8.5 miles from PDL

talked to Darrell McNair - a distinguished looking gentleman - he drove out from his house (looked like about a 1/2 mile off the road) to check on me.

Mr McNair is retired from running a hospital in San Diego - he's the owner of the 8000 acre Via de la Valle ranch.

He said this ranch was owned by a mobster named Geonelli in the 50's... there was an old church on the property that had been there since the mid 1800s.... that was the location for a stagecoach stop.

I told him I had met Lane and Tony - the guys working on the power lines and Coy Wilson, the Cowboy.

He said, "Man - you've met all the good people around here!"

He said that Coy Wilson was a great guy and a top notch cowboy who comes over and helps with the spring and fall round-ups and Mr. McNair returns the favor to Coy - Mr. McNair says it's called "neighboring" - you know helping your neighbors out with their big tasks.

The more I talked to Mr. McNair (heck it was only 5 -10 minutes but he was the kinda guy you were just drawn to)... the more I wished I was riding through in the Spring or Fall instead of now and I could just turn the ole Trek down the driveway to Mr. McNair's house and facilities and roll up to the barn and throw my mat and sleeping bag down on some straw and just stay a while and help with the neighboring.... need more neighbors like Mr. McNair.

Mr. McNair was another great guy that I would've liked to have spent time with and got to know a little better .... doesn't have a cell phone but I got his land line #.... said he'd come get me if I needed help....all I can say is God Bless all these people!