The Mayo River at Anglin's Mill

is trashed completely. It will take years and years of no abuse to clean it up. I can't sit in that beautiful spot and understand why. I will never be able to.

Why is recreation not valued in Rockingham County? What is it about the most beautiful places, why aren't they cared for? Why don't the people who use the area care? What about the boaters, kayakers? Why aren't there more complaints? Why haven't there been? Folks have been canoeing up there for well over 30 years. I've been trying to get it cleaned up for over twenty.

I've heard it said that when the park comes, the rangers will make sure there is order. But in reality the piece of property that holds the most recreational value and suffers the most abuse is not a part of park property. It is not known when it will be. Hopefully that piece will someday be conserved, by those who choose to become benefactors.

But there is a lot that could be done in whatever interim exists. Is there any need to allow drinking that begins early and continues until many in the crowd are, at best, stumbling around? This is a public road.

There are beer cans, bottles, trash all over, alongside the road and by the river. Down by the beach there are the remains of a campfire, near 4 foot across and about three foot high, full of what must be hundreds of broken bottles, glass, and garbage; it's added to weekend after weekend. Strewn around the trees and underbrush nearby, all over the place, are more bottles, broken glass and beer cans. One couple on Sunday, down by the rocks next to the river, had to clear out all the cans and 12 pack containers before they could put out their chairs.

What about this kind of mess? Why? It makes no sense to me. But then, there's a lot there that doesn't. And I don't think it ever will.