PoPo for President!

Lots of riding, sunny and warm weather, and cool places visited these last few weeks!  Headed to Buffalo Gap, a town so small that if you blink, you have passed right through it!  And its Main Street is just a dirt road!  But the Crosswind Conservancy is located there, home to 20 of the world’s approximately 1,500 Spanish Mustangs, whose bloodline dates back to the days of Christopher Columbus!  Beautiful creatures that really took a liking to Daddy—even the 7-week old foal!

 

We decided to take in some “educational” sites.  Founding Fathers Black Hills is a replica of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, complete with its own Liberty Bell!  Unlike the real deal, you get to pull the dong on this bell!   Freedom rings VERY loudly here!   Inside are life-size sculptures of the 56 patriots who signed the Declaration of Independence as depicted in John Trumbull’s iconic painting, “Declaration of Independence”.  As the narrator tells the story of how our new country was forged, you become entwined with the story, ready to take up quill pen and add your own “John Hancock”!
 

Rambling RV Rat Ready to Sign the Declaration of Independence!

On to the National Presidential Wax Museum in Keystone.  Interesting how complex it is to make wax molds and models.  I found the model of G. W. Bush standing atop the 9/11 rubble the most lifelike and moving.

9/11/01 Still Evokes Emotions In Me

I was amazed to learn just how many of our presidents were “one and dones”, serving just one term.  Got me to thinking that I should throw my hat into the candidate ring:  PoPo for President!   From what I learned about some of our past presidents, their follies and faux pas, we’ve had our share of snakes, swine, and jackasses.  So why not this Rambling RV Rat?  I’d run on a platform of smaller government, cutbacks on entitlements, crackdown on illegal immigration, and lower taxes.  Let’s get back to the limited powers the Founding Fathers actually bestowed to the Federal government!  Move over Hillary and Donald, PoPo’s on the campaign trail!  Truthfully, I don’t think this dumb rat could do any worse than our current President!

Join My Team:  PoPo for President! 

OK, off my soapbox and now “all aboard” the vintage 1880 steam train for a picturesque tour through the old mining areas between Keystone and Hill City.  As we peered through the open-aired rail car, we spotted lots of animal life within the Hills--wild turkeys, deer, and horses!

 

All Aboard the 1880 Train!

Speaking of wildlife, I had the scare of my lifetime!  We were riding through Custer State Park in the middle of the day, when suddenly we stumbled upon a major traffic jam.  Stopped vehicles in both directions.   Turns out a herd of about 100 buffalo were trying to cross the road!  We literally were surrounded—buffalo walking within 6 inches of our motorcycles!  Some laying down in the middle of the road in front of our bikes!

The Buffalo Heading Down the Hill...

 

Blocking the Road...

We felt very vulnerable, telling each other, “don’t look them in the eye”, “don’t rev the engine”, “don’t spook them”, for fear they would attack.  I wish I was a smaller rat—I would have stuffed myself inside Daddy’s saddle bags for protection!   Thankfully, after about ½ hour, the bison no longer found it amusing to make me poop my pants, and they moved out of the road.
 

Standing Right Next to Us!

Too Close for Comfort!  He Gave Me the Bull's Eye! 

We took in the calming effects of Wind Cave National Park, participating in an underground tour as well as hiking on some of their nature trails.  Interesting how so many miles within caves exist in this area, but only a small percentage of these miles have actually been visited.  Both Jewel and Wind Cave National Parks recruit volunteers to explore the caves for “mapping” purposes.  Underground is now the new frontier!  PoPo no can do--this rat doesn’t like ferreting through small spaces!    

 

 

Talk to you soon!