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California Hwy 1: A delicious adventure — Tomales Bay kayaking & oysters, Part 2
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Setting off on a Tomales Bay adventure.
John Granatir is owner of Blue Waters Kayaking and the man who will wax lyrical and with authority and passion about the Bay's unique ecosystem, stunning beauty and romantic appeal. Much of his life is spent taking people paddling — sometimes down in the Baja peninsula, Mexico.
Tomales Oysters
Centuries ago, before large-scale cutting of trees, paving of roads, agricultural development and tourism, native Olympia oysters were plentiful in foggy Tomales Bay. Intense fishing pressure depleted these oysters in the late 1800s. The University of California subsequently worked on a project to restore the native oysters.
And commercial oyster farms are now abundant. "Oysters help keep the ecosystem and climate right," said Starbird, who works in the field.
Eating Oysters
Seasonally throughout the year, Granatir and Blue Waters Kayaking offer paddling package specials, several of them with a culinary flavor. Occasionally there's one that is purely culinary.
Last Sunday, for instance, he was hosting a private party at Blue Waters' Marshall depot where people got to eat oysters and a grand meal prepared by Oakland caterers Robert and Mika Gott. But for some of his Tomales kayak expeditions, including one offered on Father’s Day this year, he fires up the pits for an oyster barbecue. Now that’s adventurous — and delicious — culinary traveling!
By road Tomales Bay is a little over an hour north of San Francisco. See the Blue Waters Kayaking Web site for the range of tours offered.
On the culinary side, these include a kayak tour with a bag lunch and oyster tasting; a kayak tour with a catered oyster dinner; a Thai food tour (yes, there’s a Thai restaurant); corporate team building (with oysters), and more.
The kayak and oyster tour generally runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It meets and ends at the Blue Waters Kayaking site in Marshall. Call or e-mail Granatir to book for this or a future paddle.
A great thing about kayaking, especially across a gorgeous expanse of flat water on a gentle day with the faintest breeze and sunshine that’s comfortably warm, is that you can be a virgin kayaker and enjoy it as much as someone who has done it a gazillion times. One of our group this past Sunday had never been out in a kayak before. She went in a double, up front, her husband paddling behind and went home eager to return.
Watch a You Tube video on an oyster barbecue at Tomales Bay.
Story copyright Wanda Hennig 2009
Photos by Wanda Hennig
or call 415-669-2600 (office) or 415-706-2526 (cell). About Tomales Bay. About Point Reyes National Seashore Association.
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