Doc Mishler last rode the coast road fifteen years ago with the two horses pictured on the right: Chief Free Spirit and Keep The Faith. At that time, Doc trotted from Montana to Washington D.C., by way of California, after surviving a cancer diagnosis and its treatment and reading the book, How Then Shall We Live, a text that weighs the question, “How shall I live, knowing I will die?”
What was then a personal journey to celebrate life after beating a terminal diagnosis is now a ride to raise our awareness of hunger, in particular regard to starving children. Doc says, “There are children in the world who are so hungry that God cannot appear to them except in the form of food.”
This ride is Doc’s mission. To find out about the church community who he works with, please stop him on his way south along Highway 1.
Doc can use a place to board his horses each night, so stop to offer your place when you see him. Today he’ll depart Pescadero to travel to Santa Cruz, then on to Monterey, and then El Sur Grande, a day’s ride southbound until San Diego, where he will then head east-northeast to D.C.






28 comments
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January 9, 2013 at 8:49 am
meade666
Haven’t seen one of your posts for quite some time. Good to rec. this.
Meade
January 9, 2013 at 9:10 am
bigsurkate
That will be an interesting ride on Highway One through Big Sur. if he gets out Ramona way (east of San Diego), he can house his horses at my brother’s place. He has mules.
January 9, 2013 at 9:19 am
Rocken J
I’m her brother and will keep an eyes and ears out for him.
January 9, 2013 at 5:42 pm
coastroad
Hi you guys: I believe Doc didn’t depart Pesky today as there were no horse dookies on the coast road, such as there were every few miles between HMB and Pesky yesterday. I’m hoping that my belief is true as its quite cold and stormy tonight. I’m trying to find out who put up Doc and his three steeds.
January 9, 2013 at 5:44 pm
coastroad
It’s not its.
January 9, 2013 at 5:47 pm
coastroad
Hello Meade!
I hope all is wonderful with you and your coast road travels?
Yes, I used Twitter last year. I wasn’t inspired to blog. Doc inspired me. He embodies a J. Smeaton Chase adventure!
January 16, 2013 at 2:58 pm
grandma jo
Jan 16 2013
I was just out in Pescadero , He said he had to rest the horses for about a week and was heading wherever the good lord will take him. Quite a sight and I wish him all the luck.
January 16, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Denise
I visited with him briefly in Pacifica on January 4. Glad to hear he made it to Pescadero (not sure if took PCH along Devil’s Slide or the The Old Coast Highway bypass?). I’ll be heading down to Watsonville on Saturday – will keep an eye out and some carrots
January 27, 2013 at 12:57 pm
coastroad
Grandma Jo and Denise, I am so glad that you wrote in. I hope others do the same, to keep us updated on Doc’s progress south.
January 28, 2013 at 1:30 am
coastroad
Doc Mishler is riding the Big Sur coast now!
January 29, 2013 at 8:23 pm
Heather
Saw him tie up at a bar in Moss Landing. Glad I follow your post. Allowed me to know who he was. Neat! Thanks!
March 27, 2013 at 7:53 pm
Angie & David Oropez
Doc & his horses are at the Motel 6 in Goleta near Santa Barbara
March 28, 2013 at 6:40 am
coastroad
What?! Really?! How wonderful of you to post an update. Thank you. I hope that Doc’s able to find comfy accommodations for the horses to lie down within.
March 28, 2013 at 11:19 am
Angie & David Oropez
Me 2, the horses look really tired:(
March 29, 2013 at 10:50 am
Alessandra
Glad to hear Doc and the “kids” are in warmer places, but we sure miss them here in Humboldt County.
April 7, 2013 at 11:38 am
kat
Beverly Hills/Santa Monica yesterday.
April 7, 2013 at 1:37 pm
coastroad
Wow Kat! Where in the heck I hope he found comfortable lodging while trekking this stretch of the urban coast. Thank you so much for the geographic check-in.
April 7, 2013 at 1:45 pm
Alessandra
Mandeville Canyon has some nice stables, maybe someone there could offer them a place.
April 9, 2013 at 8:12 pm
coastroad
Redondo reported: http://redondobeach.patch.com/articles/doc-mishler-rides-through-redondo#photo-13933013
April 12, 2013 at 9:44 am
mikette
04.11.2013.
Its not everyday that one meets a Hero . And not everyday, one who graces our California coastal city of Newport Beach.
And even more uncommon riding horseback with two horses in tow, on one of the most traveled streets around, PCH.
I caught up with the man, named Doc Mishler along with his three longtime horse companions, a family named Chief Free Spirit, Justice and Charity in a very busy Parking Lot on Balboa and PCH. He ‘s an original Lone Ranger with silver spurs on his cowboy boots and red kerchief around his neck.
We sat down and shared a strong cup of coffee, chocolate chip cookie; however more importantly he shared his Story and his Mission in Life.
Our hero’s name is Doc Mishler and he is on a mission to “Raise Awareness in the Hope of Ending Child Poverty in The World. ….con’t…..
April 13, 2013 at 9:23 pm
Erin and Chris
My husband and daughter got to see and speak with Doc today in San Clemente, last city before San Diego county. I sent my uncle, a local reporter, out to get his story and some pictures and hope it continues to help bring awareness. He had already passed our stable in San Juan Capistrano but I’m hoping he will be able to put up for the night at the stable on Camp Pendleton Marine Base. God bless him and his horses on their journey!
April 14, 2013 at 3:49 pm
Jim
Saw Doc at the Hill Street Cafe in Oceanside, CA just north of San Diego. He was eating lunch. It was very funny to see the faces of astonished passersby as he rode down the Pacific Coast Hwy. I wish him all the best!
April 16, 2013 at 6:26 am
coastroad
Thank you so much, everyone, for continuing to post Doc’s travels. This is fun! I’ll miss his presence once he heads east!
April 21, 2013 at 2:09 pm
Teresa Rogers-Marsh
Just saw Doc Mishler today in La Mesa California on Jackson
April 22, 2013 at 4:48 pm
Sherry Leiker
This afternoon on my way to pick up insulin for our just diagnosed diabetic cat, I was feeling very depressed. While at a stoplight nearing my turn, a man on a horse with two others in tow passed on my right on a busy road in Kearny Mesa, CA… I had to find out what this was about! Because of traffic neither of us could stop for long… he handed me a folded piece of paper that partially told his story. I was elated to learn about his quest – making mine feel more manageable. When I got home I went online and found many resources with his name and found that he has touched many… and help keep his journey updated!
April 23, 2013 at 7:05 am
coastroad
Thank you Teresa from La Mesa and Sherry from Kearny Mesa. Is it that our man is now headed east, or are these safer routes upon which to travel further south? I hope folks are telling Doc that we’re all following his trip!
May 28, 2013 at 12:32 am
Kitty Kladstrup
We met him tonight in Newberry Springs, California in the high desert between Barstow and Baker en route to Las Vegas. Wow! We had seen him by chance on Los Osos Valley Road in February of this year, and now here he is, overnighting at a friend’s ranch on the Old Spanish Trail, along the dry Mojave River en route to Las Vegas. Godspeed!!
May 28, 2013 at 4:37 pm
mikette
Wow, dont know how Doc does it especially in this heat. I hope the horses are ok. Last time, I thought Charity was limping a bit but he said she is ok and this is how Tennessee Walkers , walk! God Bless your friends for letting Doc and his horses rest overnight at their ranch. Good Deed. Thanks for the update. I believe Doc s headed for Colorado? Take care.