The Essential Beachcomber

My shark's tooth jar is always half full. Englewood is an accidental town of sorts. Situated on the Gulf coast somewhat close to I-75 and even closer to the historic Tamiami Trail don't text while driving through or you'll miss it. Even most Floridians couldn't tell you where Englewood is located.  (Also on that list would be Chiefland, Alva, & Gulf Hammock & I have kinfolk in them all) Most vacationers end up in Englewood for a quick stop to visit their retired parents on their way to the real vacation destination of Disney World.  Other tourists stumble upon the beaches of Manasota Key while on their way to more well known beaches like Boca Grande Island or Siesta Key.  At any rate it's one of the best ac c idents you could have. Although Englewood beaches cannot boast of the sugar white sand of Siesta or the swanky shopping of Boca Grande.  Our beaches have their own distinctive treasure to brag about - fossilized sharks teeth . The officia...

Even my shell sistah  Pam of iLove Shelling  couldn't resist a road trip up from Sanibel to Manasota Key for a little shark's tooth action. (credit:  www.iLoveShelling.com) All hobbies & interests have different levels of dedication.  Shelling is the perfect example of this.  You have the average beach goer that doesn't know anything more about shells other than "it's pretty".  Then the next level would be the enthusiast.  This person  knows to shell at low tide, has some basic shelling equipment, & they know what a junonia is.  Then there are the fanatics  who are willing to travel to the good shelling spots,  they knows the Latin scientific names of most shells, & are into quality not quantity because their shell collection has now taken over their garage.   Collecting shark's teeth is no different. On any given day on Manasota Key there will be hundreds of beach-goers walking the shoreline looking for shar...

Happy  National Pay It Forward Day!   What better way to start out the month of December than with a day filled with random acts of kindness & generosity towards others.  I am reposting "Pay it Forward Shark's Tooth-style" from back in August. I had just started blogging. This was one of my 1st posts.  For those of you experiencing some chilly weather consider this my gift of sunshine today. Lucas on Blind Pass Beach Yay ! I finally had a Sunday off. I don't mind working week-ends and I have for 30 years. When I do have a Sunday off I appreciate them that much more.  I did have to start my Sunday with a meeting at work after which I grabbed a Iced Cinnamon  Dolce  Latte and went to church. The afternoon was reading the paper & tuna fish sandwiches (so we didn't have to go to the store). Right around 5 pm it was cooling off from 99 degrees to about 93 degrees so we loaded up the truck & headed for Blind Pass to do one last shark's ...

                    What do this                                                      and this                    have in common?            Full moon night shelling              on Englewood Beach. As I was driving home from work last night I rolled all the windows down to let the nice cool Florida air blow through my truck. The full moon was just shining over the tree line. I work a late shift so as I walked quietly through the door at home so I wouldn't wake anyone I decided I was not ready to call it a night.  Well I was  but I'm calling it Night Shelling.  I tiptoed into my closet in the dark so I wouldn't wake up the Hubbs (the most dang...

This was the vehicle in front of my parking space at the beach today Come on!  My finds from Manasota Key Beach tonight. (added 9/20/10) This is the jar I'm filling up with shark's teeth.  It's about an 1 1/2" deep. It took me a month the fill it this far.

It seems I have turned into a real beach bum these days. I am just loving the weather, it was mean low tide,  and I can get to Englewood Beach in 5 minutes from where I live.  I decided to try a part of the beach I usually stay away from. The reason I avoid this part of the beach is that all the teenagers hang out here. There is a big volley ball net.  All the kids here skim board so this part of the beach can be dangerous.  You either get beaned by a wayward ball or run over by a skim boarder in full run. But school's back in baby and it's safe again.  This part of the beach is bordered by condos and believe it or not a trailer park. That area of the beach  was basically deserted which as any good beach comber knows is less competition for any goodies laying around. The Round-a-bout at Englewood Beach I used my shell shovel on the surf line and was having some good results.  There was alot of this shell crush at the high surf line that ...

Happy  National Pay It Forward Day!   What better way to start out the month of December than with a day filled with generosity towards others.  I am reposting "Pay it Forward Shark's Tooth-style" from back in August. I had just started blogging. This was one of my 1st posts.  For those of you experiencing some chilly weather consider this my gift of sunshine today. Lucas on Blind Pass Beach Yay ! I finally had a Sunday off. I don't mind working week-ends and I have for 30 years. When I do have a Sunday off I appreciate them that much more.  I did have to start my Sunday with a meeting at work after which I grabbed a Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte and went to church. The afternoon was reading the paper & tuna fish sandwiches (so we didn't have to go to the store). Right around 5 pm it was cooling off from 99 degrees to about 93 degrees so we loaded up the truck & headed for Blind Pass to do one last shark's tooth outing for my sister who leaves ...