People get really creative when they are on vacation. I come upon all kinds of sand sculptures while walking along the beach. Here is a nice one I found while taking an evening walk on Sunset Beach, which is at the south end of Treasure Island, in Pinellas County, FL.
The words, FLORIDA ‘08 are highlighted with broken shells. I like it.
I wasn’t expecting much of a sunset because of the hazy, overcast conditions over the Gulf, but I got a pleasant surprise. Upon nearing the horizon, the sun broke through the clouds and went down in style. I love it when that happens!
[Lettered olive (Oliva sayana)]
One evening during March as I was walking along St. Pete Beach I discovered hundreds of these live lettered olive shells by the water’s edge. They are one of the most beautiful shells to be found on Florida beaches because of their intricate patterns and because they have the most brilliant shine you can imagine.
They are often overlooked because they move very slowly and spend much of their time half buried in the wet sand. I pointed them out to several families playing on the beach and they were amazed that they had not notice these beautiful shells.
If you want to take one home, please wait until you find one that is not alive. Better to leave the live ones to grow and reproduce. It isn’t hard to find olive shells that are no longer living.
[Photo taken on North Beach at Fort Desoto Park, right on Bunces Pass]
I love this photo because of the way the Skyway bridge asserts itself so significantly. This beautiful bridge is a link between Pinellas County and Manatee County. It is the only practical route for me to take when driving back to my hometown of Bradenton to visit my parents, or to enjoy my favorite beaches in Florida on Anna Maria Island. My dad actually worked on the construction of the original Skyway Bridge span (not this current, new bridge). I drove this bridge twice each day from 1997 to 2002, when I lived in Bradenton and worked in downtown St. Pete. Many people are afraid to drive on the bridge, but I found it to be a beautiful and mind-clearing experience.
The above photo was taken on a weekend morning in early summer on North Beach, in Fort Desoto County Park. This beach was chosen by Dr. Stephen Leatherman (Dr. Beach) as the number one beach in the nation for 2005. It is a great beach. The sand is pure white quartz crystals, like sugar; the water is shallow and calm; there are usually lifeguards on duty; and the beach is unspoiled by homes or buildings (just the concession building). I generally prefer coming during the week when there are fewer people. Come here early morning on a weekday and this is a very, very quiet place. Take a walk up to Bunces Pass and enjoy the view of undeveloped Shell Key. It is also a superb place to enjoy a quiet sunset. And this park has some pretty big raccoons. If you are here at dusk you will see them scavenging the picnic area and the beach.
