Day Five: From Trash to Treasure

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You know what they say: One man's trash is a national treasure.

Or something like that.

Glass Beach is a treasure. A National Park. And since the National Park system celebrates 150 years this year, I am only stating the obvious when I say that it hasn't always been an official, nationally recognized treasure.

But most National Parks do not start out as the city dump.

In somewhat recent history, the trash was all relocated to a less picturesque location… all except for the broken glass which has been polished and wave tossed over the years. Thus its name.

To add to the irony, since this beach is now part of the National Park system, the glass is protected. Don't you even dare think about taking a piece of glass home with you.

David and I had a long debate over whether the newly abandoned beer bottle counted as part of the protected glass.

Well, no. It wasn't a long debate. It's hard to have a long debate in surroundings such as these.

Hm. That gives me an idea. Maybe more debates should take place in National Parks. Congress? What say you to that?



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