Spreckels

Before 1994, the only people who could see this viewpoint were US soldiers.  Overlooking the Salinas Valley from Fort Ord, in the distance is the old community of Spreckels.  

Most Americans have used or heard of Spreckels Sugar.  I remember it a staple in our pantry growing up.  The town of Spreckels was established by Claus Spreckels in 1898 as a company town to provide a complete community (including store, school, hotel, church, theater, etc.) for employees of the Spreckels Sugar Company.   When built, the Spreckels Factory #1 was the largest and most innovative sugar beet factory in the world. It operated here from 1898 to 1982, and was demolished in 1992. 

After decommissioning Ft Ord in 1994, it was gradually turned into a national monument with over 86 miles of paved roads, dirt roads, and trails.  Viewpoints of the monument abound of Monterey Bay, the surrounding communities, along with Salinas and the Salinas Valley.  Promoters call the Salinas Valley “the Salad Bowl of the World” for the production of lettuce, broccoli, peppers and numerous other crops. 

Since last May, I have been riding my RAD Rover 6+ electric bike all over Ft Ord National Monument, usually with several friends.  This painting is from one of those rides along Sandstone Ridge Road overlooking the Salinas Valley with Spreckels in the background.  The farming area below the ridge is Merrill Home Ranch, started in 1916, and grows a wide variety of produce.

I post a few biking pictures on Facebook from time to time, but for those who missed it, here are a couple…