A February Ride

February 2, 2026

Winter stills seems to be eluding us in south-central Montana with temperatures in the mid-50s and no precipitation.  With nothing on the schedule today, it was a good opportunity to get the bike out again for a winter ride.

I wasn't sure which direction I'd go and at first I thought about a ride to Roundup but then thought that Pompey's Pillar might be preferable to to the bit of wind that might kick up.  I got my gear on and hit the road just before 2pm, headed up Zimmerman Trail to Skyline Drive, out through Billings Heights on Wicks and then a turn onto Main Street.

When I came to the split of Hwys 87 and 312, I took 312 and settled in.  Traffic was pretty light and the weather was just perfect.

I passed through Shepard by taking Chicago Road and then back on 312 and cruised to Worden where I stopped for a photo.

Then it was on to Pompey's Pillar.

Before I got going I watched the train going by just across the roadway.

I could have turned around here but it felt so good to be out and riding I decided to continue on to Custer by taking the frontage road.  Here's a view from part of that ride.

When I arrived in Custer, I checked my map online.  There is a road that goes to the northwest that I've ridden before that hooks to Pease Bottom Road, a nice ride to Hysham, but I didn't know where that road went.  It's the Musselshell Trail Road and from a spot check on Streetview, it looked to be paved, at least for a way.  I turn left and rode it across the Yellowstone River, past the turnoff for Hysham, and on to a slow climb up a hill.  

At the 5 mile point, the pavement ended.  I don't like riding gravel if I don't have to.

I turned around and headed back down the hill but stopped briefly to admire the scenery and take this photo.

When I arrived back at the turnoff for Custer I had two choices.  I could ride back the way I came or hop on the freeway.

It was getting late in the day and while there was still plenty of sunlight, I would be riding right into it, making visible a hassle.  I opted for the slab and rode it to the turnoff for Huntley and from there retraced my ride back to home.

It really felt great to be out, especially for this time of year.  The weather looks just as good for the next week or so and I'm betting that I'll be back out again.

It was a 140 mile day.

Another winter ride

January 14, 2026

It's still winter but with the temperature going into the 60s and no precipitation, I'm riding.

I was really undecided as to where to ride so I just headed west on the usual route out of town in that direction and took Buffalo Trail to Laurel.  

I turned west and went through Park City and then on to Columbus.  I had to make a decision in the middle of town to either head north to Rapelje or south to Absarokee.  I turned south.

I was a really pleasant ride and before long I went through the little town as I tried to decide if I want to go on to either Nye or Red Lodge.  I saw a sign for Hawkins Park and made a turn.  The park is small but right along Rosebud Creek so made a nice place to take a break and sit out in the sun.

While I was sitting there, a little old lady came by on her walker and went over to the creek.  On her way back she stopped to chat and I learned quite a bit about her.  She was from Spearfish, SD but raised her family in Washington, north of Spokane.  She had 6 boys and it sounds like they had a ranch.  Her husband passed away two years ago so she moved here with the last two of her horses to be near her sons and grandchildren.  One of her horses is 40-year old pony.  It was nice having a chat and she took off to finish her exercise I headed back to Billings.

When I got back to Columbus I took a short detour and rode through Itch-Kep-Pe Park which is a campground and fishing spot along the Yellowstone River.  It's also next to the town golf course.

I rode the freeway back to Billings which was pretty easy with light traffic and a strong wind at my back.  I stopped and topped off my gas with the alcohol-free variety since this will be the last ride for a while.

It was a 124 mile day.

First Ride of 2026

January 5, 2026

If winter isn't coming (yet) to south-central Montana, I am going to take advantage of that and get the bike out for a ride.  The temperature was in the low-50s and the was scarcely a wind so why not.

I didn't get away unto about 3:30.  I had my usual gear on: riding pants over my jeans, a sweatshirt of a long sleeve t-shirt, riding boots, and my cold weather jacket with the rain liner installed.  I was quite comfortable.

It was a short loop because the sun was going down.  I rode out Rimrock, heading west, and worked my past the Ironwood subdivision and into Echo Canyon.  Here's a video as I worked my way up the hogback.

The ride to Molt was pleasant.  I just set the cruise control to about 70 and relaxed with Boz Scaggs playing in my helmet.

When I arrived in Molt I stopped for a few photos.

I headed back east, again just relaxing and enjoying.  I decided to head down the big hill and then turn off on Shorey Road and take the to Hwy 3.

At Hwy 3, I went straight and took Alkali Creek Road to Skyline Drive.  This put me right into the sun.  I had to block it with my left hand on a couple occasions.

The rest of the ride was down Zimmerman and then Rimrock to home.

It was almost a 50-mile ride.

Another Winter Ride

December 26, 2025

Am I really getting another ride in?  Absolutely!  It was a busy morning and by the time I got it together to get out is was 2 pm.  The weather was a bit different from yesterday.  It was a few degrees cooler and there was some significant wind.

I headed west, taking the usual route to the Canyon Creek Battlefield site but rather than heading north from there like I yesterday I turned south and rode to Laurel.  The clouds looked a bit threatening but I figured that I'd ride toward them and turn around if I hit some rain.

I was hitting the wind head on once I left Laurel.  The bike handles well but it's still not as enjoyable as when it's calm.

In Rockvale I turned south.  If it was earlier, and less windy, I'd like to ride south to the Wyoming border but that wasn't going to happen today.  In Fromberg I turned on the Main Street and cruised through the neighborhoods before heading across the highway and riding out to edge of town.  I stopped for a few photos.

I headed back the way I had come and it felt good to have the wind at my back. The wind noise was also reduced to where I could easily hear the music playing in my helmet.  I passed back through Rockvale and right after that, I took the old highway back to Laurel.  It's a two-lane and less traveled than the new(er) route.

As I got back to Laurel I turned off on Theil/River Road and took that back to Duck Creek.  Going across the Yellowstone River I could see that there was substantial work being done on the Duck Creek Bridge.  I had heard that they were going to close the bridge at some point and traffic would be routed southward on Fritz Road and eventually to Blue Creek.  That hasn't happened yet and I wonder if it will.  Most of that route is not paved and there was some concern that paving it would increase traffic, something those who live out there don't want.

I rode the roundabouts up Shilo.

I stopped for gas on Grand and Zimmerman.  I topped off with the alcohol free version, again, since I'm not sure I'll be riding again until spring.

I pulled into my other garage, downloaded a few videos, and plugged in the battery tender.

It was a 85.7 mile day.  The bike now has 53,582 miles on it.

Winter Ride

December 25, 2025

It's winter here in eastern Montana but with dry streets and 60 degree, it does not feel like it.  I'd put the bike away a few weeks ago after a heavy snowstorm but the warmer weather of the last 10 days has taken away the snow and ice except from tiny pockets still in the shade.  It was an opportunity to get out a nd ride.

I did a 6 miles run in the morning with a friend it even though I was down to shorts and a t-shirt I was still sweating.  This is great running weather.  Here are a few views of the morning.

The bike was already fueled up so it was just a matter of getting my own gear on.  I had my heavier jacket with its rain liner, and a sweatshirt with my regular riding pants over my jeans.  It wasn't cool enough to warrant thermal liners.

I headed west and stopped at the Canyon Creek Battlefield site for a quick photo.

Then it was north on Buffalo Trail. I rode to Molt Road, glanced at the village of Molt, a couple miles to the west, before turning east and riding to Shorey Road.  I stopped along Shorey for a few photos.

When I arrived at Hwy 3 it was decision time.  I could go straight on Alkali Creek Road and head toward Billings Heights, turn right and head back to Billings that way, or turn left and head out of town.  Out of town it was.  

I've ridden this road many, many times and it's one to just set the cruise control to 70 mpg and enjoy.  It's flat and straight and the view is unimpeded by anything.

I stopped in Broadview for a quick photo.

When I got a few miles outside of town I stopped for a photo with a nice view of the Snowy Mountains in the background.

The next stop is Lavina.  They have a large solar farm there so I stopped for a photo.

And one looking into town.

I rode through town and then the 1/2 mile to the intersection with Hwy 12.  I checked my map to see how long it would take me to ride to Roundup, 23 miles away, and back home from there.  Hmmm,  I am supposed to meet friends at 3 pm and it would be a tight fit so I decided to go back on Hwy 3, the way I had come.  I stopped at the Adams Hotel for a photo before leaving.

Then I spied some outhouses down next to the old bank building.  We had a pretty severe windstorm through the area in the past week and it looks like it knocked down both of these.  Interesting that each one is down in a different direction.  That's Montana wind for you.

The ride back was uneventful.  Just sailed along with a bit of a crosswind.

It was a 116 mile ride.

The Pryor Road/Lockwood Loop

November 21, 2025

I had some chores to get out of the way but by early afternoon I was thinking about a ride. It was in the mid-50s and there was no wind.  With the number of riding days rapidly dwindling, I had to get the bike out.

I usually don't ride in town but needed to pick up some pencils for a drawing I'm working on so I stopped by the art supply shop and took care of that.  Then I was undecided as to where to ride so I headed south on 15th and since I wanted to avoid King and 24th, I headed to South Billings Blvd. and out of town.  

It's been a while since I've done this route and it was a near perfect day to ride it.  I headed south on South Billings Blvd. and continued on to Pryor Road.  I turned left and followed that to Hwy 87.  This is pretty much wide open country.  The speed limit was 50 MPH and I set my cruise control at that but was passed by several who didn't like that speed.

When I arrived at Hwy 87 I stopped for a few photos.

From there I headed to Lockwood through some nice twisty curves.  I went through the edge of downtown Billings, stopped to top up the tank, and arrived home without incident.

Here'some video from today's ride.

It was about a 50 mile day.

A Short Loop

November 15, 2025

It's been a busy few days, getting work done on the other house.  Today wound up the bathroom exhaust fan project with the HVAC guy followed by the roofing guy.  I caulked the panel I installed on the wall next to the shower and called it good.

The weather fine and the was really just enough time to grab a short ride and that's all I really wanted to do so I rode the loop out Molt Road to Shorey, to Alkali Creek, back on Skyline, and down Zimmerman.  It was about 25 miles and just felt good to be out.  We have some more nice weather in the coming week and after that it looks like a change so I'll try to get out for at least one more day ride.

Here's a few photos from the ride.

And some random videos.

It was a 25 mile ride.