Bill and I followed our biking buddies Jimi and Jennifer Hunter from Los Gatos, CA to Marina State Beach, and exited the Reservation Road off Highway One for a brief rest stop. This part of the beach is called Shark Bar Point where I used to take hang-gliding lessons over the sand dunes back in the 80s.
We then continued on to Fort Ord where we hooked up with six more of Jimi and Jen’s long-time friends, making us a ten person pelaton-esque group psyched with anticipation of riding on this mild sunny day. Fort Ord, once the Jewel of The United States Army is located on Monterey Bay on the Pacific Ocean. It was originally established as a military installation in 1917. Its military operations ceased in the early 1990s.
Ford Ord National Monument offers breathtaking biking trails. The landscape boasts rolling hills, many steep inclines reaching elevations of over 2,000 feet and exhilarating descents approaching speeds of over 30 mph. Cyclists can enjoy winding paths that traverse through oak woodlands, and hidden caves and circles around the Laguna Seca Raceway. Whether you’re seeking a leisurely stroll or an adrenaline-pumping bike ride, Ford Ord National Monument offers unparalleled beauty and adventure for outdoor enthusiasts.
We ended our day with a late, delicious leisurely lunch at Las Cazuelas Taqueria in Marina, and bid our interesting a affable crew farewell.
Postscript: Ford Ord underwent a transformation in 2012, when President Obama designated a portion of the former military base as Fort Ord National Monument, preserving over 14,000 acres of land for public use and conservation.
