Beach Finds

For about 22 years, I walked the beach in front of the campground and state park for innumerable hours at different times of the year. I walked to a pier about 2 miles up the coast if the tides were not going to affect a swash where I had to cross both going and coming If it was going to be high tide during the walking time (always morning) I walked south in front of another beachfront campground and past it for about 3 miles. It didn’t matter if it was windy or cold, I found walking to be an experience in itself - a special feeling of freedom and peace.  Countless times I brought back multiple varieties of shells, rocks, dead starfish, dead horseshoe crabs, mermaid’s purses, egg cases of other mollusks, assorted other echinoderms, bivalves and gastropods, and diverse examples of marine life. 

A favorite thing to do after I returned was to wash and dry out all of my finds and then research each treasure.  I then could name my things and know all about them. The greatest part of the gathering was then to show others, whether they were friends or strangers on the beach conducting similar searches. 

I regret not taking enough good pictures of my finds, but today, I decided to preserve my shark’s teeth via camera. I haven’t decided what to do with them, yet. I may go to the pier and give them back to the sea, even though I’ve been offered $ for them by fellow beachers. They are not spectacular, but each and every one meant that I had to bend, pick up, put in my pail, bring home, wash, dry, and store them. One was brought back to PA when an expert from the Smithsonian was in this area at a fossil display and identified it as being about 1,000,000 years old! I had him write down its name and age. That is my best treasure. None of my teeth are large like some you can see in museums. but it sure was fun to find one - of any size!

click on image to view larger

Several years ago I gave a large  glass jug of frosted beach glass pieces that I had found to a local wire and glass artist-link- who now has a booming jewelry business. In return she made a glass and driftwood mobile for me and it hangs on my porch whenever I’m here.

Beach Peace Video link

This 'n That

Not much going on here recently. Friends that come in to camp are now leaving for home, meaning that they will travel back to Canada, OH, NY, PA, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, WV and TN. So many of us have been "beach friends" for so many years and every year there are those who don't arrive due to health or other circumstances.  Of course we make new friends, but sure do miss the ones from the past. Actually it is a difficult time - saying "Good bye" and hoping to meet again next year. 

The newer friends are learning how to dry out the sand dollars, starfish, sea urchins and other finds and they are eager to learn the tricks we older beachcombers have been doing throughout the past years. They are hungry to know the names of the shells and other odd sea gifts they find on the beach. We old timers are now becoming the 'great educators' in this area of learning. 

A couple of years ago, I bought little plastic ziplock bags and inserted one of each shell and odd specimens that I had collected right here from this campground's beach. I then took garden spikes and wrote on them the name of the shells and other items for quick and accurate identification purpose. 
The large handled bag containing the collection has been to local schools and exhibits and now rests in a young collector's possession. She has promised to help others who are interested in identification and collecting as I have done for so many years. It is a hobby that has been very rewarding for me and now is being passed on. For the opportunity to share this knowledge I am feeling very fulfilled.

So....I will most likely not give away my shark's teeth collection or my fossils but all other collected items have been distributed and a happy former SC beach lady am I.