This is not your average “Run of the Mill” story my friends, oh no, this is a “Ride to the Mill” story. (And maybe a little time traveling)

by BigAddison

Heading out my driveway once again for my morning ride. A quick right, a quick left, and I’m heading for adventure on my Lectric eBike. This morning I was on a mission to explore a new trail I found on a previous ride. I wasn’t disappointed.

I knew it was going to be long rough climb. I had just tuned the bike up, I had a full charge, and I’m equipped for repairs and a few days survival.  I was confident I could make it, and I knew the way back home was all downhill in case I had to walk out with a 100lb electric trail bike. Not today my friends.

45 minutes later, and riding about 7 miles across the foothills south towards Mexico, I spotted the top of an old windmill and made way to it. Here’s what I found. (fair warning. the winds were picking up)

The remains of the old windmill lay at the feet of tower, undoubtedly exactly where it fell.

One has to wonder what catastrophic fail occurred to get this result. It may have been the very wind it was designed to harness got the better of it. No telling, but I can assure you our windy season here in Columbus is the closet thing New Mexico has to natural disasters. New Mexico is the safest state in the nation in this respect, but down here everything must be built to withstand the monsoons and the “Winds of March”. They come every year like clockwork work. I hate em.

If you look closely at the tail fin you can just make out the sun faded wording “The AERMOTOR Chicago”. In the video you heard me wonder how old this stockyard might be. I guessed 100 years old or so, but wasn’t sure due to the windmill, cement trough and water tank seemed a bit more modern. In my research of AERMOTOR I discovered they were established in 1888. And this particular model with the “Chicago” origin is amongst the oldest.

Here it is in its glory!

Leaving the old stockyard I had a choice to make once I got back down to the trail I was following.

“Do I go back the way I came, or continue on into the unknown and pray I don’t end up in Mexico?” Since I could plainly see Trump’s border wall in the distance, I was pretty sure I’d come to the border road Hwy 9 before I went that far. And I did after another 5 or 6 miles getting there through a couple of old barb wire and posts gates, and past another old stockyard that was presently lodging a couple horses and a big ol bull. That’s when I had the very fortunate pleasure to meet Martine. LOL! Watch the video and you’ll see what I mean!

The whole ride was 17 miles long, and took me just under two hours to get back home. The last leg was all highway across the 9 into Columbus’s most historic intersection. 9/11.

I’ll leave you with this til next time…. RIDE ON Amigos y Amigas!