Checking out- room 214

The Chisos Mountain Lodge assigned Cas and me to room 214.  We handed the keys back in this morning and headed out to see if we could finally park the car close enough to the Lost Mine Trail and get one last hike in on our trip.

When we arrived just before 9 am, there were actually a few parking spaces open.  It was a miracle.  We took the fourth one from the trailhead entrance.  

We had no intention of making it all the way up and back down the whole trail, since we want to get home sometime when it is still Sunday, but we got to a spot with a really pretty view.  

If that’s not good enough, then I don’t know what is.  

We walked back down with considerably more comfort and ease than we had walking up.  Turns out walking down with the sun at your back is the way to go.  It was a perfect way to end our time in Big Bend National Park, and when we were walking down the last few feet of the path, I caught the eye of a passenger in a car that had just about given up its search for trail-adjacent parking.  I waved to signal that they should back up- we were about to vacate a space.  The couple was very happy to learn that a space would be vacant very soon, and even happier that I waved them down.  

Once we surrendered our parking spot, we headed on to the park exit.  It’s just lots and lots of driving from here to the rental car company, and we’re trying to make it in for dinner time.  We shall see...  Now that we’ve left room 214, I suppose it’s time to head back to area code 214.