Sometimes, A Gal Needs to Find Some Shark Teeth

My haul! In 30 minutes I found a dozen fossilized shark teeth on Blind Pass Beach, Fla., Jan. 31, 2016
Sea Star on Blind Pass Beach, Jan. 31, 2016
Sea Star on Blind Pass Beach, Jan. 31, 2016

Sometimes, a gal needs to walk the beach and go find some shark teeth and that’s exactly what I did last Sunday. After writing my last blog post, I realized I really had not been outdoors in at least a month. Usually on Sunday mornings I go for a bike ride but because of weather and choosing sleep to recharge my batteries, I haven’t pedaled in several weeks. 

Having a few hours to myself on Sunday, I headed to Stump Pass Beach State Park with hopes of walking along the shore to the forest of ghost trees at the southern end. Silly me, it’s peak visitation season and the small parking lot was full and couldn’t find a place to park. Disappointed because I knew my soul needed some time at the beach, I drove through Englewood Beach’s lot without any success. Blind Pass Beach was my third and final option. If I couldn’t find a parking spot I’d need to turn back home.

Blind Pass Beach on Manasota Key in Sarasota County, Fla.
Blind Pass Beach on Manasota Key in Sarasota County, Fla.

Lucky me, parking spaces were plentiful (and free) and a little bit of sanity was restored in my soul. My intention was to simply dig my heels in the sand, walk along the shore and inhale the sea air. Instead, my eyes started scanning the beach for small, shiny black triangles. Specifically, these small little treasures are fossilized shark teeth and date back millions of years.

My haul! In 30 minutes I found a dozen fossilized shark teeth on Blind Pass Beach, Fla., Jan. 31, 2016
My haul! In 30 minutes I found a dozen fossilized shark teeth on Blind Pass Beach, Fla., Jan. 31, 2016

Within 30 minutes, I found a nice haul of a dozen teeth including the largest tooth I’ve ever found. Admiring the rolling surf, I crouched down with my GoPro to record the action and couldn’t believe what I saw at my feet. Grabbing it like it was a dollar bill the wind blew in, waves washed up a gorgeous, black tooth. I snatched it up before the waves returned it to the Gulf of Mexico. This unexpected find is 3 cm long (just longer than an inch) and in pretty good condition.

My Shark Tooth Selfie with My Unexpected Treasure, Blind Pass Beach, Fla, Jan. 31, 2016
My Shark Tooth Selfie with My Unexpected Treasure, Blind Pass Beach, Fla, Jan. 31, 2016

I’m one who likes structure, plans and goals and when they don’t go according to plan, my world is off-kilter. On this particular day, if I had found a parking spot at the first two beaches, I may have not found such an incredible tooth. If I had gone straight to Blind Pass Beach without attempting to park at the other beaches, I may have not found the tooth because of timing.

That day was a sign and reminder that the best things happen unexpectedly and I can’t wait to see what else the Universe has in store for me.

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Jenn

Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.

One thought on “Sometimes, A Gal Needs to Find Some Shark Teeth”

  1. have looked for S T on every trip to Myrtle Beach and cant believe i passed one up yesterday because i didnt think they were ever that big!

    would you be able to list the beach route you could suggest in Fla for walks? out of town visitors only find the bigger, advertised locations

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