Welcome
Thanks for tuning into my latest Deep Dive. These essays are a labor of love. I never know where my next inspiration will come from or where it will lead me, I just try and go with it, letting the words flow from my brain, through my fingertips and onto the page. Sometimes these stories write themselves, other times it feels like pulling teeth. I’m glad you found your way here. Pull up a chair, sit back, relax and enjoy!
~ Louie
A Dreamy Day On The Russian River
It was a slow, lazy glide down the Russian River yesterday. Carol and I slid our kayaks into the water on a cool, foggy morning at Steelhead Beach for the eight mile trip to Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville. One of the many benefits of retirement is being able to enjoy...
Songs We Know By Heart
Last night at the Rio Nido Roadhouse, an intimate outdoor venue on the banks of the Russian River, pre-eminent Eagles tribute band the Illeagles took to the stage. I was blow away by their musicianship and how faithfully they recreated the music of a band that is an...
The Holiness Of Redwood Trees
Some things just never get old, spending time among the giant redwood trees of Northern California is one of those things. The coast redwood, sequoia sempervirens, is found only along a narrow band of coastal California from Big Sur in the south to just above the...
A Bibliophile’s Guide To Book Hunting
I’m a hunter. My prey aren’t deer. I don’t rise before dawn to stalk lakes and marshes in search of waterfowl. I have no desire to roam the Serengeti and bag a trophy to hang on the wall of my study. I don’t own a gun. I’ve never shot a gun. A bow and arrow? Leave...
Joy, Love, Peace
The sun has just risen over the peak of Haleakala, the 10,053 foot high dormant volcano that dominates the East Maui landscape; it’s a picture-perfect morning as Carol and I make our way down the white sand dreamway that is Keawakapu Beach here on the island’s south...
Maui Stories
A Real Life Dr. Seuss Tree The coconut palm is a real life Dr. Seuss tree and a symbol of the tropics the world over. The trunk twists and turns skyward at crazy angles, the more extreme of which makes me wonder how the tree manages to stay rooted in the ground. A...
God Only Knows
The passing of Brian Wilson last week at the age of 82 leaves a gaping hole in the universe. How one man could be responsible for bringing so much joy into the world is beyond comprehension. Brian and The Beach Boys sang of surfing and cars and California girls, the...
Fern Canyon Ramble
The Fern Canyon Trail is an enchanted, serpentine meander, it follows tranquil Little River as it makes its way through the dappled forest light of Van Damme State Park on the Mendocino Coast. The voices of this gentle river are varied; shape-shifting tones that are...
Condiments On Parade
The condiments are lined up like soldiers on the formica countertop. Captain Mustard, as yellow as a frosty glass of lemonade on a July afternoon, is their leader. He stands straight and tall, his flat-top helmet reaching towards the ceiling. He’s not “mean” like...
Mr. Don’s Classroom
“Good morning boys and girls.” “Good morning Mr. Don!!” “It is so nice to see all of your smiling, white faces today. Before we begin our day, does anyone have any questions? Yes, Bob.” “Ah, my name is Roberto sir.” “In my classroom we use American names young man!”...
The Darkness
How do we free ourselves from The Darkness? Right now it is all encompassing, like the thickest of fogs. The Darkness has a physical presence that is pure evil, an impermeable coat of armor that feeds on negativity and anger, hatred and chaos. The conundrum...
Lessons From A Hummingbird
Who did you spend your morning with today? I spent mine with the elusive Rufous Hummingbird. This feisty little bird is a migrant and passes through our area for an all too brief visit each spring on the way from its wintering grounds in Mexico to its breeding grounds...