Beach comber

The beach was awash with all kinds of shells from the higher than normal tides and the large swells from Hurricane Bill's passing. So today I get an opportunity to go collecting and photographing shells for a beach comber guide that my staff and I are putting together.

I am continually fascinated by what washes up with the tide. There were whelk shells, sharks' teeth, lettered olives, pen shells, scallops, arcs, and a unique "sand collar" which is actually the egg mass of a gastropod mollusc.

Sometimes there is man made flotsam that is fascinating. I've found lights from barges, many different kinds of anchors, and most recently, a Sampson post from an old ship. The Sampson post is a strong vertical post used for attaching lines. I brought it back with me and will clean it up to put in the library at home as a reminder of another age.

So today will be another great day weather wise. And I'll get to do some photography of the many things that wash up: Treasures that many people will pass by.

Enjoy your day. I'm grateful for a lot of things today, not the least of which is having a day outside the office to enjoy some salt air, good breeze, and washed up treasures.