Around 10:30 PM MT, we finally found our campground and set up our tent. The drive through Wyoming and South Dakota were excruciating. Wyoming, because its rolling green hills lost their allure after two hours. South Dakota, because there are just no cars to follow, nor lights to light your path. Even with high beams on, on a clear night, visibility was extremely limited.
Anytime I flew to the west, and looked down from the airplane, I always noticed these vast fields with little isolated roads connecting them all, and wondered what it would be like driving through them. Now I know.
After about 9 hours of driving, we found SD-377, which is the highway that leads into Badlands National Park, as well as the road our campground was located. With night time visibility close to zero, we drove straight into Badlands National Park in search of our site, but instead, ended up right next to the actual Badlands and some wild deer. We drove around circling for about half an hour, ready to give up and just sleep in the car, but miraculously, after turning around, we finally found the site. A sign on the office door instructed us to head to the trailer in the rear for assistance. After finding the manager's trailer, and confirming with a half-naked man that this was indeed the campgrounds, we were in business.
We were informed by fellow campers that there was a bison farm right next to us, deer, and possibly a bobcat on the loose. We ate our Subway sandwiches for dinner, and had a brew under the magnificent view of the night sky. I guess the lack of ambient light augments the view of the stars under the pitch black night. I was fortunate enough to see two shooting stars. I guess that is just normal out here, but it is a big deal when us city slickers actually get to see this one. Goodnight.
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