Bucket List #19 Completed! Lighted Boat Parade

 I guess it's been a year, or more since I posted. I won't promise, but my plan is to start posting more regularly! We'll see if I can do that, at least I will try!

Cheri and I got to take item #19 off of my Bucket List that is on page 2 of this blog! We went out on a wonderful trip by boat to see the lighted boat parade. What I didn't know when I booked it a month ago was that it included a sunset cruise with dolphin, and Adventures in Paradise delivered! I highly recommend them, it was a wonderful trip! (Here is a link to their website: https://www.adventureinparadiseinc.com/) 

Before we left the dock, I caught this picture of the local pirate ship....I hope to take my grandkids on this one day, I think they would enjoy it...

There were also tons of these little tiki boats all over the place....how cute are these?!

We left out of Fort Myers Beach with Art as captain and his first mate Tom.

They were great hosts and really made the trip special. They apparently know the local dolphin and called on them for a show for our boat!

This was my first attempt at catching them, It was too far away and way off to the right, so I cropped it to see it better....

This was right at Fort Myers Beach where we left, but then we traveled to Sanibel Lighthouse...

We then passed under the causeway toward Pine Island, in search of dolphin...

I almost got this shot of the lineup under the causeway! close enough....

Here we hit the jackpot on dolphin, watch this video, I got a great shot...finally ..watch until about the middle of the video! click on the arrow to see it!

After we watched, photographed and took videos of the dolphin for a while, we watched the sunset....Tom put on a song by a local musician, Danny Morgan called Sanibel Sunset...watch (and listen) here...perfect timing.

We then headed back to Fort Myers Beach for the Lighted Boat parade...

It was so much fun to watch, taking pictures at night with a cell phone aren't the greatest..

Here is the pirate ship I showed you earlier...

and a few others...

They even had a decorated shrimp boat!

Remember that cute tiki? They had some of them decorated also, one did a 360! I missed it though, but here's a video of a couple of them...

Here's a couple other videos of some of the boats...

The trip was an absolute blast! The traffic wasn't bad, the weather was perfect, we were on a boat and we saw dolphin...all in all a perfect day!

Thank you to Cheri for helping me check this one off my bucket list! 

Stay Tuned!

::Shelllady Hugs::

Exploring the 10K islands

Liz and I got together and went on a charter from Goodland Florida, (near Marco Island) to go shelling among the mangroves in the 10,000 islands. These islands can only be accessed by boat so normally the supply is much more plentiful....and interesting than the public beaches. We have done this before and enjoy this trip every time....there's just not enough time there! ;) I didn't take a lot of pictures as I wanted to cover as much territory as possible in our limited time. 

It was the coldest morning we have had since I've been here, so we bundled up in many layers!

I saw many live shells out there, always fun to see....these BEAUTIFuL Lace Murex were all alive....

Notice there is a Live Horse Conch (orange) and Lace Murex on each side of these roots!

Another live Horse Conch...it you look closely you can see that his body is actually Orange! These guys, especially this size are pretty close to the top of my list as favorites!!

The highlight of the day is Liz found a Golden Olive....the pictures don't do it justice, It is a gorgeous bright golden color, and quite the find!!

She said it was just laying there, waiting for her to come along and pick it up!! She even was lucky enough to get her picture posted with it on the Charters' facebook page!!

I did pretty well, found many favorites.... and some Sunray Venus shells to paint for hiding!

I picked up more than 3 dozen Olives...(these are the normal colors for Olives)

Top shells, Horse Conchs, Gaudy Nauticas, Lace Murex, A couple Alphabet Cones....love the tiny One, True Tulips

More Horse Conchs, and Both sides of a Spiny Jewelbox with a yellow center!

They are all soaking in a bleach bath now and are cleaning up nicely!

I also found these Brittle Stars....unfortunately they were already dried....

We had a great day....again, it's never enough time....but I'll take what I can get!!! It was a great day and we both had a blast! 

We finished up the day with a nice lunch on the water!

Oh and this guy....an Orb Spider greeted us when I was dropping Liz off....how about that for freaky?!

On our way out, we came across some dolphin that played in the wake....I also posted a video at the bottom! So fun!!

Hoping for more adventures before I have to head back up North, time is growing short.....Stay Tuned!

::Shelllady Hugs::

Walkin' with the Willets

 It's time once again for some Beach Therapy! I decided I would do better at getting out early for the sunrises...AND hopefully catch some sunsets also! 

Cheri and I have already started our walk and talk, and this evening the dolphin were slowly feeding....so fun to watch!

I even caught a tail flip!! This was all in slow motion, and so graceful!!

a couple of times!!

The Reddish and Snowy Egret stood back and just watched!!

The sky was beautiful and so calming....just what I needed!!

I enjoyed it so much I got up early the next morning to head back to the lighthouse....

Of course, the tides are the driving force, the lowest tides are in the morning, and as we approach the time change, that is still dark....for now.

 I was greeted with smiles, and lots of life....Like these Live Calico Scallops...notice the rows of 'eyes' along the bottom of his shell....

The tidal pools were out, and I think that is my favorite type of shelling.....

There were little areas just filled with Dosinia....I love searching through these areas....

This Blue Crab wasn't as happy to see me, and let me know right away he wanted me to Social Distance!! 

I found a live Atlantic Winged Oyster...

and LOTS of Jellies!

This was beside the tidal pool.....it means the possibility of a complete Alphabet cone....for now, not!

I found this Huge Horse Conch and left him for someone else to enjoy....

He was just under the sand in the tidal pool, as I lifted him out, I saw something orange out of the corner of my eye....I reached back in and found this Beauty!

A deep orange True Tulip! This one I kept!! :)

I did find a nice Angel Wing....

I've seen lots of these Calico Crabs, but I don't remember ever finding one actually in the water, and have wondered if they did go underwater! Here's proof....he was walking around enjoying the tidal pool too....He didn't seem to mind that I was there also!! Love these guys!!

As the sun came up, the birds started appearing....The skimmers were there....I have tried and tried to catch a pic of these guys....and with it being so dark it's nearly impossible!!! Finally got one!!

The bottom of their bill is longer than the top and they fly just off the surface 'skimming' their beak in the water....I think they are just awesome!!! I googled a pic for you to see....

I only see them at sunrise or sunset so it's too dark to get a great pic!! 

As the sun rose, these 3 Willets decided to escort me down the beach....they went up and back with me, either in front of me or beside me the whole time!!

It was pretty cloudy so I didn't get a full sun sunset....this was just as beautiful to me with a little sun peeking through the clouds!

It just don't get no better than That!!!  

Stay tuned!!

::Shelllady Hugs::