A Ride to Rapelje

March 19, 2024

When an early spring brings good weather to Montana we have to get out and ride when we can.  I’d plan to go yesterday but it was really windy and today turned out to be a much better option.  I started the day with a 7-1/2 mile run for my Run All the Streets of Billings project.  That run is documented here.  After a shower and lunch, I got the FJR out and headed west.  The first stop was the gas station.

I did the usual Billings exit by heading west on Grand to its end, drop down to Lipp road, and then Buffalo Trail to Laurel.  From there I road to Park City where I pulled over to put on my lighter gloves.  When I went under the freeway (in the background) there were a half dozen Highway Patrol and sheriff cars there with their lights flashing.  Something was up but I have no idea what it was.

I passed through Columbus and picked up Hwy 306 and road that north toward Rapelje.  I stopped for photos along the way.

I got to Rapelje and my rip counter indicated I’d ridden 73 miles.  I took a few photos before heading back.  I plan to come back here with my medium format film camera and my sketchbook and do some imaging of those grain elevators.

I headed back south on Hwy 306.  There is a shorter route back to Billings by riding to Molt but the road isn’t paved.  I stopped for some photos on my way south.

In Columbia I grabbed the Slab and rode it back to Billings.  I’d really rather not do the freeway but it’s good practice.  I gassed up before I put the bike away.

And here’s the route.  It was about 150 miles, out and back.

The 2024 Season Has Begun

March 10, 2024

It might be debatable in some circles but I am calling winter over and it’s time to start riding again.  The truth be told, I took the bike out for a very short ride two weeks ago but that was primarily to see how I fit on the seat after my recent surgery.  Last January 9th I had some work done and I was concerned that there might be a problem but everything is fine.  I just needed two more weeks of healing before doing a longer ride.

Today was the day.  Bill had changed th gearing on his KLR and wanted to check the speedometer against mine so we headed out north on Highway 3 about 11 am.  I gave him some signals and he noted his speedometer readings and then we pulled over a few miles from Acton to confer.  It seems that the speedo just registers about 2 miles higher than mine so all is well.

Bill took the lead and we rode to Lavina.  It’s a beautiful day with clear skies and the temperature in the low to mid-50s.  Very little wind.  Just outside Lavina I got a bug splat in the middle of my face shield so we stopped so I could clear that and grab some photos.

We passed through Harlowton and turned south on Hwy 101 toward Big Timber.  Along the way we stopped for a photo with Crazy Mountains in the background.

The weather continued to be great until we got to the turnoff to Melville and then we had a vicious cross wind that lasted almost all the way to Big Timber.

In Big Timber we were happy to see that the brewery was open.  Any time I’ve been through here in the past it wasn’t open early enough to have a beer and get back to Billings before dark.

A had a very good IPA and Bill had an amber.

This was across the street.

After passing through Columbus we pulled over to admire the scenery and such.

Then it was back to Billings.  It’s a great loop and one I’ve done a few times before and will be doing again.

A 226 mile day.