SANIBEL, Fla. (WINK) — Hurricane Isaias stirred up the Gulf, and now shellers on Sanibel are finding remarkable treasures washing up on the beach.
On Sanibel Island, the best treasures aren’t buried — they’re washing right up on shore. Susan Blaisdell wasn’t about to miss out.
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“This morning I got up at five, and I thought, you know what, I just got in my car, and I got here, and right away I just started finding them,” Blaisdell said.
She has the bucket to prove it. After Hurricane Isaias moved north through the Gulf, shellers flocked to social media to share their incredible finds.
Storms can stir up shells offshore, pushing them toward the beach. For Julie Bergan, that was reason enough to make the trip.
“I have such a big collection at home that I’m really picky about the good ones that I wanted to take home,” Bergan said. “But I also, as a hobby, I paint shells. So if I see some, I get them for painting.”
She turns her finds into little works of art, often giving them away to strangers. While Bergan is still searching for the one special shell, Blaisdell says there’s something about being out here that keeps her coming back.
“When you’re doing this, it’s just like there’s no one else in the world,” Blaisdell said.
But as these shells wash ashore, Blaisdell is also thinking about the communities hurt by the storm. She remembers what it was like when Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida.
“If you’re able to help, help, because Lord knows that when Ian hit, we had so much help here,” Blaisdell said.
It’s easy to see why so many people love shelling on Sanibel. You never know what the next wave might bring in or what you’ll find right beneath your feet.