What’s the perfect equation for our great shelling adventure? Sunshine + seashells + shiny happy people = Shellabaloo 3!
We started off our adventure by hitting the beach at Blind Pass Captiva to find shells lining the shoreline rolling in… then rolling out. You had to have a shell scoop or quick reflexes to snag them out of the water which made the hunt even that much more fun.Jim and Annette from Illinois were filling up their shells bags with lots of OLIVES…
FIGHTING CONCHS were couldn’t make it in to their shells bags fast enough…. and CORAL pieces too!
We also have another Team Canada with us this time for Shellabaloo 3! Jennifer from Ottawa is hoping that her daughter Marisa will love shelling as much as she does by the end of the week.
I think you’ll get your wish, Jennifer! She looks like she’s enjoying the hunt to me…
We also gathered at Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum for a fabulous private tour led by Dr. Jose Leal.
Dr Leal let us peek behind-the-scenes to see thousands of drawers filled with shells organized and cataloged to be used for educational purposes now and for the future. It was fascinating! But he stopped us in our tracks by showing this humongus FLORIDA HORSE CONCH found in local waters off Sanibel. We want to find one of THOSE this week! hahahaha
It is soooo much fun shelling the beaches with my new friends but we all get to know each other a little better in the evenings with cocktails and dinner. Marie McDermed and her sister Martha (Kansas) are absolute dolls!
The party really gets started when Angela Pryor and her sister Cathy (both from the east coast of Florida) are in the room. They are a hoot!
Super Sheller Clark joined us for an evening at Island Inn Sanibel so he could meet these awesome shellers like Nancy from California…
Here’s Nancy with fab new friends Tricia and Gregg (Colorado) and Lou and Donnie from the Space Coast of Florida. You would love these people! So much fun!
Today we are off on another shelling adventure… a cruise to Cayo Costa!
I am so tickled that this whole group seems to be in love with BEACH BLING just as much as I am. I’m thrilled! I love this! I’ll have photos of the shells and bling we’re finding and more stories too very soon. So… stay tuned! Shellabaloo 3 – gone shelling!
Looks like a Great time being had by all!
So fun! Wish I were there. Have a good time, and don’t forget the sunscreen!
Those look like industrial strength, professional shellers!
Can’t wait to see the shells AND the bling in the next post! I love beach bling; it’s so cool and interesting!
How much fun is that? So glad everyone is having a good time. One of these shellabaloos I’ll be there!
OMG that gigantic Horse Conch just takes my breath away…can you imaging finding such a treasure? Almost as awesome as a Junonia and maybe, just maybe, rarer.
Have a great time on Cayo Costa and I’ll be awaiting the next blog to see what y’all find!
have fun everyone!!!
OMGoodness SHELLABALOO SHELLERS,
Your smiles are contagious !!
I’m smiling right now :)
Wishing Everyone a Fabulous Shellabaloo!!! That horse conch..wow.oh..wow!! And that huge clam shell on the bottom shelf – I really want that…..lol
I’ll be seeing you in Oct and cannot wait!!
What a gift to be able to go behind the scenes at the shell museum! You’ve got great connections!
Oh you guys & dolls are having too much fun!!! Luv that private tour & the huge conch! Oh my!! & that huge clam on the shelf, holy clam!!
Have fun everyone!!! Keep the stories coming.
Wishing I was there
Mary Ann
East Granby. CT
Thank you so much for sharing the trip with us. Looks like all are having a wonderful time and collecting some beautiful shells. My husband and I will be there in December for the first time. We live in Huntington Beach, CA…not a great place for shelling… but I have been shelling the Bahamas, Virgin Islands and the Florida Stuart areas for about 20 years now. Seeing these photos makes me very anxious to get there and so happy we decided to finally plan a trip to Captiva!
We’re on our way. Be there in two days. Two months in paradise! Can’t wait! Wouldn’t mind finding one of those giant horse conchs myself.
DAT…HORSEY!!!!! :O !!!!!!!!!!
I know right my jaw hit china lol
better stop talking to myself…But seriously, gorgeous horse conch. I mean, I knew they got 2 feet long, but didn’t really believe in them. But now I saw one with my own eyes??? Maybe unicorns are real!
By the way, Pam, about the shells rolling in and out, have you tried just floating face down with a mask at the place right where the waves break? I’ve tried that over at Englewood beach and was rewarded with several alphabet cones. Does that work at Sanibel/Captiva too, or is the water too murky? In your photos it looks crystal clear, but I was just curious… :)