Hobbs Trip - Day 8

Woke up at 1130 today and said goodbye to Bonnie. Drove over to see Uncle Charlie before I left town. On the road by 1215. Drove down US-180 to Carlsbad Caverns. Had planned to visit them, but sleeping late made it hard to stick around long enough to go inside. It looked a little crowded anyway... Explored back roads at Rattlesnake Springs (part of the National Park). On county roads for a little while (418/422/423). Found New Cave area - hiked there - and explored Slaughter Canyon (1530). Back on US-62/US-180 for a little while - then entered Guadalupe National Park. Checked out McKitrick Canyon and looked around the rest of the park for a little while - there were some great views! I didn't expect to see such big mountains around here, but it was worth the trip. Leaving the park, switched to TX-54. Saw a fox (or coyote?) near Van Horn. Probe GT hits high speed on back road - nothing for miles and really flat (and no billboards to hide behind...). Changed to I-10 for a short time and then got off on TX-118 at Kent. Saw a deer on Spur-78 near the McDonald Observatory (my planned stop). Unfortunately, they were closed. They apparently have tours on Tuesdays... Met a local man who told me what they do there. Drove over to Alpine (2030) and then took US-90 (it goes through Milton!) to US-385. Listened to Monday Night Football all the way to the gate of Big Bend National Park. Country was beautiful by a nearly full moon. Could see mountains all around. Inside the park around 2300, no one at Park HQ to give me a camp site, but there were plenty to choose from. Setting up tent, it broke. Ended up sleeping in the car (2330). Mexico tomorrow!