It’s really a shame I’m not a morning person. Everybody assumes since I’m an obsessed sheller that I’m always the first one on the beach every morning. Wrong! I’m a lazy bum in the mornings and I love to sleep in… but there are a few certain occasions I like to see the sunrise. One of those occasions would be a really low morning tide after some nice north winds. That’ll give me a little shove out the door every time.
Every single solitary time I’m on the beach to witness a new day as the sun rises up over a fresh new string of shells with a golden glow… I wish IÂ was a morning person.
It’s the time to see live healthy creatures.
I didn’t even have to touch this SAND DOLLAR to know it was alive. Not only was it dark brown, I could see cilia (or what I call “fur”) lining the outside of its body as well as each of the key hole slits. So beautiful!
This live LIGHTNING WHELK had already done an excellent job of digging itself back into the wet sand to wait for the tide to soon cover him back up completely so I left him alone as well.
My sunrise morning trip to Gulfside City Park Beach to see the beautiful colors of dawn, feel the calmness and to pick up a few treasures was well worth hearing that alarm clock ringing in the dark. But when I think about it, every single time I’m on the beach whether its dawn, mid morning, noon, afternoon, early evening or at dusk… I find something that makes me happy.
A few minutes before I headed home, I admired my loot and realized that I didn’t need to take everything I picked up. So if my biggest decision of the day was to choose which shells made it home with me… life is good today.
Come with me on a shelling trip! CLICK HERE
Hi Pam! This is an odd question, but I am trying to put together a project on Sand Dollars native to America. Not sure if you would have any in depth knowledge on this. Those sea cookies that you found in Thailand, is that the only region that they are found? So far for American Species, I have: The Florida Keyhole (the common one), Arrowhead, Inflated Sea Biscuit, New England Sand Dollar, and Pacific Sand Dollar. I have searched high and low for help with this, and while I can find a lot online, I can find those specific to the US. Thanks for any input.
Hi Natasha, we have the Pancake Sand Dollar in Florida too. But you know that it gets a little tricky with all of the “urchins”- a sand dollar is an urchin (Echinoderm family)- just a flattened urchin… but anyway- check out my post about the pancake… http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/2013/03/20/cayo-costa-ihop-island-home-of-pancakes/
You are good. I checked the tide chart last night, set out my clothes, packed my little bag–and this morning I just couldn’t do it! So disappointed. But still, I found a flat scallop at Blind Pass, just before high tide. :-)
I’d pick up your left overs :)
I am a morning person…. 32 more sleeps and I’ll be on the beach nice and early.
Thanks as always for sharing Pam.
Pam – thank you so much for the great pictures. It makes me more anxious to get back to Sanibel. My next trip is scheduled for May 17- 22. I’m crossing my fingers that you have a shelling cruise during that time. *hint, hint* :-)
You are welcome Joy! But oh darn- you are just missing my scheduled shelling trip on May 26… http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/iloveshelling-events/
Love the sweet orange candy!
Lovely photos Pam.
I have to say I relish the whole dawn experience, and l Iove to be out once you can see the morning glow on the horizon, but I don’t much like going out while it is still totally dark.
I can always get up early in the morning as long as I go to bed early, in fact I like to do that. I used to hate it years ago, but these days I love it.
The possibility of great shells will always haul me out of bed on time. Especially if I can just walk to where I need to be to search for them.
In the tropics it is particularly nice to be out before the day gets hot. In a couple of months I should be on Nevis. I’m trying get that vacation plan sorted out right now.
Gorgeous sunrise, shells, living creatures, Mother Nature at her best. Is it difficult for a non-resident to find parking at Gulfside City Park beach?
Thank you for all you do to inspire us shellers.
Hi Phyllis- In season, (which seems has started early this year -its so busy right now!) the parking is a little tricky for everybody in all the parking lots in the middle of the afternoon- even residents. If its a nice sunny day, Early mornings or late afternoons seem to be the best bet for parking because the layer-outers (heehee) bring their picnics and stay all day in the parking space . FYI- GSCP doesn’t have resident parking- we have to pay just like everybody else because its run by the county- not Sanibel.
Thank you Pam. I am basically a morning person, so we should get to parking lots before they fill up. I am not a “layer outer”, but used to be.
Wish we could get down there to go to Big Hickory on Feb. 4, but won’t be there until the weekend. Will see you on the 9th.
Really enjoyed the shelling trip with you and group last week. Back in TN now, but heading back to Sanibel Feb. 14. Will miss your trip Feb. 7, but if you have more the last two weeks of February, I’m in.
Thanks again. Love ready your blog and can’t wait to get back.
Thanks again, Pam, for sharing with us so much beauty. Your posts bring me so much joy, especially during the winter months of the frigid cold winters here in Nova Scotia. I check everyday to see if you’ve added another post or video to your blog (I know… as if you’re going to post every single day!). It’s just that I don’t want to miss one! Your photos are amazing, and I watch your shelling videos over and over again, just wishing I could be there digging for treasure too. :)
Pam, on our recent visit, I was up several times in the night wondering if it was shelling time yet. By 6:30 a.m. I was raring to go. Back home in Canada with the snow and frigid temperatures…life starts much later in the morning. I belong on Sanibel!
Muriel
oh how I miss Sanibel I left a little piece of my heart there on that beach til I return! blind pass shelling is so amazing esp by the jetty beautiful pics as always Pam you are a lucky gal to live surrounded by all that beauty!
Kim In Michigan
Your videos online have been a haven for me. My work with troubled people can be quite draining. Since we live about 750 miles from Sanibel ( an absolute oasis), your videos have become a time for vicarious shelling. Watching the sea and the shelling are so relaxing. I have learned a lot about shelling. Thank you for taking the time to put this site and your videos online. I hope to get to Sanibel some time this year.
Hi Pam, We loved our shelling trip with you, and our entire first visit to Sanibel. It definitely won’t be our last! We stayed so busy, and had so much fun! What a wonderful spot for a vacation. It would be even more wonderful to be lucky enough to live there! I’m cleaning and sorting the shells I found, and having a great time doing it. Thank you so much for this website!
~Karen
great job I love your stories that accompany the pictures and like myself the enjoyment comes with little or big treasures and the beauty they all have especially the welks that come in an a lot of different but extremely beautiful array of colors that are vibrant and rich and are my favorite shell, keep up the posts and i’ll keep shelling thanx r.g.stein
Love your post as usual. Gulf City Park was good to me last November. I have booked the trip on May 6 this year. I will be staying on Manasota Key but will find somewhere in Ft Meyers to stay the night before. I was on your Cayo Costa trip in Nov. I was the one who found the crucifix shell so I am really looking forward to the Big Hickory trip.
Shelling is my PASSION!
See you in May.
Oh boy, Pam, I’m right there with you as a non-morning person! When we were there in November, I managed several sunrise mornings which turned into my most favorite time on the beach. Your handful of shells are a nice reminder. I’m also loving the cyber shelling from your last few posts, so Thank You. I see you have a birthday coming up in a few hours, so let me be the first to wish you Happy Birthday! I hope your day is filled with all kinds of delight.
haha Thank you! its already a good b-day. xo
Hi Pam,
This month, 2 days after the full moon and again early this beautiful morning, we spent our first days ever on Sanibel
Anyone getting up before sunrise for shelling then seeing the sun shine on shells will truly be rewarded. It is the best time for photographs, less shelling competition (let’s face it, we all want our own private beach) and the greatest chance to just breathe and enjoy nature at its finest. I think I photographed that same whelk! It was a beauty even with the barnacles at its point. Is Gulfside Park open 24 hours and how safe is it to shell in the dark? Looking at the tide chart for late February puts low tide in the midnight hours. We have headlamps, but would like to know which beaches are open for shelling. I do not recall seeing any hours posted in the parking lot, but may have missed it. Thanks for you help and another beautiful post to begin the day. Happy Birthday!
I don’t think there are any restrictions on any of our beaches for shelling at any hour- if there is… I’m unaware. Thank you for the bday wishes! its a good day.
Thanks, Pam.
Diane,
I have been out at all hours of the night – whenever it’s low tide. And SInce I usually go in late Feb, yes, the low tides always seem to be at 2am, 3am, etc. As Pam says, I don’t think there are any restrictions on when you can go. Take your flashlight and a cell phone to be safe. I’ll be there the last week of Feb. so maybe I’ll see you in the middle of the night. :)
Pam – Happy, Happy Bitrthday!!!
Have a wonderful time Katherine!!!
Thank you Susan. Have a great time on Nevis!
Thank you, Katherine. Good advice and hoping to run into you in those wee hours of the morning.
Happy Birthday, Pam!!! Jim just celebrated one too. Counting the days til we get to Sanibel… Oh how I love the orange candy.
A very Happy Birthday Pam. Hope you are feeling 100%.
Be there tomorrow. I am not a morning person either. Unless you count reading until 3 am. The exception is if its for birding or shelling. I go out shelling with my headlamp and am amazed at all of the living things on the beach at that time. Even saw a bobcat once. Dawn on Sanibel is a daily requirement. Someone pointed out the Space Station clearly visible early one morning. You just never know what you will see. The song “Starry Starry Night” always runs through my head.
I am not a morning person anywhere in the world, except at the beach. It brings out the best in people and life, I think! Thanks for the loveliness, Pam. :)
OK, I’ll join the “morning” chatter. I found out at Castaways yesterday that there is TWO 5 o’clocks. I was actually up at 4:50AM with my head lamp on, hoodie, beach shoes, shell scooper and shorts…Oh, had my shell pouch too :) Don’t remember when I was up that early. Maybe when I was first married to take a hot air balloon ride. I am NOT a morning person by any means. But when I can get up, put on my “gear” and actually walk about 100 feet to shell, I’m THERE. Yup, I was there with the light brigade touring the water’s edge :) and further. The best I found was already occupied by crabs so I said “good morning to you” and carried on. I must tell you, however, I was startled when walking in the water and a long green fish as round as a pencil and a foot long swam by my leg. Whoa… Then, I walked a bit further and turned my head lamp to the black abyss of the gulf and saw a bunch of twittering bright red “lights” shining and moving in the water. “What the heck” I said. Hmmm, I have never seen anything like that before. Some kind of fish? jellyfish? Whatever they were, I will remember them for the rest of my life every time I go shelling at low tide in the dark. Now THAT woke me up :) It was great fun and I went back to the cottage and went back to bed with sandy feet. What better way to start a day in Paradise??