silhouette of a dog sitting on a rocky outcrop with a large bare tree towering behind it against a light sky

two dogs standing in a leafy wooded area with bare trees and scattered green vegetation | Two large dogs walking together on a paved path next to a mossy stone wall and green grass on a cloudy day

9 June ~2012

I went down to the grove of Eleven Cottonwoods and kneeled down and placed my hand on an exposed trail root, as I have been doing for longer than I can remember. It is acknowledgement of the power of place, and home, and that no matter where I go, I return to the trees and greenery that are part of who I am.

I had not been on a plane in twelve years, so it was a big deal when two days later my daughters and I flew to Sanibel Island, Florida.

Sanibel is on the gulf side of the Florida Coast near Fort Meyers. It's east and west position catches the gulf sea currents which deposit fine sand and millions of sea shells. It is known as one of the best spots in the world to collect sea shells. Four Hundred different types wash up on Sanibel's 20 miles of shorelines.

The moon was full the first couple of days of our visit, and some of the lowest tides of the year (-.7 tides) occurred in the evening, just before dark.

Close-up of a hermit crab with an orange and white shell partially submerged in shallow water on a shell-covered beach with a person standing in the distance

 

The sea shells accumulate several feet thick next to the jetty at Blind Pass, at the junction of Sanibel and Captiva Island. If you are there first thing in the morning, you just walk around and select the best ones. Amy and Alyssa and I went there at 11pm on the last night, and walked the beach with flashlights.

bare feet partially covered with sand standing on a thick layer of small seashells on the beach Over half of our trip was under bright sunny skies, which was fortunate, since 7 days before a tropical storm went up the Florida coast.

The getting up early and lack of sleep made us all crabby a couple of times, but we managed through it. Overall it was a fantastic trip, and the best vacation I have ever had. The walking on the beach with my daughters are very good memories, as was the all day bicycle ride to the other end of the island.

I did a lot of swimming. It was pretty incredible to walk right in to the 80+ degree water, not feeling any of the cold shock you normally get on entry. We saw dolphins at the same beach I was swimming at. There are also sting rays and sharks in the warm water, but I didn't encounter any of them, which was ok.

Take a look here at the seashells Amy collected by the third day of our trip.

I am hoping to go to Sanibel again someday, whenever my daughters are ready.Sandy path bordered by low vegetation leading to a calm ocean under a sky filled with large, fluffy clouds during sunset

Shoreline covered with numerous small sea shells next to gently lapping waves under a partly cloudy sky

single scallop seashell with pink and yellow hues resting on sandy beach

various sea shells scattered on wet sand, including a prominent red and white scallop shell and a deep purple shell

Various seashells scattered on sandy beach with shadows cast across the sand

white heron standing at the edge of gentle waves on a sandy beach

Various small seashells scattered on sandy ground, with one larger orange-tinted shell in the center

purple and pink hues of a sunset over a calm ocean with a sandy beach and scattered clouds in the sky

Dusk sky with a full moon partially covered by clouds over a calm beach with small groups of people along the shoreline

Sunset over a sandy beach with people walking along the shoreline and scattered clouds reflecting soft pink and purple hues in the water

Small crab illuminated by flashlight on a shell-covered beach at nightI missed my border collies, and was awful glad to be reunited with them at the end of the trip. The next day I took them down to the Greenbelt and again placed my hand on the exposed root in the grove of Eleven Cottonwoods.

It was good to be home.

Two border collies playing and running through tall green grass

black and white dog standing in tall green grass with its mouth open and tongue out

Sunlight shining through the branches and leaves of a large tree above a grassy area with shadows

Black and white dog with bright blue eyes looking up while sitting in green grass