8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 10-16, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com 831 “Let’s take a detour and pay our respects to Comanche.” Pedaling an e-bike, Jeff Lindenthal stretches his arm to his left, signaling a turn to Trail 14 from the intersection of Jerry Smith Corridor and Watkins Gate Road that leads to the gravesite of the former Fort Ord’s last ceremonial horse. The detour is no more than a few minutes of winding through a single-track trail, still slightly soggy from the rains of the previous week on this mid-March morning. Comanche’s grave is marked by a picket fence, with a framed photo of her and Sgt. Allan MacDonald from 1983, along with her four horseshoes nailed to a post under a sign that spells out her name. The grave is near the former parade fields, and adjacent to a long concrete trough where war horses got their drinks. It was probably her favorite spot on the former Army base. Dotted throughout the ground are recently bloomed yellow flowers, surrounding the grave and a bench that bears MacDonald’s name almost like a ground cover. Lindenthal pulls out his phone and opens the Seek app, and as he hovers it over the plants, their name is revealed: Footsteps of spring. It was the last day of winter, and signs of spring were everywhere on Fort Ord National Monument: vernal pools are building up along the trails, while other native plants are beginning to bloom, one of which prompted Lindenthal to stop his bike on a downhill portion of a trail to identify the brilliant red warrior’s plume popping up along an embankment. Lindenthal and his wife, Melissa Smedley, are leading this Weekly reporter on a tour of Fort Ord National Monument by e-bike. The Corral de Tierra couple are the owners of VineCycle, offering regular tours of the former Fort Ord as well as vineyards in Paso Robles. The two-hour tour, which is permitted by the Bureau of Land Management and County of Monterey, covers about 12 miles of terrain. There are some hills and sharp turns, but they are easily gobbled up by the capabilities of the Specialized Tero hardtail mountain e-bike. E-bikes in particular make biking Fort Ord accessible to all—whether they are in good biking shape or not. One steep hill on Hennekens Ranch Road, for example, was effortless in sixth gear, thanks to the highest level of assist on the bike (known as a Class 1 e-bike, the electric motor assists pedaling up to 20mph). Lindenthal and Smedley started VineCycle in 2021, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, where outdoor activities offered a safe escape for people holed up indoors to prevent the spread of the disease. The husband-and-wife duo are “bike people,” Smedley says, noting that they met each other while on a bike tour. Their interest in history, agriculture and the natural environment, coupled with their love of bikes, were the perfect combination for a business. “Bikes have always been part of our life,” she says. “There’s never a bad day out here in Fort Ord.” Smedley notes the tours are tailored to the group. If the group isn’t interested in the military history (which has plenty of stories to share, such as when Jimi Hendrix completed his Army training at Fort Ord), the guides will shift to describing the vast diversity of flora and fauna on the 28,000-acre property (Smedley is particularly fond of the ramalina, a lichen that hangs from the oak trees). On their tours, Lindenthal and Smedley come across many people, especially locals, who say they have never visited the national monument, despite living in the area their whole lives. The tour guides use their knowledge of the area to introduce people to the incredible natural resource that is right in their backyard. “Bikes have a way of bringing out the best in people,” Lindenthal says. “The opportunity to share the joy of cycling in an incredible open space, and also share stories, is really rewarding and worthwhile.” VineCycle guided e-bike tours of Fort Ord National Monument are available on a regular basis. For information, visit vinecycletours.com or call 901-6931. Scenic Cycling An e-bike tour of the former Fort Ord brings the military and natural history of the area to life. By Erik Chalhoub Jeff Lindenthal (in the lead) and Melissa Smedley (at the rear) lead a tour of Fort Ord National Monument. The owners of VineCycle love to introduce the monument to locals and visitors alike. “There’s never a bad day out here in Fort Ord.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Call today to get your message into this annual glossy magazine celebrating our delicious county. FOOD AND DRINK IN MONTEREY COUNTY THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BEST OF MONTEREY BAY® Eat+Drink Published by Best of Monterey Bay® Eat+Drink 2024-2025 | FREE cover_E+D_24.indd 1 4/19/24 11:49 AM ADVERTISING DEADLINE: April 14 PUBLICATION DATE: May 2 FOR MORE INFO: 831-394-5656 sales@montereycountynow.com
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