Great Family and Great Shelling Day

It was time again for the annual spring trip for Chuck, Christine, Logan and Owen. I always enjoy taking this family out. They have been going with me for many years. We always manage to see something really cool in nature. This time it was a young Bald Eagle learning how to catch fish. The mother would show her how to dive on the water and the young one would reluctantly try. It was a great show of nature. We also watched dolphins play by the beach on North Captiva. The shelling was great on the next Island to the north. Chuck's favorite shell is the lettered olive (it's one of mine too) and boy did we find the lettered olives. Like his son said" Dad ,I think we are at the Olive Garden". We were indeed.  Christine had a great idea of putting the shells on driftwood for a photo. It was another great trip with a family, I always enjoy taking out. Thanks Chuck, Christine, Owen and Logan!  See you guys soon.

Powerful Clouds

I was just getting off the water, when the leading edge of a cold front pushed through. The air temperature dropped and I took many photos of these clouds until the rain would not allow any more.

Relaxing and Exploring

Last week I traveled with one of the first clients I guided as a shell guide in 1994, Hannah Millman.  This trip was nothing but relaxing and exploring and seeing old friends. Hannah and her sister Lizzy along with Clarice traveled with me to Boca Grande.  Hannah drove across Boca Grande Pass while I talked about the history of the Island sitting in the passengers seat up front. Hannah did a great job driving as we cleared Boca Grande Pass. After landing in Boca Grande we  visited old friends. Lisa Hall who makes unbelievable jelwerly out out beach glass was at Boca for two weeks( she is based out of Maine check her out). She had just returned from collecting sea glass in a location that  was intriguing.  A great time was had traveling around the island. We had lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, Temptation's. After lunch we traveled farther south in the back country exploring the nooks and crannies of Cayo Costa. I always enjoy exploring the back country of Cayo Costa and seeing old friends.

Photograpgy and Exploring

I always enjoy a trip with Paul and Koni. They are from the wonderful state of South Dakota. ( I go way back in the Dakotas) This trip Paul and Koni brought along friends, it was enjoyable to listen and watch Koni point out all of the Islands as we made our way towards Cayo Costa. I surprised Koni by taking her to a spot we had never been to before. The beach was quiet and full of solitude. Next we traveled to  historic fishouses in Pine Island Sound. The tide allowed me to get very close. Paul took many photos, and I tried to give him all angles of the light. Everyone was smiling as we finished taking photos and started our trek back to Captiva. The trip was enjoyable for Paul, Koni and there guests.  I always learn something from Paul who has an excellent eye for capturing images.   After finishing my last trip of the day I traveled alone to Cayo Costa for the night. I took many photos of the sunset at the south end  of Cayo Costa while Jennifer Nettles sang a Matt Nathanson song over and over. It is always nice being on the water at sunset, even better spending the night on Cayo Costa, even for just a few hours.

Excellent Trip, Dolphins, Sunset, and Clear Water

Wow!  I always have a plan on where we will go on a trip, but sometimes nature presents itself and you enjoy what's in front of you.  Plans A, B, and C found a dusty shelf and stayed there. That is how the trip went with Christine and Susan . We started our trip with a southwest wind and traveled to the north end of Captiva Island. We observed Manatee  in their natural environment. This was a first for Christine. The weather was perfect as we traveled across the shallow water east of North Captiva. We went into the protected harbor of North Captiva and observed the red mangroves and a historic fishouse built in 1926.  We continued traveling to the next island to the north, Cayo Costa. I brought the boat to a slow idle and we enjoyed looking at the clear water when Susan spotted a dolphin. I put the boat in neutral and we saw two dolphins cruising the grass flats in 3 feet of water. The dolphin started to get closer to the boat as we drifted with the tide. It was amazing! The water was so clear we could see them checking us out. I have not seen the dolphin this close to my boat in that clear of water ever. I took many photos. Susan, Christine and I just looked in awe. All I could muster up was "WOW" over and over as I clicked away with my camera. Twenty minutes later the dolphins decided to move on. What an experience! Next we explored a remote beach on Cayo Costa Island. The beach was tranquil. The sun was starting to get closer to the Gulf of Mexico, so we moved on.  I anchored the boat over a grass flat, thinking we could explore one more flat before the sun was down. Susan had other plans. She proceeded to pull out a cocktail flag and announce,"its sunset time, do you have a stick or something to put our flag on?" I managed to find my boat brush handle. Susan was quite the girl scout- she had brought twist ties for the flag. She went to work hoisting the flag while Christine was busy getting the cocktails ready. I just had to get a picture of this from the water, so I stepped in the water with camera in hand and took a few photos and was bitten by a blue crab on my right foot.  The sun went down while great conversations were had about plants, fossils, pearls, minerals, rocks, and dichotomous guides.  

Shelling on the Flats

On the evening of the fullest moon in 18 years, I found myself looking for seashells on a lone sandbar. My client was a retired teacher from the great state of Nebraska with her sister Mary. Many live shells were observed.  Many non-living shells were collected including rose tellins, sunray venus, one beautiful horse conch, a razor clam along with other special shells. The trip was very satisfying for the teacher from Nebraska who was an avid shell collector.  The moon was pleasing to the eye as I pointed the bow of the boat into the the moon beams on the water. Thoughts of past moons flooded my memories like a broken down dam.