The Essential Beachcomber

My favorite beaches are usually off the beaten path. My parking spot is with the beach crowd but I usually end up walking a distance to get to the sand less traveled. That's where the best shells & sharks teeth are and it is noticeably quieter.  The families with small kids & teenagers throwing Frisbees, balls, & each other tend to stay close to the facilities. I have often  looked at some of the little sandbars & mangrove islands  out in the bay & wondered if I could talk my water-challenged hubby into at least a small pontoon boat.  The last time he motored a rental boat the hubs backed it into the dock receiving a nasty look from the rental guy. The other time we lost a propeller on a rock which was an extra $40 bucks on top of the boat rental.  We are not boat people.   Lil Shorty has come to my rescue. My girlfriend Lil Shorty  has loaned me her sit-on  kayak.  She loves to kayak but her work schedule & proxi...

Well the planets  lined up again.   My friend Lil Shorty (pronounced Shawty) & I finally had a day off on the same day. Lil Shorty is my partner in sharks tooth crime.  After a few texts back & forth it was decided that we would walk the second leg of our unfinished beach hike. We had walked from Englewood Beach north to Blind Pass Beach back in  February . That was a spectacular day.  The weather was crisp & the water was crystal blue. Once you get past the public beach & onto the beach less travelled the shoreline is teeming with sharks teeth.  Looking south towards Blind Pass Beach in Englewood, FL The beach was packed.  Snowbirds, spring breakers, & beach umbrellas as far as the eye could see. We started walking north and left the crowds behind us. The people of Englewood are just crazy about picking up sharks teeth. I had a lady stop me and ask what all the fuss was about.  I tried to muster up an answer with some si...