Hog Island Oyster Company

What would a trip to the Russian River Valley be without a day trip to the Sonoma Coast? We started driving on a foggy morning, but by the time we reached Hog Island Oyster Company the sun was starting to break through the fog.

Since it was before noon, we saw a lot of oysters being harvested and brought in for the day. Oysters pretty much cover all the underwater ground as far as the eye can see here.

The oyster are grown inside metal cages, which become overgrown with green algae. The oysters travel up a conveyor belt into a shaker; after the algae is cleaned off the oysters sit in large pools of moving water just beyond the men in this picture. There they await buyers.

Hog Island also sells clams and mussels.

We bought a mix of things from Hog Island and Tomales Bay Oyster Company, then headed to Millerton Point. It's quickly become our favorite pit stop. We went last time with C and M and fell in love with the spot. It was just as lovely this time, and we were better prepared with a cooler full of picnic and barbeque supplies.

Here's a raw oyster, ready to be slurped up.

We also barbecued oysters, grilled corn and pineapples, and cooked steaming bowls of mussels and clams in bowls fashioned out of aluminum foil. Seriously, who wants hot dogs and burgers when this is an alternative?

Happy and full, we went home to this gorgeous sight. The reflection of the trees on the water is so crisp! We relaxed, played in the water, and kayaked a little before heading off to dinner.