Part Fossil, Part Nature, Part Art, and Part Friends

[minnbuckeye]

Another year gone by and time to do this year's Florida Trip report. As the title says, I am going to mix and match fossils with nature, art, and the great  comradery experienced during my trip. To start with, lets provide a visual for those who have never been to Florida. They say the roads are paved with fossils. This is partially true in that fossils often form the base for which pavement is then applied. Here is an example of a bike trail in development. Thankfully I was able to extract a few nice finds before asphalt was applied. As someone recently said in a post, easy pickins!!

 

 

 

This material was obviously screen washed. The Tamiami is represented more typically in the following photo. Still easy picking, but one must look a little closer to extract it's gems.

 

 

I have developed an expansive collection of Tamiami gastropods, corals and bivalves over the years. So I limit myself to just one of each species encountered, hopefully improving on the quality in my collection. Here are some of this year's finds.

 

 

 

 

 

I mentioned part of my report will deal with nature. Here is a snowy egret that was photographed at the motel we frequent. It is known by Virgil to those that stay here. As can be seen, he is quite friendly and comes into our room for snacks!!

 

 

 

This interesting crab was seen at the beach frequently.

 

 

As was this Manatee, which preferred waist deep water, allowing us to dip into the ocean with her.

 

 

When visiting Florida, I am always blessed with an inland trip to hunt fossils with forum members. This year it was @Shellseeker that invited me on a hunt. Accompanying us was Steve (center), our guide, and my son, Tristan (on the left). Get a load of these shovels!!!!!!!!!! Initially, I suspected they were kidding and we would be using less colossal equipment.  Maybe the length is needed to keep the gators at bay. It seemed to work in that No alligator was seen.

 

 

Now just some of our finds.

 

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This is fish, not shark vertebrae.

 

 

 

 

 

SMALL bone of unknown source

 

Fish tooth:

 

 

 

 

 

These were just a few of our favorite finds. Now to regress back to nature. My wife and I met up with Jack (Shellseeker) and his wife on Sanibel Island for a lovely lunch. Say hello to Barb! Afterwards we drove through the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge  and snapped a few pictures

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The finds of the day came from Steve, who found this nice meg and gave it to my son. And then there is Jack who found this gorgeous Sloth tooth. Great job, guys!

 

 

 

Just when Jack came up with this sloth tooth, I put him to shame with mine!!!!!!

 

 

Hopefully those viewing this will not notice, mine is a dugong rib posing as a sloth tooth. Don't tell Jack! To be honest, Jack may be pulling a fast one on me. As I looked over my Florida pictures, I noticed something of concern. What is in Steve's mouth? Does it not appear to be the "tooth" in Jacks hand??

 

 

 

I will let YOU be the judge.

   

During one day when my back was tired of fossil hunting, we visited the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg. Dali was a surrealist artist who produces bizarre images in his works of art. As an example, here is a lithograph titled "Lincoln in Dalivision", when viewed from afar is a remarkable image of Abe.

 

 

 

 

This is a museum worth experiencing if in the area. 

 

 Where would a trip to Florida be without a bunch of shark's teeth to show off. Enjoy this pile of chompers.

 

 

 

 

Like Dali, I enjoy surrealism so created this for you

 

 

Another wonderful vacation must come to a close. Hope you enjoyed it!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2022 by minnbuckeye

[Tidgy's Dad]

What a jolly enjoyable, interesting and fun trip report.

Thanks for that, Mike, looks like a great trip. 

[Coco]

Hi,

 

Great  report !

 

1 hour ago, minnbuckeye said:

 

It is shameful to dare to walk on such a pretty floor !  I’m going to fall backwards (faint !)

 

1 hour ago, minnbuckeye said:

 

 

 

 

If you don’t understand, I love your shells! I’m jealous !

 

Very nice meg and nurse shark, and ray barb too !

 

Do you have more shell pics ?     (If you still don’t understand... )

 

Coco

[Shellseeker]

2 hours ago, minnbuckeye said:

 

Like Dali, I enjoy surrealism so created this for you

Fantastic  Mike,

I really had a great time and it pleases me to share those good times with good friends. I have collected a few of your photos so I can better recall the events. Thanks for the memories.

I also like many of Dali's Optical Illusions

 

[fossilhunter21]

Very cool report! Looks like you all had a good time! I love that sloth tooth you found!  You guys found some awesome fossils. Thank you for sharing, Mike! 

 

-Micah

[Ordivician19]

Fantastic post, and I’m jealous of the variety of teeth you found! That nurse shark tooth is beautiful, thank you for sharing.

[minnbuckeye]

18 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

looks like a great trip. 

  

Yes it was, Adam!

 

17 hours ago, Coco said:

It is shameful to dare to walk on such a pretty floor

 

Coco, As one walks over the surface, there is a disturbing crunch emitted. At leased disturbing to those who love gastropods and bivalves!

7 hours ago, Ordivician19 said:

That nurse shark tooth is beautiful

 

I was definitely surprised to come up with this tooth!!!

[JohnJ]

A wonderful summary and images, Mike!

 

Do you think the "shark vertebrae" could be a bony fish vertebra?

[minnbuckeye]

@JohnJ, You are likely to know much more than me. With all the shark teeth found in the area, I didn't think twice and assumed it was shark!!  Did some research and concluded you are definitely correct. Thanks!

  

Mike

Edited May 2, 2022 by minnbuckeye

[ClearLake]

Great trip report, Mike!  Looks like a blast.  I know I would have trouble trying to only take one of each species with those shells!  I would end up with buckets of them and my wife would look at me like "what the...., not more shells!!!" Haha!!