Maps
This page is to post the ground traces of my travels. Listed with the most-recent on top, scroll down to see where I’ve been in the past. Where I’ll go in the future, well, that remains to be seen!
Zoom in on the maps, or view them in the larger window. All in all, they’re pretty cool and I’m having fun making them! 
If the lines look crazy, like a bird’s nest, it’s probably because I’m not moving and the signal is bouncing off of buildings.
As this page gets filled with entries, older maps will be changed to links only. Click on the link and you will see the full version.
October 23, 2009
Another two-interview day, both in the east bay. Traffic was bad, of course, so I parked my car and walked – from the west side of the interstate to just west of the UC Berkeley campus – what I thought would be a two-mile walk turned out to be at least three miles, and 15 extra minutes (yes, I was late!) The interview with Ari Derfel went very well, discussing his personal journey with trash in 2007, detailed better on his blog at Save Your Trash.
After a coffee break in Berkeley, we headed to Oakland, to interview Tom Padia at the Stop Waste headquarters – “Reducing the Waste Stream for Alameda County.” During which, leftover snacks were delivered for our enjoyment – after the interview was finished.
That evening, I got to be in front of the camera, for Lorraine’s project to clean the bay and oceans of marine debris (i.e. plastic).
View Trash Trip – Southbound 2009-10-23 in a larger map
October 22, 2009
The day started out north of the Golden Gate Bridge, at the Marin Sanitary Services center. Joe Garbarino, who is “Working to Save Our Resources,” gave us a firsthand tour of his facilities. We hope to return, to see more of this operation (not to mention, seeing where he keeps the peacocks and chickens!)
After Marin, we headed south the the San Jose State University, where the California Resource Recovery Association was holding certification courses on waste (resource) management – including a presentation on the Extended Producer Responsibility program; with Heidi Sanborn as the Executive Director at the California Product Stewardship Program www.calpsc.org.
View Trash Trip – Southbound 2009-10-22 in a larger map
August 4-31, 2009
Link to 2009-08-01-to-08-31 map
27 days out at sea, in search of the floating island of trash in the Pacific Gyre.
View Trash Trip – Southbound 2009-08-04 to 08-31 in a larger map
August 2, 2009
A day of clean-up and preparations for departing south, after a morning walk.
View Trash Trip – Southbound 2009-08-02 in a larger map
August 1, 2009
Friday was spent, rummaging and organizing my things for the next leg of the trip, so that I could go and relax with friends on Saturday – including a tour of the Urban Ore Center, in Berkeley, CA. My friend Bennie and I ran all around the bay, on a particularly beautiful day.
View Trash Trip – Southbound 2009-08-01 in a larger map
July 30, 2009
In Sacramento, I got in the most interviews in one day so far – three, thanks to Charlene Greene. I started out at the California EPA Center, where I interviewed two members of the California Integrated Waste Management Board. Then, I went to the Yolo County Bioreactor. In the end, Charlene, Scott Walker, Chris Peck, and Ramin Yazdani all gave me a great overview of California waste management, now and possibly in the future.
View Trash Trip – Southbound 2009-07-30 in a larger map
July 29, 2009
Started out in Arcata and went to the Arcata Community Recycling Center, where I interviewed Allison Poklemba, the Education & Marketing Manager. I got the grand tour there and at their processing site in Samoa. Immediately after the tour, I headed back east – to the heat and to Red Bluff. There, I toured the Tehama County/Red Bluff Landfill with Kristine Miller, the Landfill Agency Manager. By that evening, I arrived in Sacramento… unfortunately, my GPS unit was turned off, somehow, shortly after turning it on! Gotta have that happen, at least once, so now I have that out of the way.
July 28, 2009
Two interviews in and around Ashland/Medford, OR today, capped off with a drive to Arcata. I started with an interview of Denise Wolgamott at the Rogue Disposal and Recycling site; then I went back to the Standing Stone restaurant, to interview Risa Buck, an Ashland Sanitary and Recycling “Waste Reduction Educator.” While at the restaurant, one of the employees there started a water-bottle program, with much success! The table water is brought in a glass bottle, versus using bottled or imported water; as it turns out, many patrons are purchasing these bottles, to use in their homes! It’s nice to see simple solutions panning out into something more prosperous than anticipated!
July 27, 2009
The day started with the usual rummaging through hard drives and files. Then, I got a call-back from one of the contacts here and we set up to meet in the late morning, to discuss the Master Recyclers program, hosted through the Oregon State University Extension, coordinated by Rhianna Simes. After that, I went to Ashland for a 3:30 meeting, which I later saw I had noted as a 3:00! Ooops! So, I called and apologized profusely, only to find out that it was supposed to happen on Tuesday. . . heavy sigh of relief! All’s well that ends well!
July 26, 2009
Interviewed Paige Prewett, of the Jackson County SMART Program (Saving Money and Resources Together) and the Master Recycler Program, at the Jackson County Fair. It was a great tour of everything, albeit 100 degrees outside!
July 25, 2009
After a late-morning stroll through parts of Portland, along the river front, I headed south to Bend, where I visited my friend Brian, and ultimately Talent, for my next series of interviews.
July 23, 2009
Drove to the Tryon Life Community Farm but they were closed to drop-ins until the weekend. Otherwise, I spent the day calling and e-mailing people for interviews on Friday.
July 22, 2009
Drove from Seattle to Portland – with a stop in Tacoma to do a quick interview at the landfill and recycling center there.
July 17, 2009
Got in three interviews today: DOT reps for the Adopt-a-Highway program in Washington, someone at the UofWA who asked to not be revealed, then Jen and Grant for the Clean Bin Project. Then, I began to fall behind a technological barrier. . . for the next few days.
July 15, 2009
I checked out one of the ten King County transfer sites. . . but didn’t enter since the entrance was gated and I didn’t have a load to drop off there. Garbage trucks came and went, frequently, so I just took shots from the outside. After that, I went to the campus of the University of Washington to interview someone about composting. On my way “home” I saw a sign for “Electronics Recycling” drop-off. It took me a few tries to locate the center. After finding it, I went in to ask around, only to find one guy and stacks of new electronics. I’ll have to check out the website, to figure out what the story is about there.
July 14, 2009
A tour of the Cedar Hills Regional landfill with Wally Grant and a side-stop at the Cedar Grove Composting center, both in Maple Valley. They didn’t give tours at the composting center.
July 11, 2009
Went hiking 8 miles (RT) up Mt. Si with friends in Redmond; then ended the evening with other friends in Seattle.
July 9, 2009
A quick phone interview in the morning started my day – then I headed for the border. It took me just over an hour of waiting time to finally cross back into the US. I was gone for just under two months!
July 8, 2009
With the holidays completed and my visit to Vancouver Island wrapped up, I headed out for interviews! The tour of the incinerator didn’t happen, but I did make it there (in a roundabout way). I then met with Ross Dickinson, Ifny Lachance, and Monica Kosimak, for a series of fantastic interviews. I now know that I could easily spend a month in each place I visit.
July 7, 2009
Nothing Trash Trippy today. On Monday morning, I called the Burns Bog landfill office and they declined my request to get a tour; they said that they won’t give tours to individuals, only groups of 3 or more people. So, I went to visit a friend on Vancouver Island instead and waiting for everyone to return to work after the holidays. Wednesday will be a busy day, if I have anything to say about it!
July 5-6, 2009
No maps
July 4, 2009
Markus and I walked to downtown for lunch, planning on hot wings but choosing an Indian buffet – yum! After that, we walked to English Bay, where we saw an attempt at a Guinness Record, for the most Alice-in-Wonderland costumes in one place. After that, I did a short survey of 15 people who live in Vancouver; asking them if they knew where the municipal waste ultimately ended. Results: 9 had no idea, 3 knew about the Delta Landfill, 3 knew about the Cache Creek Landfill, and none knew about the Burnaby incinerator.
July 3, 2009
A trip to the Casa Gelato, and their 218 flavors, to meet Amy and Laura (for some Trash Trip interviews) was a good start to the day! Afterward, more internet and some Greek food for dinner. I was able to go for a short walk with Markus, now that my feet are slightly healed. Feels good, after all of the decadent food today! Now, I wait for the holidays to end, so I can do some tours in the area – you know, touristy stuff like landfills and incinerators.
July 2, 2009
An all-indoor kind of day – to let my feet heal. The only outing was to get sushi for dinner. Otherwise, it was internet day, looking for the places to go while I’m here and waiting for the holiday to tie up, so I can meet people and talk trash!
July 1, 2009
Happy Canada Day! I walked the city, in its entirety, with Markus – totaling 14.07 miles on my GPS recorder. This, after spending two months of sitting in a car or sitting in front of a computer. Needless to say, I have blisters on my feet – big ones. July 2nd is an indoor day, to heal a little before I trek out and inquire around the area about waste.
June 30, 2009
A simple drive from Kamloops to Vancouver, BC.
June 29, 2009
Driving round trip Kamloops-Cache Creek, plus Ashcroft; to tour the landfill and meet/interview people at the town meeting that evening regarding the future of the (enormous) landfill – which can be seen on Google Maps quite easily.
June 28, 2009
Driving from Prince George WalMart to Kamloops, BC couchsurf.
June 27, 2009
Driving from Dawson Creek to Prince George and that’s about it!
June 26, 2009
Touring Dawson Creek with Cynthia: transfer site drop-off, recycling center, and downtown Dawson Creek!
June 25, 2009
Loooong drive from Liard Hot Springs (across the highway, in the free parking lot) to Dawson Creek. I was tired. . . very tired by now (after four consecutive days of 400-ish miles per day).
June 24, 2009
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory to Liard Hot Springs, BC. A hard push but it ended with a nice soak in the springs.
June 23, 2009
After spending the night at the boarder, I make it to Dawson City and ultimately Whitehorse. It was a very long day of driving! I get in two interviews: one on the road with a Frenchman who happens to work at a landfill in Normandy and another in Whitehorse (not a Frenchman). Both are couchsurfers, though – small world!
June 22, 2009
I head out of Fairbanks, after an unplanned and enjoyable extension of my stay and get stuck at the border. I didn’t know they closed at 8:00 pm – I arrived around 11:00 pm.
June 21, 2009
I go back to the Farmer’s Loop West transfer Site for a Father’s Day Special interview.
June 20, 2009
I have found the Farmer’s Loop West Transfer Site to be a gem of a location! I get in my first interview with Lavonda, after she pleasantly surprised me with her curiosity about my being there with my camera.
June 19, 2009
I get in another interview, this time at the Pioneer’s Home and visit two well-known and notorious excessive-hoarding sites in Fox, AK
June 18, 2009
Another marathon day spent at the Coffeehouse, trying to keep from falling too far behind on managing the files for this trip.
June 17, 2009
A quiet day that ended with a session at the Pioneer’s Home, where the Hot Denali Harps practiced for an upcoming performance at the Howling Dog bar this weekend.
June 16, 2009
A big day for Trash Trip – My first tour around a landfill! I also head to two of the local (and more popular) Transfer Sites: Farmer’s Loop East & West.
June 15, 2009
I break out of the coffeehouse rut and start moving about Fairbanks.
June 14, 2009
Another day spent, car camping and internetting at the College Coffeehouse. My new home away from home
June 13, 2009
Yes, I spent the entire day at one location, the College Coffeehouse. I have taken up permanent residence here, on the couch in the back room. If all goes as planned, I should have the webiste in proper working order by Sunday night.
June 12, 2009
A simple day of errands around Fairbanks, ending up at the College Coffeehouse. If you zoom in all the way, the red truck is almost exactly where my red Honda is parked (I’m on space to the left). You’d think you were looking at MY car in the satellite view!
June 11, 2009
Marion Creek Campground to Fairbanks – with a stopover at the Chena Hot Springs Resort before I car camped that night in the RV lot (aka WalMart parking lot). Traffic on the main highway was a delight, for the weary traveler.
June 10, 2009
Prudhoe Bay to Marion Creek Campground (aka Coldfoot, AK) – with a stop over at the Toolik Field Station.
June 9, 2009
Day One of Trash Trip. Out and about around Prudhoe Bay, aka Deadhorse.
