A drive in the Socorro countryside is good for the soul

Sometimes when I have nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon, I like to wander around the backroads of Socorro County.

My grandparents used to do this. They called it their Sunday afternoon excursion. They’d drive to see relatives, visit with them and stop at the local ice cream parlor for an ice cream cone before driving home for supper.

As a kid, I loved to take those drives with grandma and grandpa. We got to enjoy some of grandpa’s old haunts, look at the crops growing and check out his old fishing holes.

Plus, they take us to the old cemeteries to see where our relatives were buried or where my grandpa’s brother hatchery and feed story was in Springbrook. Other times, we’d have a picnic in Bellevue along the shores of the Mississippi River.

After my grandparents died, my parents would go on Sunday afternoon tractorcade rides in the summer. A tractorcade is a tractor ride with old tractors that have been restored to their glory days.

My dad would drive on several tractorcades in his restored Oliver 77. He’d join up with his old high school buddies and their families. Dad would pull an old, restored wagon we’d sit in enjoying the countryside at a slower speed. It kind of gives you a better feel for the countryside.

We’d do this on about one weekend during the summer months, after the route was decided at the local coffee shop earlier in the week. My dad and his chums would pick out the rest stops at some city park along their designated route. The tractors would be lined up and visitors could stop by and chat while the rest of us would enjoy a wonderful picnic in the shade.

Today, those same tractorcades are organized by large farm radio stations. Sometimes the tractorcades can span up to 10-miles long, with pre-registration required.

Twenty-five years ago when my sister got hitched to a city-slicker, a small organized tractorcade rolled past our farm. Lawn chairs were placed in our farm’s front yard to watch all the tractors roll by as part of her wedding reception. We thought it was rather cool … city-slickers couldn’t see what all the fuss was about people riding old antique iron horses.

Here in New Mexico, I usually don’t have an agenda I just drive in whatever direction looks interesting.

I’ll admit … I do get lost sometimes and must ask for directions. And once in a great while, I’ll get behind a tractor, moving rather slowly. And that’s OK … because I know they’ve got work to do keeping up on their ranch.

So if I happened to be out on my Sunday afternoon drive and end up getting lost and pulling up into your homestead … don’t be alarmed. It’s an Iowa girl out wandering around and enjoying the countryside.

If you’re looking for something interesting to do this weekend, head on over to Magdalena to celebrate Frontier Days this weekend.

Most events will take place at the historic Ilfeld building, Magdalena Public Library, Village Hall, Main Street, and Golden Spur. Demos on blacksmithing, wool spinning, water and mineral workshops will be available throughout the day.

Historical presentations on the Magdalena Railroad, the US Calvary, and the Indian Wars will be held at the Library, along with crafts for kids.

In honor of Western heritage, from 11 a.m. to noon, a propane forge will be ready for ranchers to burn their registered brands into the wood posts of the gazebo next to the library.

Visitors can also enjoy vendors at the Ilfeld, the Trunk Show Caravan at the Espresso Café in Magdalena with New Mexico Artists and Crafters and live music Saturday night.

Food vendors will provide attendees with many options, including Navajo Tacos at Winston’s, Espresso Cafe, Golden Spur Bar, and Grill, and Tumbleweeds.

So take that country drive to Magdalena for a good old time this weekend. It’ll be good for your soul to explore Socorro County.