Walked into a bar in Las Cruces, saw a young man sitting at a table, tattoos over most of his exposed skin head, face and arms protruding from dirty biker leathers. He was reading a book. Reading a book. We … Read More
Finding Wild
No car. No motorcycle. Not even a mule. The mountain doesn’t care. The sun fled the scene like a burglar, tossing back its last rays into the dusk. Cold crept into the mountain’s desert cusp even faster than darkness. Safety … Read More
When the Big Wave Washes Us Away
It was a windy day, like today. As I sit in my sun room and watch gale force winds sweep dead leaves from the trees, I think back to another wind that took a close friend. The grand roster of … Read More
Storm Front
A violent squall closed in fast, racing us to Everglades Cut. This was three weeks before the two young men were lost at sea. But it was a similar storm, intense, thrashing. We donned our Mae West life jackets in … Read More
12,000 Poles Down: Bootheel Disaster
Long before The Weather Channel began naming continental storms, this one will be remembered as The Ice Storm of ’09. Its widespread devastation covered Missouri’s Bootheel like a glacier. In the two counties that form the heel of the boot, … Read More
Hungry Shoppers
From what I hear, folks enjoy watching Shark Week. I lived it. Snorkeled within pole vault distance of a seven footer as she patrolled the edge of a reef off Fiddle Cay. Photographed a dozen others along the journey. Sand … Read More
Mother Ocean
I’ve seen her angry. Squalls. Tropical storms. A hurricane. Each time is a reminder who’s boss. Sailing from West Palm to Everglades Cut, she reminded me again. Two thirds of the journey, dead calm. The last five hours was a … Read More
Drive Me Crazy
After days at sea, we reached dry land and hopped in a car. Strange experience, changing from helm to steering wheel. I found myself coaxing other drivers. “C’mon, lil’ Texter, you can move on through that stoplight. It turned green … Read More