#thegreat8

And the road winds on. Soon, we will be saying goodbye to our beloved Wally, the #Airstream. I gotta admit that I'm a bit sad. It's time for him to become part of someone else's family..to go on new and different adventures. We traveled over 45k miles with him this year and I am sure he is looking forward to a more sedate life. He held up like a trooper, though, and looked good doing it. We were always the most stylish ones in the campground, thanks to him. Home is where the heart is, and a little bit of our hearts will always belong to Wally. Thanks for being the steady refuge of comfort and security in a year of constant change and uncertainty. We will miss you, buddy. • Badlands National Park @badlandsnps (44 of 59) • Shot with FUJIFILM X-T1 and XF100-400 F4.5-5.6 lens • #59in52 #onassignment #NPS100 #hifromSD @southdakota #thegreat8 @natgeocreative @fujifilmUS @fujifilmx_us #fujifilmx_us #myfujifilm #myinstax #XT1 @instax @airstream_inc (at Badlands National Park)

I guess the bison rule the road here as well. I wonder if there's anywhere these big beasts live where they don't rule supreme? Wind Cave National Park is one of those parks with two personalities: one above and one below ground. Below ground you'll find a network of lovely caves to explore, full of a very interesting cave formation called boxwork. 95% of the world's boxwork lies in this cave system, which is enough to get anyone with even a mild interest in caving very excited. Above ground is a world of rolling prairie lands, beautiful skies, and beasts like this guy roaming free. Two different worlds, each unique, in one national park. • Wind Cave National Park (45 of 59) • Shot with FUJIFILM X-T1 and XF16-55mm F2.8 lens • #59in52 #onassignment #NPS100 #hifromSD @southdakota #thegreat8 @natgeocreative @fujifilmUS @fujifilmx_us #fujifilmx_us #myfujifilm #myinstax #XT1 @instax @airstream_inc (at Wind Cave National Park)

That lonely tree. Sometimes the simplest things can be so beautiful. Shot during a gorgeous sunset while camping in Wind Cave National Park in the great state of South Dakota. • Wind Cave National Park (45 of 59) • Shot with FUJIFILM X-T1 and XF100-400 F4.5-5.6 lens • #59in52 #onassignment #NPS100 #hifromSD @southdakota #thegreat8 @natgeocreative @fujifilmUS @fujifilmx_us #fujifilmx_us #myfujifilm #myinstax #XT1 @instax @airstream_inc (at Wind Cave National Park)

Tatonka. I don't know why that is such a fun word to say. Thanks, Kevin Costner, for forever ingraining that word in my head whenever I see a bison. I'm just grateful I don't also hold up two fingers on either side of my head (to show horns) whenever I say it......yet. Caught this beast in the early morning glow, his strong profile and breath silhouetted in the sun. It takes a long lens, and some nerves of steel, to get a shot like this...keeping your distance from these primordial creatures is essential. • Wind Cave National Park (45 of 59) • Shot with FUJIFILM X-T1 and XF100-400 F4.5-5.6 lens • #59in52 #onassignment #NPS100 #hifromSD @southdakota #thegreat8 @natgeocreative @fujifilmUS @fujifilmx_us #fujifilmx_us #myfujifilm #myinstax #XT1 @instax @airstream_inc (at Wind Cave National Park)

Here are some fine fellas to say hello to when traveling in South Dakota: George, Thomas, Theo, and good ole Abe. Completed in 1941, Mount Rushmore is an iconic stop along the road. These 60-foot giant portraits are sculpted from granite, and are a great and humbling reminder of those incredible leaders that were so instrumental in shaping our democracy. Happy President's day for those of us in the U.S. • Shot with FUJIFILM X-T1 and XF50-140mm F2.8 lens • #59in52 #onassignment #NPS100 #hifromSD @southdakota #thegreat8 @natgeocreative @fujifilmUS @fujifilmx_us #fujifilmx_us #myfujifilm #myinstax #XT1 @instax @airstream_inc (at Mount Rushmore)

When you spend a lot of time in the great outdoors, you are bound to see some cool stuff. I guess luck favors the intrepid and adventurous. We saw so many rainbows on our yearlong trip through the national parks, and this one was one blew us away because of how full and complete it was. If you were in search of gold at either end then this rainbow was likely your best shot at knowing exactly where to look. However, you don't have to hightail it to the rainbow to find gold in beautiful South Dakota...you just have to take a look around because it is all around you. • Wind Cave National Park (45 of 59) • Shot with FUJIFILM X-T1 and XF16-55mm F2.8 lens • #59in52 #onassignment #NPS100 #hifromSD @southdakota #thegreat8 @natgeocreative @fujifilmUS @fujifilmx_us #fujifilmx_us #myfujifilm #myinstax #XT1 @instax @airstream_inc (at Wind Cave National Park)

Near the northeast entrance to Badlands National Park lies one of the most beautiful overlooks: the Big Badlands Overlook. Sunrise is the best time to be here, when you have the place usually all to yourself and the rising sun comes over the eastern horizon in a blaze of glory. • Badlands National Park @badlandsnps (44 of 59) • Shot with FUJIFILM X-T1 and XF16mm F1.4 lens • #59in52 #onassignment #NPS100 #hifromSD @southdakota #thegreat8 @natgeocreative @fujifilmUS @fujifilmx_us #fujifilmx_us #myfujifilm #myinstax #XT1 @instax @airstream_inc (at Badlands National Park)

The beauty of the Badlands can be seen just about anywhere in the park. Most people stop at the designated and named overlooks, which are indeed great. But I found the random stops along the road to walk out and look over the edge to be much more interesting. My suggestion? Hit em both and see what suits your fancy. • Badlands National Park @badlandsnps (44 of 59) • Shot with FUJIFILM X-T1 and XF16-55mm F2.8 lens • #59in52 #onassignment #NPS100 #hifromSD @southdakota #thegreat8 @natgeocreative @fujifilmUS @fujifilmx_us #fujifilmx_us #myfujifilm #myinstax #XT1 @instax @airstream_inc (at Badlands National Park)