razor clams

David, Sam and I went to the ocean over Valentine's weekend.  We took the motor home and thought we could easily get a camping spot...I mean who camps in the winter time right... Luckily a few days before we went I looked on line at the state campground and to my surprise they were full! I couldn't believe it.  I did however find a smaller one down the street that still had some sites left.  Since it was Valentine's (not why we went) we decided to make stake and lobster for dinner.  It was delicious. We did decide to go though because there was a razor clam dig.  David's never done it before and I have only went a few times with other people who knew what they were doing and I just gave them my clams so I really didn't know what to do with them after either.  We had to get a license, buy some rubber boots (I had some) and buy a clam gun to get them with.  You can only dig on certain days and times.  You have to check the state web site to see where and when.  Our first attempt went ok.  They were a little harder to spot then I remembered and a little more work to dig them. That could be because we are getting older I guess.

David's first clam

my first clam

some of the clams

The first day we got about a dozen together but seamed to dig like 50! David's back got sore so we stopped for the day.  I wanted to try again the next day.  Right before low tide is the best time to try.  We went again the next day and were a little early so we weren't finding much, but then the it must have been time because all of the sudden they were everywhere.  David didn't want to dig that day because his back still hurt but I did and I got my limit of 15 in about 30 minutes.  Yea.... It was really packed to because it was gorgeous day out and Presidents day so lots of people were off work and out of school.  Once we got home David cleaned them while I showered and cleaned up.  Then I made some homemade clam chowder.  It turned out pretty good for our first time.  We will probably go again next year.

all cleaned and ready for the soup

clam chowder