When Dan Haslam leaves from his house at the north end of Santee, he looks around at the mountain views before he heads out for a ride on the trolley or a walk. A retired lawyer, he made it his hobby to learn as much as he can about where he lives and then show and tell others about it on a walk.
When Dan Haslam leaves from his house at the north end of Santee, he looks around at the mountain views before he heads out for a ride on the trolley or a walk. A retired lawyer, he made it his hobby to learn as much as he can about where he lives and then show and tell others about it on a walk.
Haslam is an active board member of Walkabout International, a San Diego-based nonprofit formed in the 1970s to promote walking for the benefits of health and well-being. A past president and vice-president of the organization, he has led countless walks around San Diego County, including Santee.
Recently, Haslam led a walk starting from the end of the Green Line of the trolley in Santee’s Town Center. Temperatures in the high 80s did not keep walkers from showing up at 1 p.m. Many of them arrived by trolley, just as he recommended.
He started out the walk by noting that Santee has a past nickname of “Shan-tee” for its rural history. “Dairy farms used to dot the landscape out here,” he said.
A group of twelve walkers threaded through Town Center and up to River Parkway where Haslam pointed out the brand-new San Diego Christian College. Everyone stood in the shade of newly planted trees. Some construction work was still being done on the campus.
“The college used to be called San Diego Christian Heritage College, located in east El Cajon. It was founded in 1970 to teach creationism in the Bible. This new campus is due to open in about a month,” Haslam said.
As the group walked towards Town Center Community Park, Haslam pointed out a field across from Party City.
“Santee will be getting its own movie theater in a couple of years over there,” he said.
A little further down, he pointed out another field. “That’s where the new women’s prison will be going,” he said.
The group walked over a bridge traversing the San Diego River.
“All dried up now. Hopefully, this winter we will get lots of rain,” said Donna Farris, an El Cajon resident and regular walker.
This is part of the River Walk that starts in Ocean Beach and follows the trolley line in Mission valley. The goal is to have the River Walk extend all the way into Julian.
When the group reached Town Center Park, everyone made a dash for the water fountains.
“Who knew that I was going to lead a walk during a Santa Ana in November?” Haslam laughed.
When everyone had a drink of water, he led them to a spot of shade. The park was part of the original Spanish land grant of Maria Estudillo, Haslam explained. On this same land is the old Edgemoor Barn, built in 1913.
It was the County’s poor farm, the last one ever built in California. When people were sent there as a “last resort,” they were expected to raise their own crops. The buildings remained standing until two years ago when all but the barn were knocked down. Today, the barn houses the Santee Historical Society.
Haslam has several walks planned in Santee over the next several months. He plans to do a Mission Gorge hike, a river walk, and a walk to the thrift stores and bargain shops. In addition, there will be a Santee Lakes walk.
“I’d also like to host a holiday light walking tour. There are neighborhoods that really go all out for the holidays,” he said.
Though a retired lawyer, retired development director for the Gaslamp Quarter Historical foundation, and even a retired golf course manager, Haslam keeps moving.
“You name it, I’m retired from it. Except for walking,” Haslam said.
For more information on walks by Haslam, go to www.walkabout-int.org or call 231-7463 and ask for a monthly calendar of walks.
