The tribute
This is not something to play to the gallery. It is something because I feel myself privileged for having the chance of enjoying the country on my bike. I would pay to do it (and I do not discard having to do it in the future in some places if we keep misstreating the world) But until then I reached to the conclusion that I should do something to give the country something in return and what is it better than to clean it a bit.
Obviously is an endless fight. People in general is really ill-mannered no matter the age. Things have changed a bit since I started to ride on bike, but not too much. Even new generation is the same.
So you can find a lot of shit. or trash while you ride on your bike. In some places is specially painful, because of the place, the beauty or the inaccessibility.
So, the other day while on bike, I made a decision. Every time I leave on my bike I will back home with at least 5 pieces of garbage. Mainly plastic and beverage cans. I've thought about carriying a portable backpack to storage it until I find a trash can or container.
I am not going to try to convince anybody. I hope to get some help because the people around me is going to see me doing it and I guess somebody will copy me. To start with Miguel (Piru) did it today.
I am also going to upload a photo of each day of recollection and a brief comment about my thoughts.
Finally I have to say I am proud of myself for having this kind of ideas.
10.8.2022 (First day)/Peguerinos
Everything happend when I saw near Puerto de Malagón, what it looked like a blue birthday balloon and I decided to take it and while I was riding back home I thought about how easy would be to pick something while I am outside. It is something I've done ocasionally but this time this idea came to my mind.
On the way home I finished to make up the plan. I would take 5 pieces, preferably cans and plastic and I will take a photo on each day. I will also upload the photo to wikiloc in ordert to share it as the same time I share the track.
11.8.2023/ Peguerinos
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Second day. I shared my thoughts with Laura about the following: Some places or some things should be banned to some people. Laura told it is not a problem of banning of forbiding it is a problem of lack of education. I agreed to that but I also think is a bit late for certain things. You can educate but you have to set some rules and if you catch people doing this (throwing garbage) to the ground, you have to pay severely for that.
I curse that people.
13.8.2023/ Near Colmenarejo
Today I was accommpanied by my friend Miguel who told me he was going to copy my idea.
At the end of the route we started to look for the tribute and we found some garbage near a container so we decided to put it there.
We also talked about how things are changed since we were kids. Things are getting better and you can not find as much trash as you can before, but this is happening slowy, too slowy and it is an urgent matter.
This behaviour it is not a matter of age. You can guess it is something more common inthe ederly, because they received less education in this matter and they did not developed an habit. But saddly as a teacher, I can see it in my pupils at every age.
16/8/2023 La Pedriza
This is the tribute today. We went to La Pedriza which is a regional park here in Madrid. Due to its condition as a park entrance for cars is limited (since some years ago) and fortunately it is under control. Some years ago it was not that way and a lot of people went to the park not only to walk, climb and ride on bike, but to take a bath in the numerous ponds, eat and stay a bit cooler than in Madrid. But too many people and too many bad mannered people lead to this situation. Good for me because I like to go on bike.
And there are a lot less of garbage. We just could find this piece of plastic, possible part of a energy gel (from a biker a guess).
20/8/2023 Vuelta a la sierra de Hoyo
It's been not easy to find stuff today. The problem is that we started to look for garbage at the end of the route and it was in Hoyo de Manzanares, also a zone with special protection. I've bought some portable back packs to carry it more comfortable and we have use them today. Obviously it is a bit weird to stop from time to time and being searching for stuff, but the reward you get it is worth.
Finally we find our tribute and here it is.
Miguel, who is helping me in this adventure, has uploaded the photo today and asked for help. He told me that somebody responded. I wish it could be useful. It not was my intention, but it's a win win if somebody copy the idea.
In any case here it is.
29/8/2023. Torrelodones
Another track with friends another chance to do the tribute. Toño did not know nothing about it (but he has not shown interest neither).
We found these items near NVI a good place to find cans for example which are thrown from cars.
Proud of myself. I was not in the mood but I committed to to it and I did it.
14/9/2023 Hoyo de Manzanares
There were other days on bike, but I had not the chance of picking up garbage (different reasons) bur today I left and picked these items up. I am not in the mood lately, but I have to grab and keep doing all this things I started when I was fine.
It's just a bit harder... but today It made my day.
18/9/2023. Hoyo de Manzanares
I have to say that sometimes it is not easy to find garbage, specially near Hoyo, because it is a Regional Park and people who came are aware of that. I found this stuff just arriving to Hoyo.
I am very pround of myself because keeping doing this in my mental condition is quite an effort. But I do not surrender. Yesterday I enjoyed a lot.
24.9.2023 Torrelodones
Another day more. We talked to Raul (Miguel's brother in law) about our plan. He liked a lot and he helped us to pick some garbage today. Toño and Francesc don't collaborate. It doesn't matter, it's a personal decision. I am proud of myself for keep doing it.
However I should make some changes, because I always pick up the stuff from the same place.
Congratulations on your commitment Nacho, and thank you Miguel.
16.10.2023 Hoyo de Manzanares
I am keeping doing it. I was riding with my friend Miguel López and I took just 3 items.
I think I am going to change the way I do this because I am picking up garbage from the same place always. Anyway the important point is to do it.
18/10/2023 Hoyo de Manzanares
You can find always garbage, but it is true that I am finding less than I expected.
In this case fucking plastic.
By the way I'm starting to see a kind of patern about the kind of garbage I find regarding the place. Near roads you can find a lot of cans. I can not imaging how somebody is capable of throwing a can from a car. But obviously it happens.
25.10.2023 Hoyo de Manzanares
I keep finding stuff in the countryside. Near roads is specially serious. I guess people keep throwing things from cars, over all cans (beer cans).
In remote places you can find napkins and wrappers and from time to time snacks wrappers from cyclist, which is a sin.
Nobody has joined the project. mainly because I always ride with the same people and I do not promote it in social media (I am not in those places) But as I told you at the beginning of the post , it is not for them, it is for me.
6.11.2023 Near Villanueva del Pardillo
Yeah!!!! This time I've got the big fish. Typical event... A couple having "dinner" in their car and then an intercourse. And why picking up everything .... son of a bitches!!!!
Next to Villanueva del Pardillo, and accessible by car, an explosive combination.
I was far from home, so I had to ride on bike with the bag for 20', until I found a garbage can.
14.11.2023. Rozas
Look at this. the sole of a shoe, a big oil can and 3 cans. Near a road you can find a lot and very strange stuff. I can not imaging people throwing cans from a car to the country, but believe me, you can find a lot of cans at the sides of roads.
I have no explanation for the big oil can and the shoe part.
It was funny to carry them on me for a couple of km.
20/11/2023. Conil de la Frontera (Cadiz)
I went to Conil to spend some days with my friend Jose and I took the bike with me in order to do a ride (one known and easy).
In Conil there is also garbage in the countryside. I passed by a zone with farmlads and there I found a lot of bottles and cans. I guess from the people who works on those lands. A pity.
But I did it.
25.11.2023 Hoyo de Manzanares
Today's tribute has more merit if possible because I was really really tired and I just was about to get home. But I have to say that paying attention to look for garbage gave me the chance of not thinking about how tired I was.
It was no easy to find the pieces because Hoyo and surroundings are a special area, and the kind of people who visit the place used to be hikers and bikers and normally that kind of people takes care of protecting the place.
But sadly you always find something.
And here again my greetings for being able to take advantage of the countryside , specially in a day like today.
26.11.2023 Torrelodones
In spite of the last part was on a road, at the end of the route I could find a lot of garbage. Inside the green plastic bag there ir a can and a bottle, typical from youngters having fun with alcohol (bad) but letting the garbage in the countryside (which is worst)
Anyway I did it again.
3/12/2023 Peguerinos
Here started everything in Peguerinos and almost 4 months later I am still committed with this plan, alone but very very happy. It's still worthy and rewarding... for me and that's more than enough.
In peguerinos is really easy to find garbage, specially next to camping sites and places to have a barbacue. Also at the sides of the main road.
People don't deserve this place. This place is magic and makes me feel so happy and luckily.
5/12/2023 Torrelodones
Little to say, near to Torrelodones I found the chance of picking up some garbage near a road and I took advanta of it. I prefer to take them from the inner part of the country side, as much remote as possible, but I could not.
There is always plenty of trash anyway.
My most valuable pieces are cans and plastic. But as you see you can find all kind of stuff.
9/12/2023 Collado Villalba
Today I won the "tributazo" or the big prize... a sole of a mountain boot in the fucking middle of the track.... I do not know about the story behind that sole, but how it's possible it happens? Any way here I am to save the world!
10.12.2023 Hoyo de Manzanares
Not a big deal today. I took the items after leaving my brother next to his house on my way home. Because I had forgotten my phone I had to take the rubbish to home.
I am happy because I am not getting tired of doing this. It's more, I am thinking of going on cleaning walks with Laura.
14.12.2023. Near Hoyo de Manzanares
Fucking cans!!! they are everywhere. And fucking food wrappers. I prefer to believe that they do not do it on purpose (I mean the wrapper) because it completely beyond me... I would like to find somebody doing it and ask him about it.
Today while riding I was thinking about how dangerous we, humans are. Dangerous and stupids. How treat ourselves, how treat our enviroment and how treat each other.
..
16.12.2023. On the way to Alto del Telégrado (walking)
Another opportunity, this time by walking with Laura to the Alto del Telégrafo.
Why not? I am thinking of buying some kind of gripper to take trash, the same as cleaners have in the parks to take leaves and more and to take advantage when we go to have a walk and clean a bit
17.2.2024. Hoyo de Manzanares
Again on the duty. Long time ago since I wrote. I have no picked up garbage neither. I was not in the mood and also I have had some health problems and I have not rode on my bike.
In any case I am here again, and I am going to re start again. 5 pieces of garbage and some comments.
In this case I went to take some air, I rode alone (for the first time in more than 2 months and as lately on easy tracks.
Today cans. Most of them near the road (on the way to Hoyo de Manzanares). I guess they are from cars. I can not undestand how somebody has so lack of education to do it....
Lately I am a little bit overhelmed with people's behaviour. It's more I am starting to feel uncomfortable with people. I would say I hate people. I want to go on my own. I do not trust people and I am losing my faith in humanity. Riding on my bike I thougth about I just want to take advantage of my status and the conditions I have created and built and fuck the people. I am picking up garbage not for the people, just for the country, just to be happy and in peace with the enviroment.
18.2.2024
Today I did the tribute in two shifts... First I took the plastic bag with some plastic container inside and later I tood the rest of the trash near home.
There is a story behind the plastic bag. I saw the bag in the way out near the dominio de Fontenebro. It was in the middle of a wide dirt road traveled by a lot of people. Some walking, some on bike and even on horses. In that moment as I said, I saw it but I was not in the mood or focused in that task. I use to pay attention to it at the end of the ride and here we were not even in the middle.
But I saw it again in the way back, about 2 hours later. I thought... fuck it! a lot of people have seen the bag and noboby has been capable of take it. What kind of society we are... So because I do not want to be like them, I stopped the bike, came back and took it... Fuck them all...
23.2.2024. Panillo.Sierra de Torón a Secastilla
Here again and happy, really happy. Changing the scene but not the task. This is a not as much visited place like Hoyo de Manzanares, so is expected to find less trash. Just some from farmers, hunters and some hiker (but the least). People from the villages are the worst normally and hunters of course.
In this case I got those plastic strips that were tied to trees near some hunting positions. Fuck them, I do not know if it will bother them, but I did it on purpose.
Some days ago I counted the number of pieces of trash I've taken and it's been more than 100. Happy to collaborate.
3.5.2024. Hoyo de Manzanares
I'm still trying to keep this habit. Sometimes I forget to do it, and others I don't feel like doing it but I fight against that lazyness.
I keep finding trash, the closer to the villages the worse. And I hate when I find stuff from bikers as wraps or so. I prefer to think that is something involuntary. You eat something, you put it in your rear pocket and when you realice the paper or wrap it is not there....
5.6.2024 Villanueva del Pardillo
As I
said some days ago, it's taking me a bit to keep the habit of taking
garbage from the country side, specially when I ride in company. But
here we are.In Villanueva del Pardillo this time. Since a time I am taking advantage of visiting my parents to ride there later. The problem is the heat, but so far I am doing well
Then I found the piece of paper (huge one) and later a piece of the sole of the boot. It is not the first time I found a sole. It's a shame but people working in the country or in the forest are one of the dirtiers....
A km before I started to think about picking up the garbage I found this. It's not the first time I find this kind of message around the area of Hoyo, specially near La Berzosa. I think he is somebody fed up with the behaviour of people walking and riding in the zone. I like this kind of attitude. I would like to be that way and I think I will be sometime. I have to say that I am a bir surprise with the amount of trash I find, meaning It´s not too much. But even a piece is left.
Hurra for that guy I would like to meet him or her and exchange a chat.
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