The weekend started with a lovely walk on the wide shell strewn beach at Gulfside City Park where I was pleasantly surprised to bump in to our good friends Dick and Mary. We were all waiting to see how Tropical Storm Karen (churning in the middle of the Gulf Of Mexico) would effect the shelling on our southwest gulf coast. It was still beautiful and calm with lots of bivalves, some OLIVES, MUREXES, SEA BEANS, CONCHS and a few other goodies.
My next stop was Blind Pass Captiva where I saw Donnie, Alyssa, Holly, Valerie and Michael in the water snorkeling for their treasures. They were having a ball!
Ooooo… pretties! I wish I had gotten a better picture of that ALPHABET CONE next to the SAND DOLLAR. Its a MeglaCone it’s so huge. LOL
Gerry found tons of shells at Blind Pass on Saturday too. He posted this photo on the iLoveShelling Facebook page. Wowee!!
That big shell mound I showed you last week was dwindling down but there were still a few shells on the beach but most were finding them in the water…
Even at YOLO beach, there were shells lining the calm shoreline. It was a perfect day to rent a wave runner to explore the whole coast of Captiva.
So that brings us to the shells we found this evening around sunset at Blind Pass Sanibel. Clark found a piece of JUNONIA along with some CONCHS and WHELKS…
But the only place we found lots of shells was right in front of the old wooden bulkhead which is now more exposed than I’ve ever seen.
The rest of the beach was wiped clean… all in one afternoon! William and Sarah from Kentucky were not too upset about the shells being taken back out in the water. They said they have been shelling a long time and realize that the beach changes every day. They just started their week long vacation so they are looking forward to the hunt for shells. That’s part of the fun!
This is what Blind Pass Captiva looked like around 6pm tonight. It’s so different from yesterday… and waaaay different than last week with that shell mound. Tropical Storm Karen didn’t bring huge shell piles to our beaches over the weekend but we could still get some effects tomorrow. The beaches will change again tomorrow and the shells have shifted so I look forward to the treasure hunt this week.
The last I saw, Gulfside City Park still has a nice string of shell lining the beach so I might start there tomorrow.
But on Tuesday…. I’m so excited for our treasure hunt on the iLoveShelling Captiva Cruise to Cayo Costa! Wahooo! I hope you can join us to explore the secluded island … for information CLICK HERE
PS- UPDATE: 10-7-13 11:59 am – The winds have changed yet again but this time they are coming from the west and stirring the Gulf up. This is what Blind Pass Captiva is doing now. Mother Nature is fascinating. We should see more shells soon!
Looks like it was a pretty fruitful weekend for all. Love the pic of Gerry’s shells!! Good luck on your hunt tomorrow and Tuesday’s cruise. ;-)
Was that a piece of junonia in Gerry’s picture?
I think Clark is due for another Junonia…lol.
That’s a Beautiful Lace Murex Pam.
Gerry found a boat load…amazing.
It was great to see the Bald eagle hanging out at the pass as well.
I also had good luck near the wooden bulkhead at Blind Pass. I finally found my first, whole, banded tulip!
was looking for you, Pam. I must have just missed you at Blind Pass on Saturday. I was lucky enough to meet Donnie, and he showed me that alphabet cone! I met a few more awesome people that follow this blog, also. Wow, what a haul, Gerry!
I’m just glad to see the water looking better!!!! Be down next week with a load of furniture!!!!
Thank goodness the storm pooped out. Glad you all are safe.
Wow, nice report Pam! Great images. It’s just staggering how much beaches and the water itself can change from one day to the next.
I to had a wonderful weekend of shelling also….even met a fellow Canton, OH shell enthusiast and another iloveshelling.com blogger. What a blessing from God. I even found several of the shells I hadn’t found yet, tulip/tiger eye, since I just started shelling in August. I guess there truly is a silver lining with every dark storm cloud!
Candy, I am also from Canton, Ohio. I was surprised to see that you met someone on the beach who was alao from Canton. Small world.. Glad to hear you had a wondaerful weekiend of shellng. My husband and I will be on Sanibel in 12 days..Can’t wait
I currently live in Cape Coral so I get to enjoy the beach 2 to 3 times per week. That is the highlight of living here. I hope you and your husband enjoy your time here and maybe we will run into one another on Sanibel looking for those wonderful shells.
Candy, When we are in Florida we will be looking at homes in Cape Coral and Fort Myers because my husband may be transfered to the Fort Myers airport. Hope I do run into you so we could ask you a few questions about the local areas, good vs bad. Happy shelling !!!!!!!
L-O-R-E-E, My husband Clark would be happy to answer ANY questions about the area. He is a fantastic real estate agent! He knows Cape Coral and All of the surrounding areas so you can pick his brain with any questions and he can help you find the area and home (whether its a condo, apt, house, investment property or even a piece of land) that will be perfect for you. You can find his info on this link….http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/super-sheller-clark-rambo/
Email or call him! 239-565-1116 clarkrambo@yahoo.com
I”m not an agent but I would love to talk to you from a residents point of view. Hope to talk soon!
Pam, thanks for the update with a new beach photo. Exciting! Hoping you find a Junonia or two!
Pam,
Where is the the old wooden bulkhead? We have been to Sanibel and Captiva for many years and have not heard of this.
Thanks,
Nancy
Hi nancy, that bulkhead is about 200 yards from the pass on the Sanibel side. Here is a link …. its the first time I posted about it and it shows exactly where it is… With a video!
http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/2012/12/05/heavy-erosion-at-sanibels-blind-pass-beach/
I was in Sanibel a few weeks ago and tried shelling at that bulkhead. The waves were quite rough. Then surprise, a large wave flew along the bulkhead spraying me with a HUGE plume of water. it was a bit startling to say the least!!!!!!!!!
You definitely need to use caution when shelling when the waves are rough…I’ve been taken off my feet a few times at Blind pass…its a rough hobby sometimes…lol.
I’m in awe of Gerry’s shells that he collected at
Blind Pass. Last week I found 2 tulips, 2 scotch bonnets, i small horse conch, 2 baby’s ear, lots of nutmegs, fighting conchs, and moon snails in Orange Beach, Alabama. I felt like I had hit the jackpot. I’ve been to Sanibel twice in the last year and didn’t find a tulip, scotch bonnet or horse conch.
Congrats, Gerry!