Oyster Roast for a Cause at the Washington Canoe Club

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Oyster Roast for a Cause at the Washington Canoe Club!!

Eat Oysters, Save the World!

OK, that may be a bit of an overstatement -- we're not really out to save the world here. Nonetheless, this event really does support a cause, albeit, one that is somewhat more modest than promises of world peace. On the upside, this one is more likely to be successful than all of those outfits promising world peace, or similar lofty goals. But I digress.

After the hike a couple of weeks ago, during the apres-hike conversation I mentioned that the Washington Canoe Club (WCC) has several crab feasts and oyster roasts every year. A couple of CKAers said that they would like to know about these events when they came up. So, with that in mind, this is your chance to have some great food, lots of it, in a beautiful place, and support a worthy cause, all at the same time!

First a bit of background. WCC puts on 4-5 crab feasts and/or oyster roasts every year. All of these events are fundraisers. Usually they support the club's general operating expenses and/or maintenance on the historic boathouse. This particular event is being hosted by our men's and women's outrigger teams, and is specifically targeted towards getting a new lightweight OC-6 (6-person outrigger canoe) for the outrigger teams. Of course, the real reason that most of us show up is because they are fun social events, and (especially this time of year) they just give a bunch of us paddlers an excuse to get together, talk paddling, eat oysters (and other stuff), and drink beer.

And speaking of oysters and beer -- there will be a crapload of oysters. Raw oysters, fried oysters, oyster stew, you name it. There will be a pretty good spread of other food as well, burgers and dogs, salad, etc. And in keeping with WCC tradition, there will be all the beer you can drink. Yeah, wine too. It is always a great feed and a great time.

This is a public event, so this is the only invite you need for the feed. That said, if there are a few people who want to come early and toss a boat in the water (proper skills and equipment), let me know, and I can help with that. Those of you who have been to the Canoe Club in the past know what a neat place it is; those of you who haven't been there owe it to yourself to come down and enjoy the prettiest place on the Potomac.

The details:

The event is $25 per adult, pay at the Canoe Club when you arrive. We'll have someone collecting and doing wristbands. (Exact change would help.)

When: Sunday March 9th at 1:00PM

The cause: The WCC outrigger racing program has outgrown the two 6-person canoes that we have been racing for the last several years, so the outrigger program really needs a third boat. Also, the club's two canoes are both heavy, Hawaiian-weight boats that are at a serious disadvantage, compared to some of the newer lightweight boats that some of the other East Coast clubs are racing.

Directions: The Canoe Club is located at 3700 Water Street, NW, in Washington, DC. Water Street is the street that runs right along the river along the Georgetown waterfront. For those of you who know where the old Jack's Boathouse (now called the Key Bridge Boathouse) is located, WCC is about 200 yards North (upstream).

Coming from any direction, GPS should get you to the Georgetown waterfront pretty reliably. When you actually get down on Water Street, next to the river, all you have to do is drive North along the river. North means that you will be driving upstream relative to the river -- you will be driving with the river on your left. Drive until the road ends at a locked vehicle gate underneath a stone archway. You have arrived. (Note: if you are using GPS, it will probably go wacko when you get down to the Georgetown waterfront, because the Whitehurst Freeway will be above you -- GPS doesn't like all that steel and concrete overhead. Not to worry -- just follow the river until you pass underneath the Key Bridge and the road ends; you're there!)

Once you get parked walk through the locked vehicle gate at the end of the road. About 100 yards ahead, you will see a green and white building behind a chain-link fence. (It is pretty easy to spot, as it is the only building on the upstream side of the vehicle gate.) Come on in, and enjoy!

BTW: There should be plenty of free parking in the area this time of year. All of the parking across from Key Bridge Boathouse is free, and there are 4-hour meters down the street towards Georgetown.