How do I get myself into these things?

How do I manage to get into such predicaments? The ladies at the check-in desk at the campground remembered me from last year because I lost Petunia (my cat) here. This year I posted a sign on the bulletin boards just to see if I could connect with anyone who may have seen her last year or who might have found her lounging in one of their compartments when they got home. So far nothing. But one of the ladies came to our door at 8 o’clock this morning, wondering if we would take in a little waif kitten that had come to the office four days ago and so far no one had come looking for it. They were afraid it was going to get run over with all the traffic. So I agreed – I would look after the kitten hoping that someone would claim it.

Senior Citizen Simon didn’t even raise an eyebrow when I brought the kitten in. Just looked at me as though I had brought him another chore to do – teaching this young whipper-snapper how to behave. You know – regular daily routine – eat, sleep, poop, eat, sleep, poop, and repeat. After they got acquainted and Simon decided it was time for a little Crack (catnip, people, we’re in a drug free zone in this house), Kitten came flying from under one of the chairs, landed on Simon’s back and made another flying leap heading for the bedroom. Simon turned his head, looked over his shoulder and I could hear him saying, “What the hell was that that just flew over my head?” Then continued on eating his Crack. Simon is one cool cat. Not much ruffles his feathers anymore.

Anyway, once I was satisfied that Simon was qualified to kitty sit we took off for the day. When we got back there was a note attached to our door: Lost, one gray kitten with red collar. Yup – that must be the one I have in the RV. So I called the number and had a difficult time understanding the man that answered the phone. I think he’d been into too much moonshine from the hills of Tennessee or something. The lady arrived shortly to claim her kitty, and I had second thoughts about giving it back. She smiled at me with all four of her teeth and told me in a moonshine slur that yes, she let’s the kitten run free in the campground because he knows where he lives and besides it only goes down two campsites and then comes home!! NOT – the kitten had been at the office for the last four days.

First of all, you can’t let a kitten/cat run free in this setting. There’s way too much traffic and way too many crazy drivers. Tomorrow I’m going to stop at the office and tell the ladies in the office about my conversation with the woman. If the kitten shows up at the office again I’ll come and get it and this time she won’t get it back. Am I mean?

Anyway, after all that we took off and our first stop was to see the Budweiser Clydesdales. They are such huge, regal and beautiful animals. We’ve seen them before pulling their wagon, but unfortunately due to the heavy traffic in the area they won’t be doing their hitch here.

Then it was on down to Hill City for lunch, crossing over to Keystone on the 1880 Steam Train Road, then over to Mount Rushmore and back to Sturgis. This was a seven-hour day on the bike, so all of us have sore butts and backs.

Tomorrow will be a day off, so to speak. We won’t be doing a lot of riding. G. Gordon Liddy (of Watergate fame) is broadcasting his daily radio show from one of the casinos in Deadwood and the public is invited to watch. G. Gordon is one of Ole’s heroes, so he of course will be there, and then have one of his books signed.

And I forgot to tell you. We had a party last night. I told you previously that Dave and Karen’s daughter, Kerilynn, has just completed airborne school in the Army. Unfortunately, her parents weren’t able to be there for her graduation and to pin her wings on. So last night we had a little party in honor of the occasion. They invited all the neighboring campers that they knew and then did steaks on the grille along with all the trimmings. Wonderful evening.

Ole tried to convince me to go to the Full Throttle Saloon with him tonight. The Full Throttle’s reputation is that of being the biggest biker bar in the world. It covers 20 acres, has a number of stages, a burnout pit, and bull riding arena, etc. It’s kind of a take off on Gilly’s in Texas but for bikers, not cowboys. I told him I wasn’t interested – too tired after all the riding. And besides I’ve seen everything that goes on over there more than once and don’t need to see it again. Well, all his enthusiasm for going to the Full Throttle has waned and he’s now into a nap in the armchair in the RV. So he’s currently making ZZZZs – so much for the Full Throttle (fine by me) – I can hear it from here just fine!!