Horseneck Clams, Butter Clams, and a Summer Sham

Weather at Doran Beach

Here in the Capital of California, the City named after the Blessed Sacrament, the weather is forecasted to be above 100 degrees for the next couple of days.  After all, the official date for summer, 21^st of June, has past.  The last few days spent at Doran Beach, 120 miles driving distance west of Sacramento, it appeared like the summer will never come.  It was rainy, foggy, and wet the majority of the time; the first time in my camping experience of over 20 years where we couldn’t get the camp fire going.  The warmest day was around low 60 degrees.  But looking on the bright side of things, like all superheroes do, it was not Blow-Dega Bay.  There was hardly any wind, so the shade canopies stayed up the entire time without being blown away.

Look, ma: no wind!

Since there's no wind, let's put both canopies up.

Accommodation

This is my second time digging for Horseneck and Butter clams and my third time camping at Doran Beach.  The past two times camping at this location, the wind exceeded 20 miles per hour.  Although our tent withstood the wind, the noise from the wind was to be reckoned with.  This time, I decided to try sleeping in a seven-passenger van with 2 adults and 5 children for two nights.  Have you heard of the story of a Great King, who chose to abandon his castle for a tiny manger?  Two nights in a van with seven have enriched my experience and appreciation for that truly Great King.  Below is a picture of four kids inside the van.

Move over, where will the other three sleep?

The Tools

Staying warm, dry, and eating well was the key to a successful camping trip as I learned from my friend in Rhode Island.  Digging for clams at Doran Beach required pretty much the same things with the addition of the following items: waders, long handle shovels, pvc tubes, knap sacks, scooping tools (metal bowls would suffice), and a couple of 5 gallon buckets with covers.  There were so many ways of digging for clams.  The hardest part was recognizing where they resided.  They buried themselves anywhere between 18 inches or DEEPER!!!  I don’t believe I caught one above 18 inches.  It was an exhilarating experience, but at the same time I do not recommend it for the faint of heart.  You must first wander around looking for the mouth of the clams, or water squirting out of the holes that the clams were hiding.  Once found, you start digging and don’t bother reaching down and feeling for the clams until around 18 inches deep.  It will take a few observation trips before you get the hang of it, unless someone shows you.  Fortunately, Team United, Inc. has Grand Master Fisherman who did all the initial work and showed the rest of the team how to do it right.  We were all successful.  The added bonus was the crabs that were crawling around. All you had to do was pick them up!  Wahoo!

Uh, who's looking for the clams?

You need super powers to carry all the tools.

The Captain

Jetty Master and Young Buck

The Wiz and Master Fisherman

Team United, Inc.

The Lessons

I learned so much from these two clam-digging trips that I can write a book on the subject.  It was hard back-breaking work.  To be successful, you must be willing to get muddy.  It is best to work in pairs. While one digs, the other can scout the locations of other clams.  Good thing there are hot showers available at camp for $1.50 in quarters :-)

Grand Master Fisherman

At the Henny Penny restaurant

The Rewards

Finally, you have to know how to prepare the meat so that you can preserve it for future consumption.  The first trip, I gave all of my catch away not knowing what to do with them.  This time I kept some to try out recipes.  I had three Butter clams today for dinner and they tasted great.  But then again, I am a “see-food” eater; I am blessed with an indiscriminating taste bud when it comes to the food I see.  I have been told that I am not a good food critic.  I wonder why?  Today I cooked a few clams with my preferred method for cooking, which is to bake at 395 degrees.  I put the clams in the oven until the clam shells opened.  I scraped away the visible black parts and ate the rest with green Tabasco sauce and lemon.

Butter Clam

Good with lemons 

We didn't catch this apple pie, but it goes well with the clams!

Have a blessed day!