Spring 2024

SHORT CUTS NEIGHBORS Jeff Lindenthal and Melissa Smedley of VineCycle Tours have created an E-Bike Tour that brings cyclists into the backcountry of the beautiful Fort Ord National Monument. Photo: Kelli Uldall S pringtime in Fort Ord National Monument typically means colorful blankets of California poppies, lupine, Indian paintbrush and other wild¾owers +uided e Fike tours Fy .eJJ Lindenthal and Melissa Smedley of VineCycle Tours showcase those native plants, plus the natural habitats and military history of this acre park During the pandemic, the pair worked with the Bureau of Land Management and Monterey 'ounty to secure perQits Jor a two hour Qile tour +uests pass JorQer Qilitary structures, cross oak woodlands, and take in views stretching from the Salinas Valley to the 4acific coast The tour loop includes about 1,100 feet oJ eleZation Kain ;ith adNustaFle pedal assist bikes, participants can pedal as much or as little as they´d like 8hat ¾e\iFility Qakes the outing especially popular with multigenerational Kroups -t also draws residents showinK the area to Zisitors ±;e´Ze Feen struck Fy the Jact that a lot oJ locals haven’t really ventured in and seen a lot oJ *ort 3rd ² 0indenthal says He sees guests light up at the scenery and wide open spaces and they also e\perience a sense of accomplishment from covering so Quch Kround ±- Nust loZe lookinK at people´s sQiles ² 7Qedley adds ±8hey Ket to this place where they Jeel like year olds aKain 8here´s soQe thinK JreeinK aFout that ² For more information, visit www.vinecycletours. ) Bike 8ours Make For t Ord’s Backcountr y More Accessible B Y R ENE E B R I NCK S 90 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 4