This spider decided to hitchhike on a kitchen trash bag full of beach trash collected on a small beach along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay last evening. Since it was clinging to the outside of the trash bag, its web or other information that may be meaningful are unknown. It was roughly the size of my thumbnail. While alert and mobile, it appeared not to know the best course of action to return to the wild. We didn't know either so we let it go alongside the beach trail.

It is very beautiful. I think it is an Araneus thaddeus - Lattice Orbweaver, female, but I am not sure. Let me know what you think.