What? You never heard Tiny Tim’s song “Tiptoes Through The Tumbleweeds”?
Me neither, but our new friend Martijn from Holland learned pretty fast to keep his eyes open along New Mexico’s stretch of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Fortunately for Martijn, his first encounter with a snake didn’t have a rattle!
Martijn is Dutch, and just 4 days ago he flew from the picturesque fields of Tulips in Holland to southwest desert in El Paso, TX in order to attempt the grueling Great Divide Mountain Bike Route that has a new terminus in Columbus, New Mexico. Home to some of America’s most important historical military advances due to the “Punitive Expedition” launched to capture Pancho Villa.
The greatest pleasure about operating a bed & breakfast in the middle of nowhere, is meeting the people that for some reason have to come here. The GDMBR brings us a host of national and international visitors every spring to begin the ride, and again in the Fall for those who are completing it. So much so, the village decided to install a new terminus boundary marker at our 24/7/365 Port of Entry to Palomas, Mexico.
You can follow Martijn along on his ride using the Polarsteps app here. You can follow his YouTube page here.
To my Dutch speaking readers I offer Martijn’s video of his time in Columbus. And below is the translation of his Polarsteps entry about it.
Best of Luck Martijn!
After another restless night, it’s early to get to the starting point of the route and then really start. What was it again with that starting point and that alternative starting point? The original starting point (or actually end point, because I’m riding the route in the opposite direction than originally intended) is in Antelope Wells. A fence on the border, 80km south of the nearest city (or, as will become apparent later today: settlement). Nowadays, many people find that Columbus is logistically more convenient. An alternative starting point has now been created there, including a plaque. And that is the point from where I will officially start the route. So today from Columbus to Hachita, where my route merges with the original route.
Addison, the host of the B&B where I slept, drives with me to the city and shows me The Wall. On the way we speak to a soldier who is checking with radar for suspicious movements in the border area. The Wall is an impressive structure. After The Wall we arrive at the border post where the sign indicating the start of the route is also located. Of course we took some extensive photos. Then Addison shows us the Pancho Villa State Park and tells us about the history of Pancho Villa, how the expulsion of this Mexican Robin Hood happened with the very first use of a tank and airplane. Shortly after that we meet Chris, who is also starting today. He had to arrange a few small things before he would set off.
I say goodbye to Addison and set off. It is the same road as yesterday, but now the wind is a bit less favorable and there is a little more difference in altitude. The cycling goes well and when I see one of the few trees after 60 km I sit down under it to eat and drink something. Not much later Chris appears, who does the same. When we have refueled we continue together to Hachita. Chris is a Russian teacher at the University of Tennessee. When we arrive in Hachita we stop at the only convenience store. We buy something to eat and drink. I also immediately book a spot in the Community Center to sleep tonight. Chris doubts whether he should do that but later decides to continue cycling.
The Community Center is a large hall with a kitchen and shower where hikers and bikers can sleep on their own mat. It’s fine for me. Sleeping and eating haven’t found the right rhythm yet, so I don’t need to continue today. I shower, eat something, look at the route for tomorrow and take it easy. I walk around a bit more and see that little Hachita has known better times in the past.
Nice detail: when I get a coke in the afternoon I finally find my ‘own’ Coca Cola bottle!
Biking Services in Columbus
Call or Text
915- 526-2307
to book shuttle
Biking Package
CLICK FOR DETAILS
Bicycle Friendly Places To Stay
The Hole in the Wall Getaway
A Home Living
Bed & Breakfast Rental
Short & Long Term rentals welcomed.
Perfect for groups or
retreat.
SEE WEBSITE
Los Milagros Boutique Hotel
A six room hotel modeled after our colorful
sister city of Palomas, Mexico
SEE WEBSITE
Hole in the Wall Getaway Campsite
An oasis in the Southwest desert.
Short & Long Term rentals welcomed.
Perfect for groups or retreat.
SEE LISTING ON HIPCAMP
SEE LISTING ON BOOKING
Pancho Villa State Camping & RV Park
The original grounds and buildings of General “Blackjack” Pershing’s Camp Furlong as the backdrop to all the RV and camping sites integrated throughout the park. The park also features a beautiful exhibition hall with artifacts and displays memorializing the fascinating history of our village.