24.3mi today

On a road walk today we kept running across road signs made from paper plates and sharpies that simply and strangely just said "Lyle." We decided to dub the dog after this mysterious Lyle once we ran across the third meaningless sign. If we ended up seeing the dog again.

Luckily we were reunited with Lyle. After walking across Dr. Bug & Stud at the first water for the day. They were obviously pissed, probably since the only had a A-frame style tarp with no way to shield themselves from Lyle. This did however joke that Lyle's trail name should be Bonus Miles, or Miles, since he paced back and fourth picking up smells and chasing jackrabbit's throughout the day as he stayed within eyeshot of whoever he was hiking with at the time.

I slowed down towards the end of the day to wait out the heat in the lower altitude Badlands, which would take up the last 5 or so miles of the day. Had dinner with Doc Bug, stud, Gut Punch, Lyle, Chris, and I at Ojo Frío Spring. The water apparently had a decomposing rat in it a few days ago after inspecting the water report. I though it tasted a little ratty... Before departing Lyle had ticks combed out using an old comb by Gut Punch. Looked kind of like a new, stray, dog.

Badlands were amazing as the sun set probably one of the most captivating sunsets yet on trail. The surrounding mesas turned a deep purple as the sun slowly disappeared. Miles the dog happily chased cows and prairie dogs as we shook our heads, before returning to taking in the scenery.