3 Doors Down - When Im Gone
The first time I saw the Santa Ynez Valley was back when I was just a teenager I heard from two friends that since I love horses, I ought to come up and see it. I just wasn't prepared for what I saw. When you leave Santa Barbara and come through the San Marcos Pass, you look out on that valley for the first time. It's like Shangri-la. I mean, it's just incredible. I fell in love with it. When the Express decided it would like to open rehab/rescue/adoption facilities for its paper ponies, I chose here. It's just wonderful.
There's no congestion, no pollution of any kind. There are no lights around. So you can really see the sky (gaze late enough and you can see the milky way!), and there's no noise, not a sound. Out here you've really got some peace and quiet.
People up here are really into horses. It's not like it's just a hip thing. It's a way of life. There are old working cattle ranches that are like stepping back 50 years in time. If you want to work on a roundup, you can do that. I'm not talking about kidding around. Your have to know what you're doing.
When we have visitors, we usually just drive them all around. Just the scenery of the place is spectacular. Santa Ynez is an old ranchers' town that still has the original buildings. It's like driving onto a movie set.
If you're up here, the place to eat breakfast is The Long Horn Coffee Shop. If you haven't been in the Long Horn or the Maverick Saloon, which is next door, you've missed everything. It is impossible to conceive we're a little over two hours from Los Angeles. Along with North Star Stud, ReRun is paradise. It's really paradise!
3 Doors Down - When Im Gone