{"id":7316,"date":"2023-04-07T16:57:55","date_gmt":"2023-04-07T23:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/?p=7316"},"modified":"2023-04-07T16:57:55","modified_gmt":"2023-04-07T23:57:55","slug":"spreckels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/spreckels\/","title":{"rendered":"Spreckels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Before 1994, the only people who could see this viewpoint were US soldiers.\u00a0 Overlooking the<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Salinas_Valley\" target=\"_blank\"> Salinas Valley<\/a> from <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fort_Ord\" target=\"_blank\">Fort Ord<\/a>, in the distance is the old community of Spreckels. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"864\" height=\"635\" data-attachment-id=\"7321\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/spreckels\/neffsprecklesew\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSprecklesew.jpg?fit=864%2C635\" data-orig-size=\"864,635\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"neffSprecklesew\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSprecklesew.jpg?fit=300%2C220\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSprecklesew.jpg?fit=864%2C635\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSprecklesew.jpg?resize=864%2C635\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSprecklesew.jpg?w=864 864w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSprecklesew.jpg?resize=300%2C220 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSprecklesew.jpg?resize=768%2C564 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Spreckels, 22&#215;28, oil on canvas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Most Americans have used or heard of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spreckels_Sugar_Company\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spreckels Sugar.<\/a>\u00a0 I remember it a staple in our pantry growing up.\u00a0 The <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spreckels,_California\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">town of Spreckels <\/a>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. \u00a0 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After decommissioning <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fort_Ord\" target=\"_blank\">Ft Ord <\/a>in 1994, it was gradually turned into a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blm.gov\/programs\/national-conservation-lands\/california\/fort-ord-national-monument\" target=\"_blank\">national monument with over 86 miles of paved roads, dirt roads, and trails.<\/a>\u00a0 Viewpoints of the monument abound of Monterey Bay, the surrounding communities, along with Salinas and the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Salinas_Valley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Salinas Valley.<\/a>\u00a0 Promoters call the Salinas Valley &#8220;the Salad Bowl of the World&#8221; for the production of lettuce, broccoli, peppers and numerous other crops.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since last May, I have been riding my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.radpowerbikes.com\/products\/radrover-plus-electric-fat-tire-bike\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RAD Rover 6+<\/a> electric bike all over Ft Ord National Monument, usually with several friends.\u00a0 This painting is from one of those rides along Sandstone Ridge Road overlooking the Salinas Valley with Spreckels in the background.\u00a0 The farming area below the ridge is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merrillfarms.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Merrill Home Ranch<\/a>, started in 1916, and grows a wide variety of produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I post a few biking pictures on Facebook from time to time, but for those who missed it, here are a couple\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"864\" height=\"648\" data-attachment-id=\"7320\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/spreckels\/neffspreckles04w-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles04w-1.jpg?fit=864%2C648\" data-orig-size=\"864,648\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"neffSpreckles04w-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles04w-1.jpg?fit=300%2C225\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles04w-1.jpg?fit=864%2C648\" data-id=\"7320\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles04w-1.jpg?resize=864%2C648\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles04w-1.jpg?w=864 864w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles04w-1.jpg?resize=300%2C225 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles04w-1.jpg?resize=768%2C576 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"864\" height=\"648\" data-attachment-id=\"7317\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/spreckels\/neffspreckles06w\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles06w.jpg?fit=864%2C648\" data-orig-size=\"864,648\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"neffSpreckles06w\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles06w.jpg?fit=300%2C225\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles06w.jpg?fit=864%2C648\" data-id=\"7317\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles06w.jpg?resize=864%2C648\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7317\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles06w.jpg?w=864 864w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles06w.jpg?resize=300%2C225 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles06w.jpg?resize=768%2C576 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"864\" height=\"648\" data-attachment-id=\"7318\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/spreckels\/neffspreckles01w\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles01w.jpg?fit=864%2C648\" data-orig-size=\"864,648\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"neffSpreckles01w\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles01w.jpg?fit=300%2C225\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles01w.jpg?fit=864%2C648\" data-id=\"7318\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles01w.jpg?resize=864%2C648\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles01w.jpg?w=864 864w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles01w.jpg?resize=300%2C225 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.donaldneff.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/neffSpreckles01w.jpg?resize=768%2C576 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Before 1994, the only people who could see this viewpoint were US soldiers.\u00a0 Overlooking the Salinas Valley from Fort Ord, in the distance is the old community of Spreckels. \u00a0 Most Americans have used or heard of Spreckels Sugar.\u00a0 I remember it a staple in our pantry growing up.\u00a0 The town of Spreckels was established [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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