Every once in awhile, I come across some strange things that are either left or washed ashore on the beach. This particular stone and feather construction might be one of the weirdest yet. It’s possible that it’s the work of some creative kids. However, my guess is that it’s more likely some type of sacred voodoo ritual involving a seagull.
This bright yellow biomedical waste bucket caught my eye as it lay half buried in a sand dune in the salt marsh. I didn’t realize what was written on it until after I had pulled it out of the wet sand and was already carrying it towards the garbage can along the trail.
When I found it I did notice that the bottom of the bucket had some holes pierced into it and a heavy rock was placed inside it. Someone probably tried to sink it from a boat.
I called the number shown and the people there were fairly clueless as to how the bucket might have made its way into the salt marsh. Was it stolen from their warehouse and used to carry clams? I just hope it was empty when it arrived in the marsh and was never used for its intended purpose.
Why would anyone abandon a boat on a beach? I would assume this one had some value when it first washed ashore. Whatever happened to the people or person who rowed it there? Or was it set adrift? This yellow dory is located towards the end of Silver Sands beach. Do the ghosts of pirates row around in it for fun on nights when there’s a full moon?
I’m sure stranger things have been found along local beaches, but along with the yellow long stemmed roses I wrote about last week, these are the oddest I’ve found to date. Have you ever found anything unusual at the beach?
One time in Alaska, when I was a kid, we found a door, complete with locking doorknob, on the beach. I always wondered if the people missed their door? Or if they even knew it was gone. Did it fall off their boat when they were transporting it? Or did it fall of their house and they walked out the doorway and found no door there? We also found some shoes, but never a pair and a big laundry basket. Fun stuff for kids.
JoAnn. That is very odd about the door. All of your scenarios for it ending up on the beach seem plausible.
I often find plastic beach toys left by kids which would probably be more fun for other kids to discover. Some days I’ve found several shovels in different spots along the shore.
How intriguing… I love reading how you find these odd things on the beach. The medical waste bucket, though, that’s scary. I sure hope it wasn’t used for wicked purposes.
Looking forward to more beachcombing stories!
An interesting assortment of Found Treasures, to be sure!
Reggie, my first thoughts with the medical waste bucket were that some doctor’s office was dumping the waste in the ocean to avoid paying disposal fees. But I think it’s probably more plausible that the empty bucket was used for transporting something else into the salt marsh (hopefully).
I don’t know if the waste bucket would qualify as a ‘treasure’ Joan but the yellow dory would make a lovely subject for a painting. The stone and feather arrangement seems like some form of primitive art work in its present state.
The stone and feather construction made me happy, the yellow bucket made me sad and the abandoned boat evoked feelings of beauty and nostalgia and curiousity and admiration. A plethora of feelings from your blog here!
Kathy, with such a range of discoveries, it’s no wonder that beachcombing is such a popular activity.
Do you ever build things at the beach and leave them for others? I do all the time.
Some folks get together and build BIG structures out of the drift logs. So cool.
I have little rituals too. I collect bits of beach glass as I walk down the beach. When I return the other direction I drop them back into the sand with wishes left upon them for the next finder.
Enjoy your beach.
I’ve never heard of anyone making big structures out of drift logs at the beach. The most I ever do is arrange stones in a spiral pattern or do some writing in the sand.
Your beach glass ritual sounds intriguing. What a creative person you are!
Dunno how I missed this post earlier. Stericycle is the largest medical waste disposal company in the U.S., and pursues an aggressive growth strategy through acquisition of rivals. It has significant financial incentives for corner-cutting. That is not to accuse it of dumping, simply to make the point that it bears watching, and that you might want to keep an eagle eye out for more yellow buckets and for other even less desirable artifacts like used needles. I am such a crank, aren’t I? Still . . . keep your eyes open and your shoes on.
Yikes Gerry! Thanks for your enlightening comment. Keeping your shoes on is good advice. Will also keep my eyes open.
I love the yellow dory! The coolest thing I’ve found on the beach recently (and Kathy probably remembers this) is a teepee-like structure built out of driftwood. It was near the highway and had a small American flag on the top of it. That thing stood through almost two winters before dissolving back into driftwood.
Cindy, that teepee sounds like the structures that sahlah mentioned building in her previous comment. There is a structure resembling a small pirate ship on another beach in Eastern Passage that has also lasted a very long time. I think it may have had a Jolly Roger on it at one point.
It’s fascinating that so many people choose to build structures (either out of sand, stones or driftwood) on beaches whereas this is not such a common activity in other areas.
Very mysterious abandoned boat. I like your pirate ghosts theory for the boat. I also like that it’s yellow.
Wind, there are many tales of pirates and ghosts in this area. I too found the yellow color a refreshing surprise.