Visit enough beaches on the Gulf Coast of Florida and you are going to hear about the green flash at sunset. It sounds like a legend, a hard to believe it’s true type of story but the truth is, that green flash is a real thing. We spent plenty of sunsets on the beach during our recent visit to Sanibel Island but were never lucky enough to experience it ourselves.
Another fact, taking a live sea creature as a souvenir carries a $500 fine per creature. That could be an expensive lesson to learn! We found this guy on the beach in the tide line. He, or she for that matter, was just laying there and I saw the shell first. Thinking it would be one to add to my collection, I picked it up and when I turned it over to check, there he was-a live Florida Fighting Conch!
This little guy was as curious of us as we were of him. As Darry held him up so that I could take some photos, he slowly crept further and further out of his shell.
Look at the love in his eyes…We returned him to the water and wandered on in search of that elusive green flash.
This just goes to show you that barnacles will attach to anything, including cheap sunglasses.
Sunset was approaching and so was a thunderstorm. The view from one end of the beach to the other was very different. In this direction, sunny.
Turn 180 degrees and not so sunny.
This little guy didn’t let the clouds stop him so we decided to follow his lead and keep walking on-even if there was thunder in the distance.
The sun was sinking fast and that meant we might just see that flash.
Thankfully, the storm seemed to be moving past us and no rain fell near us as we walked on the beach.
Those clouds, the colors; the camera did not catch it all and I hate adding color to the photos; it seems like cheating.
We had to wait a while, there was still at least half the sun above the horizon.
The clouds just kept getting better and better, so did the colors in the sky.
You would not have to do much to convince me to chuck it all out the window and move to the beach. Seriously, I could very easily learn to adapt to summer weather all year long and sunset walks on the beach.
With about a quarter of the sun left, we waited patiently.
To see that green flash, you need to be there just as the sun sinks below the horizon. We began walking back as the moment of truth approached and this was the last photo I took. If there was a green flash when the sun finally disappeared below the horizon, we did not see it. Thinking this means we need to go back to the beach!
If you ask me, the perfect summer evening includes a long, leisurely stroll on a beach. Slowed pace, feet covered in sand and tickled by the surf, eyes scanning the tide line in search of seashells, breathing in the salty breeze-absolute heaven. We may not be world travelers, or even frequent vacationers, but one thing is certain, we will more than likely visit a beach if we plan a trip. Over the years, we have been to beaches on the East, West and Gulf coasts but this was the first time we visited 
The stripes formed along the tidal path are just littered with shells, mostly small but still beautiful and worthy of collecting.
As I took photos, I noticed Darry doing his best “Sanibel Stoop” while he scanned the surface of the sand for treasures.
He quickly retrieved a few shells to show me, from left to right: a Scotch bonnet and two Florida fighting conchs.
It was somewhat addicting. Finding intact shells was also pretty easy and we had a bag full in no time.
So many shells…
Horse conchs can get very large, the world record shell is just over 2 feet long, but we didn’t have much luck finding anything over an inch or so!
will garden for cake 