A Little Adventure!

 We went on a little adventure yesterday....we got on a boat and headed to a barrier island named Keewaydin. It's just a short boat ride north of Marco Island! "We" is a group of 4 of us, happy go-lucky middle-aged women, Liz, Me, Cindy and Jolene, We love to shell and are looking for an adventure so you'll never know where we'll go next!!  We have decided we will call ourselves the 'Shell Raisers'!! So from now on, you'll know who I'm talking about!! ;)

We drove to Rose Marina in Marco Island, (about an hour and a half from my house in Fort Myers) and caught the Hemingway Water Shuttle to Keewaydin Island...I highly recommend them!!

Before we boarded, we happened to be near the docks and saw the marina's version of the ice cream truck show up! ..at least these birds thought so!!!

The Bait truck!!! He was very popular with every Snowy Egret in the vicinity!!

It was a bit foggy as we rode up to Keewaydin late morning, but it didn't last long, and it didn't take us long to get down to business!

These sandbars are relatively new, accelerated by the latest storms according to the Captain and First Mate! 

Cindy waisted no time looking for treasures....

...as did Jolene and Liz!

At first, I started finding Lots of live stuff, which you know I always like to see....and have to share!

Beautiful Live Banded Tulip...

...and Big 'Ol Horse Conch.... (Love that iconic Orange Body!!)

....Live Olive...

This Neon Orange Florida Cone....

and this TINY little Lace Murex!

Unfortunately I don't believe this guy(pygmy Octopus) was alive anymore....but I carefully put him back in the water, just in case!

Jolene has mentioned several time that she wanted to find a Golden Olive....Well today was her day!! It wasn't perfect as the very tip was missing, but she didn't care....it was beautiful!!

....and she was so Happy!!!

and would you believe....about 10 minutes later, she found another one!!!! It was PERFECT!!

Here's a peak inside her shell bag....The Cone Whisperer!!

She even picked up a BEAUTIFUL orange Fighting Conch!

Here's a look inside Liz's shell bag....she was doing great too!! Though you can't see it very well from this view!

and this is Cindy's!

I found out later that this was ONE of her bags, she had 2!! ;)

I shelled mostly in a small tidal pool and found lots of little treasures....Orange seemed to be the theme! True Tulips, a Florida Cone, Pear Whelk, Worm Shell, Olive and I can't pass up an Orange Scallop!

Here's what was in my shell bag.....

....the view was beautiful!!

We did a lot of walking....

and had a GREAT time!

Goodbye Keewaydin...

We WILL be back!!

Another person on the boat had a good day!! She found these Monster shells (about 15 Horse Conchs and Lightning Whelks) right after we arrived, in about chest deep water!!! She could barely carry this bag!!!

An Update:: Remember this guy from Last Monday's trip after the storms??

He Cleaned up VERY WELL!! He is now one of my Favorites!!

The other still needs some work and elbow grease..... but it's coming along!!

Stay Tuned!!!

::Shelllady Hugs::