Waterway Cleanup
Yesterday was the 27th annual Waterway Cleanup. It's an event by the Marine Industry Association of South Florida. Our kayak/dive club, kayuba, has volunteered for the past 3 years and Jim is the site coordinator for the Bonnet House. Most people never see the Intracoastal side of the Bonnet house property. It is natural mangroves which really collect the garbage that falls off the passing boats. It is our job to paddle our kayaks to this otherwise inaccessible area, climb around in the mangrove roots and pick up the garbage. It's hard work, but it feels good to do some community service.

Here's a volunteer doing just that:



And, here I am coming back to the collection point with a load that I've picked up.



Mom also volunteered for the event. She ran the registration table and handed out tShirts to all the participants.



And here's Rick, another kayuba member with quite a haul! If you look close, you'll see a coconut that he's holding up. There are thousands of these washed ashore - they're not garbage, they're natural. Since this one is sprouting so nicely, my guess is that he'll take it home and plant it.



Speaking of mangroves and the Bonnet House, you gotta go check out the painting by my good friend Emily. She took up watercolors 4-5 years ago I think, and she's really become good at it. She has a painting called "Mangroves at Bonnet House" and it is currently hanging at the Bonnet House in an exhibit called "Impressions of Old South Florida". You can see it at Emily's website: www.emilyrushin.com then click on Portfolio. My favorite is "Woodland Stream". By the way, I created her website and I'd love to get some feedback from you ... drop me an email and let me know what you think.