Jordan Brandt’s gentle demeanor is a stark contrast to his obvious affinity for danger. The way the Boulder Creek native sits calmly with his wife, Maria, and 7-year-old son, Cristiano, makes it hard to guess that he professionally tears up terrain on his dirt bike.
It has been at least three years since the last good albacore season. We have had small teases the past few years, but the red-hot fishing we saw in the late 1990s and first years of this millennium just disappeared.
I managed to get out of town for a short road trip last weekend, a nice run up into the Gold Country of Sonora, Columbia and Angels Camp. But from start to finish, I was reminded of the men and women fighting the fire in Santa Cruz County.
For years, the saying in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League football has been that the road to the title runs through Felton, an homage to the success the San Lorenzo Valley Cougars have achieved over many years under longtime head coach Doug Morris.
My home is encircled by fairy rings. But before you envision my dog, Bucky, and me hiding out at night to see if the wee little ones will appear, let me explain that these are rings of redwoods.