MENDOCINO CO., 8/18/25 – Leslie’s Accessible Walks offer a unique kind of walking adventure, highlighting accessible coastal routes, relaxed group strolls, and the area’s most charming scenery. Mendocino resident Leslie Krongold created the program as a way to bring people together after a life-changing personal experience that left them unable to navigate rough terrain easily.
Krongold herself underwent such an experience shortly after she and her wife and partner, Jessica Nussbaum, relocated from Alameda, Calif., to the Mendocino County Coast in August 2021. While out on a walk, Krongold fell and realized the progressive neuromuscular condition she lives with had entered a new stage. She could no longer trust her balance and says she began using mobility assistance.
Shortly thereafter, Krongold got the idea for her walks from a zoom meeting hosted by the Blue Zones Project Mendocino County that was seeking to organize local moais. A moai is a social walking group inspired by the Japanese Okinawan tradition of moai, which means “meeting for a common purpose,” such as promoting social connections and physical activity among community members.
Krongold and Nussbaum wanted to adapt the moai walks to make them inclusive, community-building and learning experiences. The pair has organized recurring accessible “walk and roll” events that are barrier-free and open to participants of all mobility levels. The outings explore the Mendocino Coast along friendly, informative routes.
A recent one of Leslie’s Accessible Walks toured the town of Mendocino’s iconic water towers. The group started out in front of the Sweetwater Tower, built in 1872 and reconstructed in 1983.
Nussbaum handed out information sheets and maps marking water tower locations. Krongold led the narration, while conversations at each stop unfolded spontaneously. Participants shared observations, personal memories, and snippets of town history, including local characters connected to each of the sites and water towers.
At one time, the coastal town of Mendocino was known as the “town of water towers,” with more than 100 of the structures dotting the landscape. According to the Kelley House Museum, roughly 24 to 30 of those original towers remain standing.
“Each water tower is a unique architectural landmark,” Krongold told the group. “They were all powered by windmills to draw water. They made so much noise—since the windmills were generally made of metal — can you imagine the sound they made between the wind and the windmills?”
While heading to the next tower, Krongold and Nussbaum talked further about the project,
The pair were asked whether they were a team in this project.
“Yeah, I’m the tagalong,” Nussbaum replied.
“Oh, yeah, not just a tagalong,” Krongold said with a laugh. “We’ve both been on this educational adventure – designed to be interactive, be a spark for curiosity, celebrate inclusivity and be about discovering together.”
Nussbaum noted Krongold’s academic background. “You have a doctorate in education,” Nussbaum said.
“Right,” Krongold said. “Most of my career was as an educational multimedia producer. I worked for software developers, universities designing web courses, and publishers. I bring that skill set into my so-called retired life—along with a love of learning and curiosity. Being up here, I feel much more engaged and inquisitive about the natural world because it’s so tangible.”
Krongold added, “I started this group for a few reasons though primarily it’s a great way for me to get a healthy dose of nature and meet new people. Yet another reason is to draw awareness to the fact that many places on this Mendocino Coast are difficult to access if you have a mobility challenge. Slowly, things are changing and will continue to change. I am a strong believer in the power of friendship; I’d rather engage with people in a friendly persuasive way than be litigious. It’s just not my style.”
“People who show up for the walks offer amazing information,” Krongold added. “We all learn. It’s very interactive.”
Martha Erickson, who joined the walk, met Krongold and Nussbaum two years ago during a Pygmy Forest Walk that Krongold organized. Erickson shared stories of what she knew about some of the towers, and she told the group that one of her relatives helped repair and rebuild some of Mendocino’s water towers.
Krongold added, “You know, you just open your front door and there’s the ocean, sand dunes, forests, banana slugs, snowy plovers. I’m learning so much about, you know, nature, history and local culture and with other people and having fun doing it.”
Back on track with the tour, Nussbaum said, “Do you wanna walk this way?”
“Yeah. Yeah. Walk this way,” said Krongold. “OK. Which number is next on Water Tower map?
Here’s a schedule for the next set of Leslie Accessible Walks:
Thursday, August 21 @ 11:00 am Nature Journaling at South Noyo Harbor. Meet at Grader Park near the Fisherman statue. We’ll briefly discuss nature journaling, but you won’t be pressured to draw. Feel free to bring your sketchbook/journal and writing instruments if you’d like to participate. Noyo South Harbor refers to the southern portion of Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg, specifically the area around Grader Park. The area is accessible from Hwy 1 to Hwy 20 and turning LEFT on South Harbor Drive, following the road to the boat ramp, continue to the RIGHT on South Harbor Drive. Grader Park is on your left and a large parking lot to the right.
Wednesday., September 3 @ 12:30 PM Join us for a Tree ID Walk! Meet at the front gate to the Big River Haul Road and discover the plants around you. Our goal: for everyone to leave knowing at least one new tree or shrub by name. Bring your plant ID app, reference book, or your own knowledge to share!
Tuesday, September 16th @ 1:30 PM C.V. Starr Center. Join a Garden Friendly Community Fort Bragg member for a stroll through the South Lincoln Street Community Garden. Meet at the front entrance of the C.V. Starr Center. The garden consists of in-ground beds, raised beds (accessible to those in a wheelchair), city water, a hoop house, a tool shed, pollinator garden areas, fruit trees and parking in the C.V. Starr Center lot. The garden is fully-deer fenced.
Hi Mary Rose,
Thank you for such a nice article about Leslie’s and Jessica’s walks, and for mentioning me as well. Fun to see myself in print, so to speak.
Martha Erickson