It was a spectacsheller day of shelling on the Captiva Cruise’s iLoveShelling shell seeker boat adventure to the secluded island of Cayo Costa yesterday. There were so many different varieties of shells that were found on our treasure hunt but I was especially excited for Karen from Kentucky when she showed me this awwwesome SCOTCH BONNET she picked up. Boom Shellalaka!
I was so much fun to meet and shellebrate with Karen’s whole family Tim, Elizabeth, Jane, (Karen) and Lesley after having such great finds…
But hold on. Karen wasn’t the only one to find a SCOTCH BONNET. Oh yaya… Two SCOTCH BONNETS were found! Shellzam!
While on the boat ride back, we were showing off Karen’s SCOTCH BONNET when I saw Megan from Ohio holding the same shell in her hand too. OMG! We had to get these two gals and their shells together for a photo. Here are super shellers Karen and Megan!
I found out that Megan and her family were having a fun game going on for their vacation… The Shell-Oympics. Ha! They set rules and points for their shell finds to try to take the gold medal- so cute! But I think Megan just pulled ahead but they still have the rest of the week. Â Here are the other Shellympic athletes Gary and Amber with Megan. (So Sorry I didn’t get mom in the photo!)
That’s not all folks. Seconds of stepping off the boat (seriously, I’m talking seconds), Hunter from Georgia saw a small part of this LIGHTNING WHELK sticking out of the sand so he reached down to unbury this beauty. Way to go Hunter- I should call you ShellHunter instead of just Hunter! Now that’s what I call finding buried treasure.
Hunter’s brother Walker spotted this BABY’S EAR by walking around to the gulf side where the shell piles had formed around the tree roots. Hmmmm… I think I’m channeling my Cherokee in my blood… I really want to give him a name too. ShellWalker! (You saw that coming, didn’t you?) Way to go ShellWalker!
I was so happy to see Sheri Zipp and her daughter Samantha on the cruise with us too. They have been coming to Sanibel for years and I met Sheri almost 4 years ago when I first started this blog and she was one of the first people to ever comment. I’m forever grateful for all of your encouragement. …and…Â Nice WORMIE!
I was thrilled for Diane to find this gorgeous LIGHTNING WHELK with such deep color.
The Millers from Michigan were finding gigantic SOUTHERN QUAHOGS (I wish I had gotten a close up of those QUAHOGS. They were ginormous!) and lots of OLIVES…
Sweet Teri traveled all the way from California to vacation on the gulf coast of Florida to find shells.
She was filling up two different bags of shell. Her first bag was for the larger shells like the GIANT ATLANTIC COCKLES and SOUTHERN QUAHOGS then the other bag was for the smaller shells like the JINGLES, SCALLOPS and those two fab WORM SHELLS shown here…
Ha! I met William and Sarah at the wooden bulkhead on Sanibel the other night and they showed up at the cruise too! They always have such great smiles and were tickled to find this nice size old HORSE CONCH … aka- a great yard yard shell. They said since the other side isn’t completely there, they will use it on their front porch or in the garden when they take it back to Kentucky.
Happy 40th Anniversary Wendell and Mary! Awwww. That goes to show you- couples that shell together, stay together. heehee. You are a beautiful couple and you both still look like kids!
Eddie Maguire and his wife Beth were on the cruise too. I met Eddie on the iLoveShelling facebook page as he always has such nice and positive comments so it’s finally nice to put a face with the name. So nice to meet you both! (Oh gosh Beth- I didn’t realize your eyes are closed but you are so cute even with your eyes closed, I didnt think you would mind.)
 We all really had such a good time and it was a pleasure to hang out with so many awesome people who love to shell just as much as I do. It’s always such a bonus to be able to take shells home as memories of such a shelltastic day. Shells like this…
And this…
and this…
But leaving the beautiful living creatures like these CLOUDY PERIWINKLES where they belong on the beach and on the stumps exposed at low tide…
Thank you all for a special day filled with gifts from the sea and lots of new friends.
We have more dates planned for the iLoveShelling cruises but if you miss any of those dates, you can still hop on one of Captiva Cruises‘ other trips to Cayo Costa (or sunset cruises, or dolphIn watching cruise, or cruise to Useppa just CLICK HERE). For dates for the iLoveShelling cruises and events, CLICK HERE.Â
My husband took our visiting daughter over to Cayo Costa Sunday and we too hit the mother-load of shells. It was a fantastic day!
Wow! Great finds! Very excited to be signed up to join your on the November 7th cruise! You will have a couple of Canadian’s along for the ride. I am coming from Nova Scotia and will be bringing along a great friend from Alberta. We can’t wait!!!
I love the scotch bonnet, I would love to find one next week if I still get to come down your way. We are just waiting ….if the Gov. shutdown doesn’t get straightened we can’t come to Sanibel. PAM- I have all along thought I would contact Clark for our house hunting, we’ll give him a call once we know if we are able to take some time and looki around the area next week. ( if we are able) I know that if he can find all those fabulous shells he will find us a fabulous home.
L-O-R-E-E
Excellent finds!
It was a lot of fun to join you on this cruise Pam! Bonus was having Capt Brian piloting the boat! Sam & I enjoyed reconnecting with Roxanne as well. My gosh, has it really been 4 years of blogging?? Wow!! We will follow you as long as you continue. Hope to see you next year again!
We had a wonderful trip shelling. I think we are hooked. We may have to rent a truck to get everything home. Thanks Pam for making it a wonderful trip. Tim from West KY
I wish we could go on one of these cruises, but your November date is 3 days before we reach Sanibel. : (
Love the blog and shelling videos, been watching and reading the past few months getting ready for our first ever trip to Sanibel! Keep ’em coming.
Beautiful, beautiful shell finds. I loved the tree stump with all the periwinkles. Thanks for sharing.
Great shelling everyone. I hope to find a scotch bonnet when we’re there in February for the cruise. We scheduled our trip around our 40th anniverary too. A lot olives are around. I hope there will be some left next year! Happy shelling. Pat
We were on the July “I Loving Shelling” cruise that had to head back immediately after dropping anchor due to a fast approaching storm. We were so disappointed
not experience the beautiful Cayo Costa however just like the shells we are coming back! We will be in Sanibel this next week and a planning a Captiva Cruise as soon as the schedule is posted. Can’t wait. I hope you left us some shells! Sorry to miss this week’s adventure. Pam we will look for you at Blind Pass!
Joyce and Heather
Key West
Pam,
THX for pointing out the SMART SHELLING STRATEGY by Teri from CA:
I like her ” two shelling bag” approach of separating delicate shells from
the sturdier shells !! No more jingle shells crushed on the bottom :)
I’m now imagining a shelling apron with pockets for both kinds of shells so I’d have both hands free for those shells rolling so fast in the surf !!
Wow…2 Scotch Bonnets found on one shell trip…that must be a great spot….congrats to all who got to go.
Donnie
Wow, GREAT finds everyone!!! That scotch bonnet is awesome, great find, congrats! Looks like I missed yet another great shelling trip. ;(
One day ill join you guys! Wish Sanibel was closer!
Mary Ann
East Granby. CT
wow scotch bonnets are my favorite.
Holy cow- I love that picture of the CLOUDY PERIWINKLES!! Gorgeous colors!!!
Wow! Looks like there was PLENTY for everyone ! Loads of really good finds! I LOVE going over to Caya Costa. Or last trip down we rented a boat for the day (2x’s) and were sure to go there…that was before I knew about your blog or your cruises! Only found out about “you” right after we got back! We will definitely be back and I’m sure you will see us one day! Oh and that horse conch…slightly broken on the other side or not, I’d be THRILLED to find it!
We had a great time and great memories! Hunter and Walker love their new names!! Thank you Ms. Pam for taking up so much time with Walker, he was so excited each time he found a different shell and looked for you so he could show you. Thanks also to the sweet lady on the trip who gave him the pretty shells, he is so proud of them.
Pam we had such a good time ! It’s was so nice to meet you, love iloveshelling. You are so sweet to share your knowledge about shelling. I found an alphabet cone yesterday I was soooo excited. Hope to see you again on another shelling cruise. Thanks take care and always may you find good bling or shells or just enjoy the weather !! You live on a beautiful island :-) Mary and Wendell
I LOVE the nicknames !!! Also wondering if MEGAN and her family would SHARE / POST the SHELL – OLYMPICS scoring that they used ! What a GREAT idea !!!
Hi Pam, when I place a “comment” there are three options for following posts. The 1st & 3rd seem to be very similar (by OR. via). Not sure what the difference is there. Also, I posted a comment with a question – Which option will email me if there is a reply directly to my original comment. I assume option 2 is getting an email from any comment to your blog. I hope this makes some sense !! hahah … not sure how to explain it any better…
Omigosh! Honestly, I dont know since its been in place for a long time and Ive never been asked ( Honestly I forget what they say- eek). I’ll have to log out and play around trial and error (thats how I do EVERYTHING LOL) then I’ll get back to you and let you know…. or does anybody else know the answer of what she is asking?
Here are the 3 options …
1. Notify me of follow-up comments by email.
2. Notify me of new posts by email.
3. Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail
I’ve tried all of them and none seem to do what I was thinking which is “send me an email when a comment of mine is replied to” … the 1st and 3rd both send many emails to me every time someone replies to your blog. the 2nd option sends an email whenever you post a new days blog (which we already get since we are subscribed). Hope this helps.
I’ve looked in to it and I dont have an option for an email notification on followup comments on only your comment… just all comments for the post. So sorry! I’ll put on my geek glasses and hat and look for a better solution, then I will definitely change it. LOL
Thanks for letting me know!
Yours Truly, BeachGeek :)
PS- I’ve learned how to build this whole website on my own and once I learn something to put it in motion, then for the life of me, I cant remember how I did it after 6 months. Its gone. Boooiiinnnnggg!
What a gorgeous fresh-looking bonnet!
Zounds, your group really hit pay di…. Pay sand! The tide Gods were kind that day! I think it’s been eons since I found a scotch bonnet. Just gorgeous finds! Did you wave your Shelly Temple sceptor over Cayo Costa?
Maybe that was it! Shelly DID wave her sceptor over Cayo Costa… and Shellokee did a Cherokee dance too! LOL
Pam, would you kindly tell me your favorite dinner dish at Traders?
Coming with all our family and precious twin 3 year old twin girls for our Thanksgiving ritual !!
Hi Seaglass, yyyuuuummmm! I dont think I’ve ever had a bad meal as Traders so I like to try to order what ever they have on special sometimes. But I order the Salmon and black beans and rice dish a LOT. Clark always teases me if Im going to order the salmon… or the salmon. Also, for lunch they have a Vegetable Napoleon dish that is out of this world and I have that a lot. its a grilled portabello mushroom with spinach, gorgonzola, and grilled red peppers- yum! Sometimes they will make that for dinner as well if you ask your server- I think it depends if they are too busy or not- dunno but if not… Salmon! :) Oh, the scallops are amazing too!
hello! my name is Alessandro Toro and i came from italy but now i live in barcelona and i like so much your videos that you do of sanibel. i’m 13 years old
Hi Pam Rambo, how are you? i’m Alessandro again and i wanted to say to you if you have skype so i can see you and you can see me and that i can show you my shells. i have also two junonia that i found when i went to the caribbean islands. in the video on you tube i saw that you have a small imac. so i think that you have skype. you have also instagramso you can answer me on there or answer on iloveshelling.com. thank you so much Alessandro
Hi Alessandro! I’m doing great, thank you. And thank you so much for watching and liking my videos and hanging out here with us… But Im so sorry, I dont do Skype. Yes, I put photos on Instagram and Facebook (and so many other social media sites) as well so I don’t have time for me to get into skyping too- sorry! But if you have a Facebook account, you can share your shell photo on https://www.facebook.com/iLoveShelling . Have a great day!
I’m jealous of the Scotch Bonnets! That’s a shell on my sand bucket list.
I also love the beautiful bright pink scallop that Teri found. That one little shell makes me want to hop a plane to Sanibel and sleep under the causeway if necessary. LOL
Oh gracious, in the 40th anniversary picture Mary has such a huge angel wing! And not broken in the least! Congratshellations Mary!