Clamming up

The last time I can recall clam digging on Netarts Bay was with my dad, so that has to be over 20 some years ago, maybe longer. Mom and I were tickled pink when Terry invited us to go clamming with him - especially since we didn't have to get up as early as we did to go fishing with Chris! A whole hour makes a difference in how many layers you put on for a morning on the water...

As you can see we were traveling in comfort - the new seats with BACKS are wonderful!

I didn't take my camera with me in the boat, which of course I regretted as we passed by the seal herd hauled out on one of the sand bars, and when the dozens of young blue herons were showing off their fishing skills. But once on the sand waaaaaaay up the bay, I didn't have time or hands enough to use it anyway. A dangling camera doesn't get along real well with shovel or rake handles.

We had a lovely morning, just the sound of gulls and herons, water gurgling and sand creaking, clam and worm holes popping and plopping. The sand bars are alive with a lot of different critters - such a joy to just stand and lean on a shovel handle and listen and watch as nature flowed around us.

But we were there to get clams. And we did...more than we needed! We dug Easterns and Quahogs, and raked dozens of nice Cockles. The fun part is dumping all the buckets back at the anchored boat, and picking out the best and biggest ones - and comparing who got the nicest clams! It's hard to stop digging when you run into a good site. We limited in an hour or so, but spent a good amount of time exploring and enjoying.

Terry is a born Naturalist, we always joke he was born a hundred years too early and should have been a Mountain Man. He spends a lot of time on the bays and in the hills around Tillamook County. One of his joys is sharing what he learns. A bystander on the dock asked about the clams and what kind they were, so Terry was happy to give his impromptu "clam lecture". You can learn a lot hanging around him - if you can keep up with him.

Thanks for a great morning, bro!