Working on the River

Been busy lately, which is really nice. Even nicer is that I’ve been photographing great people doing great things. And now I’m free to show you who and what. So I’ll start here.

St Louis - Photography of River Cleanup, Chad Pegracke

I spent the day with my friends from Anheuser Busch and a guy named Chad. Chad is a bit of a hero, and a bit of a celebrity. One day he decided the river was dirty and someone oughtta pick up all that junk. Then he decided that if he wouldn’t do it, nobody would. So he did it. He compiled a team who travels up and down the Mississippi and its tributaries, recruiting assistance from folks like the employees of Anheuser Busch, and they clean up trash.

St Louis - Photo of garbage removed from Mississippi River

A lot of trash.

St Louis Missouri - Photograph of cleanup boats on Mississippi River

Photo - The Mississippi River at St Louis

On this particular day there were a few hundred of us who piled into john boats under the Gateway Arch and headed up river. A few flying carp later and we were ashore again to begin the cleanup. It’s amazing what a few dedicated people can do when they work together.

St Louis Kids clean up river

St Louis - Photo - Mississippi River

Kids pitched in too. That’s the good thing about picking up junk: anybody can do it.

Missouri river cleanup

St Louis - AB employees clean up Mississippi River

Photo of deer in Mississippi River at St Louis

I saw things I never would have imagined, including the aforementioned flying fish and a family of deer who were swimming in the river. (Don’t worry; apparently this is a thing they do. Also, pardon the awful photograph. They were very far away, fairly fast moving, and I was shooting from an unsteady position. You get the point.)

St Louis Photograph of Mississippi River Cleanup

If you’re interested in helping these fine folks clean up the river, get in touch. I’m sure Chad would be happy to have your help.

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