I, Rin, had held a job that allowed me views of a glorious mill during all hours of the day. When I wasn’t helping patrons, I was staring out of the window at it, baking half-brained schemes for sneaking in. As an example, I noticed that Damico and Sons frequently catered their events, and on occasion, left a food crate unattended. All I would need to do is silently get in while they were preoccupied, and I would be wheeled right in. Following this, I had no idea what I would do, but being closer seemed to be a logical first step. This mill was the historic Gold Medal Flour.

It was a brisk fall night, not too cold, but not really too warm either. I was lying in bed, and I had it bad. Tossing and turning, GMF seemed to be laughing at me, showing a leg and then covering it up just as I reached out. Well I’d had enough. I ripped the sheets off of me, grabbed my gear, and slinked out of the house for downtown. It was going to happen one way or another, that was decided upon.

I wandered the streets around the building, noticing all of the different near impossible climbs that would get me to the top. After enough time had passed, I began making plans for a sinister jaunt over one of the brick walls. It would need to be quick to avoid anybody noticing, and I would be dropping into a space flooded with light. After a long and laborious climb up a set of lit scaffolding, I would be able to get inside through the shattered production link. That was the plan, and I began getting ready. On the way to said plan though, I spotted a much easier entrance. This seems to happen to me a lot, but in this instance I was grateful rather than perplexed as to how I had missed it earlier. Now I would be avoiding the chance of arrest or death. Well, greatly lowering the chance of arrest or death I suppose.

I slipped in, and silently began making my way to the top. It was dark, that was to be expected, but what had not occurred to me on the ground was the fact that I couldn’t risk using any real flashlight. There were too many open windows and cracks, and it would be too easy for someone to spot a light traveling upwards through the building. I switched to cell phone, and crept along slowly, even stepping over a sleeping pigeon without disturbing the disgusting little bastard.
Going solo had me feeling alert, highly driven and electrified. I pushed forward until I came across exactly what I was looking for, a rickety ladder that lead to the very top. I stared at it for a brief second, understanding that I was about to get exactly what I wanted, and began climbing. The thing shook, sliding back and forth just slightly as I ascended. Clumsily reaching out and getting a hand around the side, I emerged from the top of a vent, and gasped for air as if I were breaking the surface of a dark and quiet ocean. Feet on the ground, I finally had a chance to take in the vertigo. I had been staring at this building for quite some time, and it felt just as good as I thought it might.

For a few minutes, I was nervous that a large gathering of people on the Stone Arch had seen me. They crowded together, and took photos of the building I was on, but I remain confident they hadn’t seen a thing. After a good hour and a half of climbing around on the sign, I retired myself from the rooftop, and began the long trek back down to ground level.

A return trip was put in the works as soon as I was outside and back safely in my car. I get a feeling there is a lot more to see than the summit.