Jim Fisher, a powerful swimmer, was on the Lowell High School (San Francisco) swim team in the early 1950s. The first time I ever went swimming in the ocean was when Jim and I went across the Great Highway from Fleishhacker Pool after a swimming meet, and went body surfing. It changed my life — the blue sky, the blue water, the waves…

After graduation, Jim went to Hawaii and, along with other haole California surfers, surfed the biggest waves they could find. I realize that this photo is blurred and scratchy, but It’s one of my favorite surf shots. There’s just something about it that grabs you. Jim said he almost drowned on the wipeout that ensued.

I came upon this beautiful arrangement of beach objects at Muir Beach last night as the sun was setting. Mac Murphy, who often swims in the cold ocean sans wetsuit for 20 minutes or so, made it. He picked up the feathers — a lot of dead birds last night, and created this lovely circle.

Shelter Publications

In the midst of production of the driftwood shacks book, I discovered three more at Salmon Creek, Sonoma County.