Urban Exploration: San Mateo

But regarding this nation-sized garbage patch?  Still no pics?  I saw a bleach bottle and a bottle cap.

It does seem puzzling that there aren't any photos of this giant mass, but the explanation is that the reported size is misleading - it's not actually one giant mound of trash, like an island. It's spread out all over the whole area & most is not visible from the surface:
http://theoystersgarter.com/2007/10/23/why-there-are-no-pictures-of-the-north-pacific-trash-gyre/

One more for the road - I know sea lions (aka furbags) can be a menace, but this ain't cool:
http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/marinelitter/publications/gallery/pages/picture004.asp

I'll never forget the time at BH...  There was one gull with a piece of plastic bag tied around it's leg, obviously not as healthy as the others, tripping over itself, etc...  I was thinking "too bad...  that guy's screwed..."

When all of a sudden Guitarzan threw his jacket over it and captured and released him sans-bag...  He chilled in the water for a long time after, seemingly bathing his wound.

That was a cool moment that made me realize one person can make a difference.