooked tree stays; It's hung up in another tree, you can readily pass under it, and it's not in the safest position to drop. Eventually it will get to a point where I'll tackle it. Not today.

I followed the trail down to the north end of Merimere Reservoir and walked the road back to the park.

At the north end, I found this large box, filled with discarded drink containers and tobacco product packaging.

I wasn't going to leave the box, so I put it in a separate trash bag and carried two bags back to the park. It wasn't easy, but I looked at it like a workout.

Just who would leave such a large box, filled with trash, on the shore of Merimere Reservoir?

The irony of leaving the box and its contents on the reservoir's shore, is reflected in Nathan's last name.

What's worse, the 14 lb. box was shipped by V&V Distribution, a distributor of tobacco products.

Shipping tobacco products outside "the legal distribution chain" is illegal. Distributors can't sell directly to consumers. So either Nathan and/or V&V are not playing nice with the law. I'm more p.o.'d about the littering.

So guess who contacted the Tip Line of the Tobacco and Alcohol Tax and Trade Bureau, a division of the Department of the Treasury?

Maybe that will will result in MORE fireworks?!

Try to keep cool, dry, and with all your fingers intact this holiday weekend.