Urban Exploration

Found!

It amazes me some of the things that have found their way into the drain systems we have visited. I have absolutely no idea how some of this stuff gets underground:

Hubcaps - They vary in condition, but occasionally I find ones that are almost like new. I have seen perhaps several dozen or so all total. Oh, and a handful of tires as well.

License plates - More of them than Jaws could swallow! Seriously, how do these things come off of so many cars?!

Shopping carts - Almost every time we get near a shopping center, we find at least a couple of these that kids have set flying off the edge of the parking lot and into a ditch that leads to or from a drain.

Tools - Almost all of these were spotted on separate occasions.

More than a half dozen shovels (one of which was almost brand new)
A claw hammer
A large metal mallet
Screw drivers
A couple wrenches
Various other tools

Silverware - I have no idea why, but we have seen a couple dozen knives, forks, spoons, etc. And that doesn't even begin to include the polystyrene utensils. We even found two large kitchen knives. When we spotted the first one, I thought it was a hastily disposed-of murder weapon! But then there was a second one a few feet away in the same tunnel.

Appliances - So far I have seen a radio, a portable tv, and even a telephone with a huge length of wire still attached. Apparently these went down the drain while people were in the shower.

Cell phones - They're so small, I guess it is inevitable that they would slip down a drain, but I have even found cell phone chargers.

Compact discs - Yes, loads of cds, an obscene number of which were from AOL.

Trash - Loads of aluminum cans and plastic and glass bottles. The worst culprits are styrofoam in any form: plates, cups, peanuts, blocks, etc. People, put your trash in the can!

Sporting goods

One football in perfect condition
Hand weights
Many basketballs
A badly damaged bowling ball
Lots of inflatable balls like beachballs as well as small toy balls
Just last week I picked up a volley ball and soccer ball that were like new. (You're welcome, Goodwill.)
A Razor scooter in almost-new condition... although it was a bit muddy and needed some work to get it back in good shape to ride. UPDATE: I also found another one in perfect condition. (You're welcome, Deb.)

Playground balls - I'm referring to those plastic balls like you might find in a Burger King playground (see photo below). We have run across a couple dozen or so even when there wouldn't seem to be source of these things for several miles in any direction.

Mardi Gras beads - While exploring Louisiana last summer there were dozens of these scattered throughout several drains. I really hate this "holiday."

Construction materials - Lots of pipes, rebar rods, bricks, drain grates (usually broken), and even a surprising number of manhole covers. Basically, everything Mr. T would need to customize a bulldozer and win the episode.

Road reflectors - These are the things in the between lanes on a highway. Someone told me he calls them city titties. Whatever you want to call them, they end up down drains in huge numbers. I have also found traffic cones and other plastic/reflective barriers.

Cash! - So far I have only found a $1 bill and a $20 bill, but I'll take whatever I can get. As if I need any more incentive to go exploring!

Trash

Here's one of those damned playground balls among a ton of plastic and glass bottles, paper, and everything else.

This photo was taken downstream from Crater Tunnel, so a lot of this came from downtown and who knows where else.

Please dispose of your trash properly so it doesn't end up here.

I hope you enjoyed the above and/or got some use out of it. If you have anything to add, feel free to write me.

--the Urban Ale[x]plorer.

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