Jerry and I were both up and moving earlier this morning.  I tend to be pretty quick about getting ready in the morning and was ready to get moving soon after getting up, so I watched the birds and the scenery while Jerry got ready. I got to spend some time using my new Pentax 9X28 binoculars and I'm really glad I bought them (and brought them). They're great backpacking binos, compact and light, yet with exceptional optics. I never used my old compact binoculars because the quality was so bad, but these are a joy to use. 

When we started hiking down the mountain the ridge quickly steepened, but routes down the slope were relatively easy to find.  When we hit the bottom of the ridgeline at the confluence of two washes, our hike became a free-for-all scramble through a boulder strewn wash, choked with catclaw.  For the first time on the trip, Jerry and I spent most of this part of the trip hiking separately, with Jerry expressing his preference for higher ground while I chose the low ground.  As we neared the mouth of the canyon, I tired of the catclaw and angled up and over the ridge to the east.  From that point on, we had a fairly easy hike along the base of the mountain, dropping in and out of the drainages coming out of the range.  It was a beautiful morning and after the slow start, we moved along at a fairly quick pace.  We made it to the truck by ten o’clock after hiking 2.5 miles. 

After deciding we didn’t have time to attempt a day hike up to Dripping Springs, we took our time and relaxed a bit before starting the drive home.  The drive was uneventful, and quieter than our drive up.  I think we were both somewhat weary and in our own thoughts about the trip, because we didn't talk as much.  We were home before dinner time, and I even had time to do most of my unpacking before dinner.