Louie's World, Part Two — Zip Line to Cabin

Louie’s home on the other side of the Garcia River

His home inspired by image from Shelter, at lower right

Getting Across the River

In the summer, when the river was low, Louie could drive across in his four-wheel-drive Tacoma. But when the river was high in winter, he got across on two 500-foot zip lines.

These cables span about 500 feet. The first time I climbed up the tower and looked down (photo at lower left), I said, “No way.” “ No,” he said, “just let go.” And I did, and it was incredible — exciting, but I somehow felt safe — and I came into his landing platform on the other side. Click on these photos — if you have clicked on the headline to get this on your browser — to get full size.

Here’s a video I shot one day crossing the river. Louie and I had a duck dinner in his cabin:

I was going to have to go back across the river (my bedroom was in his shop), in the dark and it was foggy, so he rigged me up with a plastic bag so I wouldn’t get wet.

I tell ya, climbing up to the platform on the cabin side of the river, and not being able to see more than 5 feet in front of me, had my heart in my throat. I hooked up, trusted Louie, and launched into the blackness. Zoom, over the raging river and safely onto the landing platform.I was stoked, and going to live another day.