DAY 21: BOBCAT SIGHTING

miles: 18

WE SAW A BOBCAT. 

Ben and I were out of camp first thing in the morning. This nature preserve is probably one if the nicest places I've ever been. They protect endangered species here on the 2,000+ acres. Bunnies bolt out of the bushes, a million species of birds, frogs, alien insect sounds, bighorn sheep climbing on the rocky cliffs above. It was a cacophony of animal sounds. I was kept awake by the sound of giant rocks falling from the cliff sides in the distance. 

"Sounds like something big."

Turns out, they really were bighorn sheep, running around out there in the dark.

Angela in the a.m.

A red winged blackbird made its way into our tent and was trapped there, frantically flapping and bouncing around. Ben had to get in the tent with it (the bird was terrified) and physically grab the bird and remove it. 

We later foubd that it had pooped in the tent. 

The storm had passed whike we were sleeping and the sky was a brilliant, brilliant blue this morning! Yes!! A clear day to hike, free of dampness.

As Ben and I were walking through the preserve, back to the trail, we spotted a bobcat. It came out of the bushes in front if us and ran across the road, loping along with a strange gait. 

"BOBCAT!" 

Not quite as large as a Labrador, but not small enough to be a normal, domestic, feline. A BOBCAT! The most elusive creature, spotted! 

Ben with his serious face. And his dirt stains.

The next 8 miles were beautiful and somewhat easy, even though they were uphill. We stayed along the cool Whitewater River for a while, stopping to splash around often, for this was the most water we've seen yet!!

Just some jeans in the desert hanging around a pole. 

Started to get deathly hot... It was creeping up to 93 degrees and it wasn't even 11am. I did 8 miles straight, without stopping, because I was running very low on water. 

I ran out. It was the first time if completely ran out of water, I always carried more than enough because I'm obsessed with making sure I never become dehydrated. Dehydration is my nightmare. 

Luckily, only one panicked mile later, we reach a stream! It's Mission Creek!! We made it! Just in time for the "heat of the day"...

I immediately stripped down, and flattened myself into the stream bed, a mere 6 inches if water, at best. Perfect temperature. Not too freezing, but cold enough to bring your core body temperature down rapidly. Carrot had the same idea and was lounging in the rushing water upstream from me.

Ben and Angela arrived 10 minutes later and were audibly thrilled by the water and the swimming opportunity they saw. It was SUCH A SURPRISE. I don't think any of us expected such a treat! RUSHING WATER for the FIRST TIME. That we can GET IN.

All if us having lunch in the shade.

Blister care in the shade.

Mission Creek was beautiful, a gradually climbing river bed-and riparian zone-in a canyon... We climbed up the river bed, the trail winding through the canyon, crossing creeks, brushing through tall grasses, wildlife abound. 

Usually hikers have to do this climb in the triple digits, we had a relatively cool day (93 degrees) due to the wind and dappled shade of the puffy clouds above. 

There were these cacti everywhere that resembled short, grey-haired, dreadlocked humans (dead?) bowing their heads. It was eerie.

Some of them seem to have face planted.

When Reese's pieces M&M'S melt into one.

How they need to be extracted in order to eat them.

Tall, dead, black and white trees are ubiquitous.

It was a long day, a day of searching for water. All if the maps, apps, and water reports we had were not lining up and I was growing more and more frustrated. Our last water source destination was dry, and we were out if water (again) so we had to go 3 miles further than we'd planned. 

Hadn't seen Angela since the swim, and I was worried that navigating the river bed in the dark would be trecherous and wanted to wait for her to catch up.

Made it to the last possible water source before dark, and we had be crossing our fingers that it wouldn't be unexpectedly dry, like the last one.

AND IT WASN'T! It was a trickle of a thing, barely flowing, but usable. My feet hurt too bad to go down to the water to fill up so Ben kindly brought my Platy (my water bladder) down and filled it up for me. The foot pain at the end of the day is JUST. TOO. MUCH. This is not sustainable. They throb, and ache, and burn... it feels like there could be nerve damage. I'm not sure what is going on with them, but it is time to figure it out. I can't hike to Canada like this - the solution will be found.