Big Bend Down, Down

For Tuesday, February 25th...  There was very little sleep in the tent.   It became cold.   It wasn't supposed to be as cold as it seemed.   For me, I slept really well until I woke up shivering uncontrollably.   I would readjust, breathe deep, try to settle my body and fall back to sleep.   Then wake up a little later and do the same thing, multiple times.  It made for a long night.   My sleeping bag and liner should have kept me warm as it wasn't below freezing. 

In the morning we took our time around camp and decided to break down and head back down instead of all the hiking we had hoped for.  The temperature was supposed to drop to the upper 20's.  This meant we would have another rough night and it could be dangerous.   I'm disappointed that we weren't able to do more of the things by the top, but it was the right choice.

While in camp, a deer came by.  I think I got some good photos,  but none to post again today.   Going down was so much easier than up.  This time E and Four went ahead and C and I followed behind.   We were both feeling the pain a little more than the others.  At one point on the way down, our two groups were on opposite sides of a canyon? Valley?  Ravine... and E started singing.   It was far away and beautiful.   I tried to record some of it, but it is hard to hear.

We lingered at the bottom for a bit before packing the car.   We decided that we wanted to go to see the Rio Grande, so we did.  We found a place near the Rio Grande camping area and stuck our toes in.  The sun was setting over the hills at this point and the wind was picking up.  On the way back to the car,  a javelina crossed our path.  No time to snap a photo.  We did some more driving around and looking at the sites.   As night fell the crescent moon and Venus shone first.

We saw a rabbit,  mouse,  coyote,  and possibly some gray foxes.  The fox were a bit far away so we aren't sure.  Although it may have been cool to see bear or a mountain lion from a distance,  I'm okay with not.

My happy for today is getting down safely and especially seeing the Rio Grande.  Our adventures aren't over.   We found a hotel for this night and have new plans for tomorrow.   There are freeze warnings, so we made a good choice.

☮