Plastic and the Marin Head Lands.

With the revelation of the plastic soup in the Pacific Subtropical Gyre, and the number of birds and aquatic animals dying from a diet of plastic, why do we need any more information to make a rapid and complete changeover from plastic to biodegradable vegetable based products?

I have just completed over 1500 training miles since the end of November'07. As June draws near, I am noticing a feeling that no matter how much I ride, I don't quite feel like I'll be quite ready for the rigor of 545 miles in 7 days. Helpful advice from prior riders includes the fact that even if I can't finish a particular day's miles, I can always grab a spot on the "sag wagon" and be driven to the campsite for the evening. While it's not my first choice in how to participate in the ride, it is comforting to know that doing my best will be enough, and someone's got my back.

On Tuesday and Wednesday this week, I've gone on 30 mile rides to uncharted areas in the Headlands and back. The feeling of exploration and discovery has been inspiring, reinvigorating, and healing. As the weekends between now and the ride continue to be packed with events that often preclude long training rides, I've found the ability to go out riding on a weeknight most reassuring that I will be able to continue to increase my strength and stamina and hill climbing tolerance.

The Headlands create a pleasant micro-climate which blocks the intense wind coming off the ocean at night this time of year. In the silence of the setting sun, with only the sound of clicking cogs and heavy breathing in my immediate vicinity, the space opens up to reveal the natural treasures of the land. The evening light shines hard upon the blooming spring flowers and jagged rocks. And the sound of birds of prey cut through the descending evening in a manner inviting presence and awareness. I think of it as the Head Lands for its mentally soothing rejuvenating potential

Last night, I rode past the Marin Marine Mammal Center, which takes in distressed ocean animals, rehabilitates and releases them. I thought about my friend who works there as I rode past, and on my way returning to The City, passed him on the road as he was driving towards his weekly evening volunteer shift! He flagged me down with a flash of his headlights, and we stopped to talk for a moment and he revealed that there were less animals than usual in the center, so it was likely to be less busy than usual.

Today I asked him how his shift went, and he reported that it was business as usual. I asked him if he saw any animals that were suffering the effects of eating plastic. He said a sperm whale which recently washed up on a local beach was cut open, and a few hundred pounds of plastic fishing line and netting was found balled up in its gut.

It probably "costs" less to produce a plastic fork than one made out of biodegradable potato or corn starch. But how could it cost less to drill and refine oil into plastic, than to grow and process a vegetable from the earth? Simplified: it doesn't. Oil is so heavily financially subsidized, that it costs the producer less to use the material that has very great cost (economic, as well as flesh and blood. Iraq? Hello?) than to use something sustainable, easy to grow, that won't end up as plastic beach sand in the Pacific after being photo-degraded into progressively smaller bits. But seeing the photos of our polluted oceans, and the suffering animals of the earth, why do we need any more information to make a change?

He said, "Things are starting to change slowly, but it will take time."
I replied, "We don't have time."
"No we don't . . ." he said, walking away.