You’re familiar with Sombrero peddling if you’ve ever crossed the southern border into Mexico

Usually by local street vendors with many sombreros stacked high on their heads. But, that’s not the kind of Sombrero peddling I’m referring to. I’m talking about Pedaling to the “Sombrero”, a bike tour I guide down at the US / Mexico border. Our Sombrero is actually a FAA Air Traffic Control facility that monitors and signals to pilots their proximity to the International Border.

Not something you want to cross accidentally in an airplane, or on purpose with a load of contraband. Which was a cottage industry in the area throughout the 60’s & 70’s ironically named “The Columbus Air Force“ (you’ll see the irony in a minute). So much so, our “Air Space Corridor” is doubly monitored with our Aerostat Blimp. The Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) is a surveillance blimp stationed near Columbus, New Mexico to detect drug trafficking. The blimp is operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Now the ironic part….

Historically speaking, Columbus, New Mexico has a very rich and unique marriage with airplanes flying across the border long before contraband was the main passenger. As it happens, the US Airforce was put to flight for the first time right here in Columbus. Not even kidding. We also introduced the young Lt. George Patton to his first Tank Battalion, and we saw the Last Ride of the Calvary. That whole story is on my tour called “The Ghosts of Pancho Villa“.

Speaking of “ghosts”,

the first time I explored our Sombrero I took pictures, and I tried to record video as I approached the facility. Watching the viewfinder, I saw it had a pattern of going in and out of focus on the building while recording. And when I stopped recording, there wouldn’t be file saved on my phone. After several attempts my phone froze up and I had to restart it to bring it back to life.

I got the message. This ain’t your Padre’s Sombrero!

by –BigAddison

Bicycholes™ Founder