The good news is angling trash didn’t make the Top 10, still 400 pounds of trash per mile is a bit less than pristine. With a mountain of plastic the size of Africa swirling gracefully off our West Coast – 2.3 million cigarette butts picked up in a day is a drop in the hat.

… the volume of trash collected tells only part of the story. It’s the items that are found that tells us about the behavior of people enjoying the beaches and coastlines of the world.

In part, I find this worrisome – as much of our love for the out of doors was imparted by our parents on similar excursions. Whether at the beach or in the woods, “policing your trash” was always part of your exit strategy.

Us kids would gleefully grab anything foreign, while Pop doused the campfire. It was all part of the “respect Mother Nature” mantra, driving home the lesson that we’re all stewards in some fashion.

Crapping on my woods – merely because you can – is inexcusable, and when your kid upends his happy meal out the car window, save the lecture, you may have been the role model.

Technorati Tags: trash, faux outdoorsmen, respect

I figure Gilligan and Mary Ann would hit the white water but the Howell’s would opt for a toddy. The onsite fly shop is a nice touch, but likely your wife would call down to ensure they closed the door in your face.

More luxury development with pristine water as the central theme, although white water rafting beat out fly fishing as the featured attraction will be a custom white water course – versus the golf or fishing venue.

Southfork Landing is featuring a limited number of 1/3-acre meadow lots at the top of the whitewater course where homeowners can enjoy the natural beauty, river access and outdoor recreation right from the comfort of their own riverside decks. In addition to the Payette River Whitewater Park, the planned amenities of Southfork Landing include: 4 miles of protected river frontage on the South Fork of the Payette River, 40 acres of lakes and trout ponds, 2 miles of private catch-and-release trout streams and great access to miles of wilderness trails for Mountain Biking, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Nordic Skiing, Snowmobiling and ATVing, an acoustic outdoor Amphitheater, Swim and Racquet Club, Lodge and Conference Center, Restaurant and Winery, Equestrian Center and retail Fly Fishing offered by Idaho Angler.

It’s labeled Southfork Landing, located in Garden Valley, Idaho, occupying 4 miles of South Fork of the Payette River, and offering all the traditional amenities for the nouveau rich.

I’m not sure I understand the white water angle, as old wealthy folks don’t sound terribly eager to be risking life and limb in cold water. The rafting company is allowed to put their guests on the water, so it’s a lucrative deal for them – they can charge for the privilege.

I’ll take the lot nearest the delivery entrance to the fly shop – that way when the Whiting Hackle shipment arrives I’ll show at the front door with a napkin tucked into my collar..

…then again, they’d vote me off the island really quickly, after I hook a couple dozen kayakers with Czech nymphs. I’d toddle over and blame failing eyesight, knowing they wouldn’t wonder why I was fishing a 12 weight with good disk drag…

Technorati Tags: southfork landing, Payette River, nouveau rich, white water rafting, toddy