Even as he dreamt of herding cattle on ranch lands in Northern California, a body of water was ever present in that cowboy fantasy. Whether a pristine lake or a rippling river, the youngster was always drawn to the beauty these waterways imposed on the landscape. Some 60 years later part of that dream is … Continue reading “Dreams of a Cowboy”

As thick white smoke filled the air, Charlie took a moment to soak in what was about to happen. Here was this former small-town farm boy with one of the biggest action movie stars in history, who now also happened to be the governor of California. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently came into office with a decree … Continue reading “The Farmer Who Defied His Father”

The eyes of the beast hovered slightly over the water. The seemingly unworldly reptile peered across its horizon at the little girl who sat frozen in the canoe. Only a thin sliver of aluminum separated the two. With the hot Texas sun leaving beads of sweat across her brow, Maya believed “this was it.” But, … Continue reading “Like Father, Like Daughter”

From the time he was old enough to slip into a pair of waders, Jacob could be found down at the creek perfecting his fly-fishing technique. In those early days you would find the father and son fishing northern California together everywhere from Putah Creek, little Sierra lakes and the Truckee River. Many times, the … Continue reading “Chasing Nigiri”