Bill Gillhespy Fort Myers Beach Realtor

The action is really starting to heat up as the carvers are allowed to start the " pound up " for their creations. The " pound up " as it is affectionately known is when the carvers, without any help, position their wooden forms ontheir designated plot of sand. The sand is native to Fort Myers Beach and considered to be some of the best inthe world.

Each wooden form is filled by shovel with sand for 3-4 inches. Then water is poured in the form and the carver then " tamps " the mixture with a 15 pound tamper ! This is brutal, back breaking work which goes on for several hours. As each form is filled to the top the carver then positions another on top of the first. At this point shoveling sand and hoisting buckets of water become even more difficult as some of them are 3 or 4 forms high !

Men and women compete against each other for top honors. No helpers allowed !

The weather has taken a turn for the cooler and some dark menacing clouds threatened to risrupt the hard work of the carvers. The event goes on regardless of the weather !

Crowds are building for the final presentation and judging on Sunday. I'll be there! Hope your enjoying the 2009 Fort Myers Beach Sand Sculpting contest as much as I am !

The 2009 Fort Myers Beach 23rd Annual Sand Sculpting contest Day 3 was Thursday Nov 5, 2009. The individual piles of sand are in place and ready for the carvers to begin ! This picture shows a contestant assembling the forms for her entry. After the forms are in place the carver, without help from otherss ) starts filling the form with sand. After filling several inches of sand the contestant pours water into the form and uses a 15 lb tamper to pack the water/sand mixture. This is brutal work and gets even more difficult as the forms get higher and higher.

The first sculpting involves creation of corporate logos for sponsors. This is done free hand and often involves handing the carver a business card from which they must create an exact replica. In this picture you can see a business card in the left hand of the carver and her design starting to take shape !

The corporate logo pile is located directly in front of the Holiday Inn on the beach side.

Some of the amazing detail on the logos makes wandering among the sculptings a real treat !

After many hours the corporate logo pile begins to take shape !

The 2009 Fort Myers Beach 23rd Annual Sand Sculpting Contest - Day 2 photos. Things are definitely heating up as world class sculptors converge on the beach in front of the Fort Myers Beach Holiday Inn to begin carving in earnest. The first challenge is to turn what was a huge pile of beach sand into a collection of corporate logos !

These sand piles are the raw material for what will eventually be the finished sculptings. The sand is from our beach and considered some of the best in the world for it's " carving, holding and finishing " characteristics.

This huge pile of sand sits in front of the Holiday Inn and provides a terific public relations boost for the corporate sponsors. All carving is done free hand with various tools and a whole lot of patience !

Carvers will complete the corporate logo sandpile and then begin the individual sculptings.

Visitors to the island can watch the competition from the Tiki deck at the Fort Myers Beach Holiday Inn or stroll through the individual carvings. Admission ( Fri _ Sun ) is $3/kid, $5/adult & $10/family.

The 23rd Annual Fort Myers Beach Sand Sculpting contest runs through Sunday Nov 8, 2009. Bring the family and don't forget the camera ! I'll post Day 3 tomorrow ! Your comments are always welcome !

The annual Fort Myers Beach Sand Castle contest started Tuesday Nov 3, 2009. This day is used for welcoming sculptors, layout for the various locations and preparing for the first carving event. There are several significant changes in the event for 2009. Rather than spread out between the Fort Myers Beach Holiday Inn and the Outrigger Resort this year will see a smaller footprint consisting of the main activities on the beach side of the Holiday Inn and the Point Estero building. This should make it easier for visitors to see all of the entries.

Shown here is the mound of sand destined for the corporate logos of sponsors. Katie Corning, Site Director and accomplished sculptor, discusses the finer points of the sand found right here on Fort Myers Beach . It is considered to be some of the best in the world !

The Chamber of Commerce also determined that the " Master " entries would be roped off and admission would be charged starting Saturday: $3 for kids, $5 foradults & $10 for a family pass.

This is how the site looks after initial preparation. Next will come the individual sites for each of the carvers. The contest is carefully monitored and carvers are not allowed any helpers once the event kicks off.

Bill Gillhespy is a Century 21 Realtor, resident of Fort Myers Beach and loves sharing the island with visitors. 239 699-7128

A friend just sent me this joke. It has been around for awhile so for those who haven't seen this one and I have no clue as to the author !

Subject: THE DEAF WIFE

THE DEAF WIFE A man feared his wife wasn't hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approach her, he called the family Doctor to discuss the problem. The Doctor told him there is a simple informal test the husband could perform to give the Doctor a better idea about her hearing loss. Here's what you do," said the Doctor, "stand about 40 feet away from her, and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response." That evening, the wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he was in the den. He says to himself, "I'm about 40 feet away, let's see what happens." Then in a normal tone he asks, 'Honey, what's for dinner?" No response. So the husband moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, "Honey, what's for dinner?" Still no response. Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, "Honey, what's for dinner?" Again he gets no response. So, he walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. "Honey,what's for dinner?" Again there is no response. So he walks right up behind her. "Honey, what's for dinner?" (I just love this) "Ralph , for the FIFTH time, CHICKEN!"

Have a fun Sunday !