The Ashby Shoal picnic

Just to prove that you can live in a place for 40 years and yet still know nearly nothing, today I learned about the biannual Ashby Shoal picnic.

While today's picnic was covered by SFGate, I have to say I really enjoyed the Berkleyside article from last summer's event.

Though Kamen organizes the event, it’s an all-hands-on-deck affair.

Kathy Baylor, a retired hydrogeologist cum dragon boat member, brought donuts. David Janinis, a veteran sailor who sailed with Kamen to Hawaii, was “the pancake guy.” Phil Freeman, arriving in a kayak, brought kindling for what became a classic, triangular-shaped campfire. The scent of coffee brewing in a white enamel pot combined with the salty air. Pember sampled eelgrass, the local delicacy lying horizontal in the low waters.

For nearly a decade, I crewed occasionally on a 36' Hunter owned by a close friend of mine, and berthed in the Emeryville Marina. That's a wonderful location to keep a boat, but it's a tricky place to get in and out of (not that sailing in the bay is easy from any home base, the bay is a very challenging place to be a sailor). We never ran aground on the Ashby Shoal, although once, many years ago, we ran aground on a similar sand bar up in San Pablo Bay off the Pinole shoreline. Happily, we were able to free her and we continued that day's adventure without further incident.