Shelling isn’t complicated. It’s the most relaxing activity one can do while on the beach.
Just walk along the shoreline and pick up a few seashells that you think are pretty. That’s it. So that’s exactly what we did yesterday along the beach of Big Hickory Island yesterday when we all found handfuls of ANGEL WING shells.
Okay, I have to admit though… it adds so much fun when you hop on a boat like the Sight Sea-R to go to explore a secluded island for shells!
It’s so much fun to meet other amazing shellers like cutie shellootie Gretchen who made a new SEA STAR friend as well. After saying hello and learning how to tell if they are still alive, Gretchen gently placed her new SEA STAR friend back into the water and wished it a good long life.
Along the way of enjoying this spectacular sunny day, Peter and Alex (Connecticut) found a few keepers to put in their shell bag.
Thank goodness Peter found a couple of ALPHABET CONES- thats all he looks for… so I’d say he was successful.
Can you believe the color of that water? Theresa and Russ (soon to be Cape Coral ;)) …
found an ALPHIE, SAND DOLLAR and a few other souvenirs to remember our fab day together.
How can ya not have a good time hanging out with folks like Susan from Toronto? Really, we’re all just wanting the same thing- enjoy the outdoors and find a few good memories along the way.
She found her first ALPHABET CONE.
Lori and Glenn (Iowa) had luck finding an ALPHABET CONE too. They are so darn cute!
Ellen (Shellin’ Ellen) and Roger (VA) had their own luck beside them.
Sweet!
It was an incredibly gorgeous day to hunt for shells while in the water like local sheller Candy and her snorkeling sister Megan visiting from Pennsylvania.
Thank you for coming out with us Angela, Sarah and Stacy (Maine) – next time we are gonna do a little SHARKS EYE dance together. haha
I think we were happy like Mike and Linda from New Hampshire to have this gorgeous day to hunt for shells. The water was soooo amazing.
Bob and Nancy from Houston are newbie shellers who found a lot of new shells for their list… but the best shell being this colorful little DUSKY CONE. i love those little shells.
So this is why I love days like this more than anything…. I looked over to see Diana from Illinois sharing her ANGEL WINGS with some of the other shellers that she didn’t even know. That’s so sweet! So when I found out that Carolyn, Roda, Bev and Lynette were part of Sanibel Shell Crafters, it meant even more that she was sharing her treasures with them. They donate so many hours to shell crafting they are such givers as well. It’s really so simple- share the shelling joy.
Diana kept a few of her gorgeous miniature shells like just two ANGEL WINGS, ROSE PETAL TELLINS, WORM SHELLS, COQUINAS and even quite a few branches of CORAL. I loved her collections so much, you can see I photographed them in the first photo- so pretty!
It was a beautiful day filled with laughter and joy from a boat full a beautiful folks.
Wanna come back to Sanibel. Almost willing to give up retirement and find a job there just to be near the water & sand. Love Shelling on Sanibel.
Looks like everyone had a great time & found loads of unique shells that made their
day even happier! Wish I was there too! Enjoy every minute of your time near &
around Sanibel!
Pam, so enjoy your blog. The” Illinois Three” miss the sun, sand ,surf and shells. Keep up with the beautiful pics and videos. That will keep us going for a while 😄.
Sandi c. From Illinois
P.S. Love my sand dollar charm and necklace from Sealife by Congress I got with the $25 gift certificate from the shelling cruise. Dale used his certificate to get the chain. It’s a lovely reminder of a wonderful day of shelling with you and fellow shellers. I wear it every day☺
Keep on shellin’
Pam, how accessible is the SightSeaR catamaran? We are two ladies in our 60s who aren’t quite as agile as we were in our younger days, but we would love to take the Hickory trip with you on our next visit to Sanibel. The SightSeaR website says that the ships are handicapped accessible, but not sure whether that only applies to the “cruise but stay on the boat” trips, or to shelling as well…… Can you give us some help here?
Thanks,
June, There is a ladder with a rail from the boat to the beach. I’ve seen all sorts of folks get on and off the boat… some even that have to use canes for walking the beach. Hope that helps!
Thanks, Pam! That is very reassuring.
Pretty, pretty, pretty! :)
Dear Pam, we had a wonderful time on the Hickory Island cruise. It was great to meet you after following your blog for years. Today, we went to Congress Jewellry and fell in love with your friend Melissa– and of course, we adore our exshellent new bling!!! Thanks for everything. Until the next time!!
Susan, Denise, and Pam from Toronto.
Thanks for another great cruise, Pam. Nice seeing you again! It was fun meeting people who share the shelling passion.
Dear Pam,
After your reply to my last inquiry (about the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos) I contacted Joe-L and Joe-T to book a shelling excursion! Looking through your posts from Grand Bahama Island I was wondering if all the shells you and Clark found were while you were venturing with Joel? I read that your shell bounty was from two days of shelling and I was just curious about what I could expect with the excursion as its 4 hours. I would appreciate any response! I hope to venture on one of your shelling cruises this summer too! Thanks so much!
It looked like you had an absolutely perfect day at the beach there—calm seas, which make for great snorkeling and finding all those super duper shells still in the water. How amazing. Everyone had such fabulous finds. I was loving the coral in the 13th & 15th photos–they’re so pretty! Pam I’m still hoping to make it down there this year and I want to go on one or your shelling cruises–either with my hubby or a sister. I’m just trying to figure it all out. But these posts of yours keep me motivated!
Hi Pam,
Love your blog. You keep winter laden people happy. We are on sanibel right now and are playing hide and go seek with the shells. Where are they? We are staying on gulf view drive and there is nothing here. We tried Blind Pass this morning…nothing….it is great for “a beach on Florida” but this place os special. Are all the shells simply out to sea right now?
Kim, we were at the lighthouse beach this weekend and there were lots of shell in the water and minis on the beach. Good luck!
Thanks Pam! We went to Light house beach this morning. There was enough to keep us entertained. The ospry alone were worth the price of admission. Lots of pieces which kept us hopeful. We enjoyed the minis, too.
Pam, I don’t get to the beach all that often anymore. Anyway, where would I put any more shells??? My house
has them everywhere! But reading your blog is like a mini vacation…I love seeing the pleasure of your shellers
as they discover their treasures, and your comments are so enthusiastic and fun! How great it is for you to be
able to share your passion doing something you love, and, at the same time, educating and making other people happy. I am so proud of you!
Ada