It was an especially good day on the Sanibel today. On the beach at Island Inn, the weather was perfect (high 70s), the water was calm, there were piles of good shells… and I had Clark with me. That’s why I love this next photo… it’s everything I love all in one shot. Clark, the beach, the water and a ton of shells to pick through to collect in an aqua shell bucket.
My day was made.
I wasn’t the only one loving the day either, if there’s a good shell pile it seems I always find Connie K. right smack in the middle of it. Ha! She can sniff ’em out!
I also met another happy gal… Faith from Ohio. She is a ball of fun!
These are just a few of the beautiful shells she found. She found a LIONS PAW too but I didn’t get a chance to see it since she had already packed it up in her room. Happy.
Sitting on the big pile of shells (after walking to the right from Island Inn), I saw OLIVES, CONCHS, WHELKS, SCALLOPS and TULIPS but I had to snap a picture of this adorably tiny horsie candy (juvie HORSE CONCH). Omigosh- so stinkin cute.
Clark’s fave find of the day was of course that awesome ALPHABET CONE (first pic) but mine was this teeny tiny ROCK SNAIL SHELL.
I haven’t found a ROCK SHELL in a while and I can’t recall if I’ve ever seen one this small before. I love it!
Wishing on this shell tree that everybody gets to experience a day like this on the beach to feel this calm and happy about simple pleasures.
PS- Thank you Heather for the heads up about the shell pile!
We don’t have a shell pile outside…..there is a foreign white substance on the grass and the driveway! brrrrr
Looking good! December is getting closer :-)
Been there – Done that – BUT not any more – all our shells are gone. Only CLAMS left- I can send you 1000’s. I swear with that tremendous wind storm we had couple of weeks ago, they all left and settled iin Sanibel. Tide turned, I want them back!!
Janet from Cholla Bay, PR Mex.
Love the orange juvie horseconch~a fav of mine!They stand out so well its such a treasure to find one.you found some great ones!!!
Pam, I’ve constantly been forgetting to tell you this, but as a kid I was a MAJOR rock hound. I loved looking for petrified wood, agates, fossils,etc. One time, right in our gravel driveway out in the country, I found a perfect impression of a SEASHELL in a rock. (It looks like an Ark-type shell.) I’m certain this used to be part of glacial Lake Souris in North Central North Dakota! (This lake no longer exists.)
Pam, I believe this is what triggered my desire to be a sheller, as well. (It only took me about 40 years to fulfill that dream!) I still have my most favorite rocks & fossils I found as a kid–including my seashell fossil.
Kaye, i dont think u r alone! I think uncovering earth and exploring as kids turns lots of landlocked folks to explore the beach as we get older. Ive seen some amazing rock hound collectors get so excited to uncover shells in the beach. Its the same rush! Lol there r some cool fossil collections here at both sanibel and captiva libraries. Ive been meaning to do a post on them – where does the time go. I hope to show u in the upcoming season. Thanks for sharing!
I would love to see those fossil collections. It’s fascinating to think about what this Earth was like so many years ago!
Wow! I am still hoping to find an alphabet cone that is not faded out. Love those tulips! I haven’t seen shell piles like that in a very long time. I am happy for those lucky shellers. Clark always manages to snag the good ones. I wish I had his technique!
I agree Pam, the little rock snail shell is beautiful. :)
Ed and I will be on Sanibel from Dec 9th to Dec 23rd this year. It’s coming up fast!
We’ve got snow piles instead of shell piles! Wish I was there!
snow here too in ohio but as long as I’m getting your great posts I know what I’m in store for in January—thanx again r.g.stein
Oh Wow! I was at Island Inn all last week,there were just sea squirts and pen shells and lots of urchins. Got some good stuff at Gulf City Park beach tho.
there’s always next year!
Pam – How do you decide where you’re going shelling for the day? I’ve never seen so many coquinas on the beach.
Pam – how do you decide what beach you’re going to shell at??? I’ve been in Sanibel for over an week now and have never seen so many coquinas and smelly squirts.
Oh my. feeling green with envy on this cold and rainy November day here in the UK. Just look at that wonderful blue sky.
What a great Haul!!! We will be there just after Thanksgiving & I am praying we get the same luck. It will be our (My husband and I) first trip to Sanibel & to shelebrate our 10th anniversary so it will be a special journey. We are both avid shellers from NC that have followed your site for years & thank you for all the information you have resourced. Wish we could make your cruise, but we have to go home before it. :(
You will have a blast! Sanibel is one of a kind!
Thanks! I have been wanting to get to Sanibel for years, so I do not care about the weather unless it deters my shells. :)
Hey Pam, are those stinky sea squirts still on the beach? I hope they’ll blow away before Turkey Day! NICE alphabet! My fav.
Nice meeting you Pam from Ohio !!!
From Joan from east coast. Don’t forget to check out the Paper Nautilus. Our best find on the east coast !!