WALKING on shells by cheesecake17
Marco Island has beautiful white sand beaches ...Tides which come and go -- leaving behind treasures for the sheller who will pick up the shells left by the receding waters. You can watch the numerous sea birds who depend on shells for their survival because the shell animal is their food.
Shelling can be a wonderful experience if you plan for it and are prepared. There are several things you should do before you start:
1. Check the tides. While low tide is best because more shells will be exposed as the water recedes, you should allow time for gathering your treasures.
If you plan to walk across an inlet to a sand bar, start earlier so you won't find yourself on the sand bar at high tide. Incoming tide currents can be strong and pose a problem for your safe return to shore.
2. Have comfortable shoes and suntan lotion with you, protect the tops of your feet -- something we tend to overlook
3. Mesh bags are good for shelling as the sand and water can run through. However, small shells can get lost and fragile shells may be crushed by the larger, heavier ones, so bring a smaller plastic bag for these shells5c*
4. Starfish tend to lose their legs on the way home. Unless you have a flat surface to put them in, it is best to leave them.
Should you successfully take one home, use alcohol to cure it and then let it dry in the sun.
