#88 -- Find Treasure Among the Litter at the Beach

I have never had a lot of free time, but last spring I started taking walks on the beach as a way to unwind.

A girlfriend of mine always collects beach glass, and while I'm not as patient as she is, I try my best every time I head to the coast.

Looking down at the sand, instead of staring off into the sunset, has taught me two things: First, you can find a lot of interest buried in the grains of sand, in the water, peeking out behind the rocks, etc. Some are keepsakes, others you'd rather not touch. Secondly, boy, there's a lot of junk on the beach.

That's why this time of year it is so important to get involved in beach cleanups. In Southampton Town, there was a town-wide initiative last month to cleanup all public places, from the beaches to the roadsides.

In Montauk on Sunday, the Concerned Citizens of Montauk and the Surfrider Foundation cleaned up . And, on Saturday, the Citizens for Access Rights are hosting a of Napeague Lane beach. 

On a recent walk on one of my favorite spots on Lazy Point, I found socks, a tampon, debris, construction material and a USB mass storage device.

There was also a compact car that had tried to drive on the beach and got stuck, but that's a topic for a whole other article.

Yet, among the litter, were beautiful discoveries. Horseshoe crab shells, beautifully colored sea shells, and, yes, a few pieces of the treasured beach glass among the many pieces of newly broken beer bottles on the shoreline.

Category:  Recreation
Price: Completely free
Season: All year-round