I’ve never seen a pin (Pinna Incurve) shell with the animal still in the shell; this one does, plus an orange sponge free loading at one end. Others have sea slugs attached, but those pins inhabitant mollusk is gone. Most are 6-12” long from tip to tip with short spines at the wide end, so I’m careful not to step on them. They’re unusual enough for me to collect, but when they dry they become brittlely fragile and I rarely get them back to Ocean City in one piece. I have several mounted as part of my décor in my portable nest (a Capri slide-in camper on a Ford 150 pickup) I live in during my Adventures through the warm places in our country during the winter.
    I’ve been standing here a while watching the flock of black skimmers and marveling at all the collectible shells on the beach here in Marco Island. As far as I’m concerned this is the premiere shell collecting beach in Florida. I still haven’t determined if the pin is alive or dead.  Usually a live shell will close when it’s disturbed by handling. This one has done nothing yet, and is partially open.  I’ve already collected a dozen or so of fighting conchs to make chowder out of when I’m camped (parked).  Here at Marco Isl. I’ve taken up residence in the overflow parking lot of a shopping center that is mostly restaurants at the corner of Winterberry and Collier Blvd. I’m still surveying the shells looking for one that I don’t have and, of course, it has to be unbroken or it gets rejected.
    Konrad’s with lots of German entrées, seafood, and outstanding bouillabaisse (seafood “stew” with red snapper, mahi mahi, salmon, scallops, & shrimp & more) that I always order is simply the best meal that I’ll have in my meanderings.  Snap! The damn pin shell closed with a bang, jolting me out of my daydream of food, and catching a little chunk of my thumb.  My question is surely answered.  It’s alive! The shell is tight and I can’t pry it open with my fingers, so it’s healthy.  Back to the nest it’ll go to be steamed for chowder, or maybe become a taco ingredient. Here shell collecting is the main event.  There’re hundreds of keepers within a very few steps. You could fill a wheel barrow. Every morning that I’m here I am fascinated by the astonishing multitude of shells on the beach and it’s hot here in February. This also a great beach with powdery sand and not so crowded, because it really isn’t a highly promoted tourist place. I think the locals want to keep it to themselves, so it’s very appealing to me. Plus, I can find more restaurants here in this shopping center or close by with a variety of food than almost any place I go. Konrad’s tops the list and look for the locals bar off to the side.  Nacho Mamas a few steps away has a tremendous wet burrito that’s great drunk insurance and $1 ACBs. Rookie’s Sports Bar across the  promenade has great burgers, daily specials, and always has the Terps Bball games. There are also  seafood, Italian, and Irish restaurants here. Just a short walk away is Nene’s at 247 N. Collier Blvd. They’re famous for breakfast and inexpensive entrées and now they serve dinner with a seafood diablo dish (scallops, shrimp & mussels over pasta) that’s my favorite. Better than Konrad’s bouillabaisse? Hmmmm??!!??, that’s a tough one.  I’ll just continue to eat both! Oyster Tacos were the best tasting food I made in my camper. Guacamole (just a little mayo mixed with mashed avocado) blended terrifically with the oyster flavor along with tomatoes, peppers and onions. I froze a lot of the Marco Island conch which made many a tasty dish. My objective is get shells with the critter in it I can eat, unique ones I can add to my displays in my nest, and give some away to children of customers of my family photos on the beach.
    Sunsets are great in Marco, too. One Monday I was walking the beach near Quinn’s about that time when I heard a familiar style of entertainment and I knew he overwintered here. That place is not quite my $$$ style, but I thought I’d just get close enough to see if it was him. As I peered around the shrubbery, he shined his spotlight on me. It was OC’s Jim Long!!!  As always when he is entertaining I have a great time.
    If you and yours want to do a family photo on the beach here in OC give me a call (410-289-733), send me an email (ocfotoguy@aol.com) or go to PhotosAsYouWantThem.biz. EZ2CY photos on the beach are a SHORE THING!  I found more outstanding food at Sibone’s Cuban Cuisine on Catherine Street in Key West, Harriet’s in Tavernier (MM 99.5) has a great breakfast, Cracklin Jacks, Rt. 951 9080 Collier Blvd in Naples has the most delicious pull pork and other Cajun food, and the Fremont Casino’s Buffet in Las Vegas has everything from prime rib to Mexican food to fried oyster - all extremely good and for $10!