Day eight of my road trip took me to Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Not far from Wall, and Wall Drug, is the 240 Loop through the Badlands. 
I drove in around 8pm as the light was starting to change with the setting sun. My destination was a short way down the loop, a dirt road that, twelve miles down, would provide a campground and much needed rest. 
Chasing the sun, I headed down the road between canyons in one side and prairie on the other. I came upon a bison strolling down the road and slowed to admire (?) the view. 
Storm clouds in the distance would bring no rain, but a spectacular lightning show after the sun set. 
After forty-five minutes of bison and prairie dogs and spectacular vistas I arrived at the bend in the road announcing my near arrival to final my destination for the evening, Sage Creek Campground. 
A circle campground with parking along the outer edge and camping in the center, some covered and uncovered picnic tables, this proved to be a great place to pitch my tent. Watch out for prairie dog holes! 
(Some of these photos are from the following morning.) It was nearly dark when I made camp and I still had to meet the neighbors before I pitched my tent.
Ah, sweet sleep. Amazing stars in the middle of night. The call of coyotes. The buzzing of mosquitos. The snoring emitted from the next tent over.
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