Between traveling (by car) and having some pretty hoy weather, I haven’t had the FJR out in many weeks. However, with a cooling trend settling in and nothing on today’s calendar I just had to get out for a ride.
The day started with a session at Joel’s pong doing some retrieving with Bart the Dog. It was gorgeous out.
After that I got my gear together, check the tire pressures, and headed out about 10:20am. I made a quick stop to top off the gas and then took the Slab to Laurel where I got on 212 south. In Rockvale I turned on 310 and made my first stop in Edgar to see if the car art display had added anything new since I vivisted last. It had. Some signage and a donation box.
I passed through Fromberg, Bridger, and Belfry. Not too far south of Belfry I hit my first road construction.
That wait was only a few minutes but up ahead was another one, this time with a flagged who said that it would be at least 10 minutes.
After that delay, which was more like 15 minutes, I continued on south toward Cody and then turn on the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. This turn is about 90 miles from my home. It wasn’t long before I was stopped again for road work. At least it’s a good opportunity for some photos.
Once I got going I rode over 5-8 miles of loose gravel as this was chip sealing project. My speed was about 20 miles per hour.
Eventually the pilot car let us go and I rode to the top which is Dead Indian Lookout. I’ve been here before and it provides an excellent view into Sunlight Basin but today I am in a cloud. There were a few Harleys riding together with a chase car and truck pulling a big trailer. Visibility was low.
It wasn’t too long before the road dropped below the cloud and I was treated to some great scenery.
I stopped at Sunlight Creek Bridge that spans the Sunlight Gorge and is the highest bridge in Wyoming.
I cruise through Sunlight Basin and enjoyed the road and the scenery. I came to the end where it intersects with the Beartooth Highway and took a few photos.
I headed up the Beartooth Highway and made a few stops for photos.
When I was pulling out of that last stop another rider asked me about the weather on the Chief Joseph. I told him about the fog and he said it’s the same on Beartooth Pass. He also mentioned that there was bad accident on the other side and not to look.
I continued on and, sure enough, the clouds soon surrounded me.
When I got to the top, Beartooth Pass, it was pretty thick. I was riding very slowly, watching out for rock, animals, and other vehicles.
I stopped gas in Red Ledge and also dried off my visor and my glasses.
Just outside of town the rain stopped. I set the cruise on the bike and had an uneventful ride back to Billings.
So, I had warm and cold, wet and dry, good visibility and pea soup. All in all it was a great ride.
253.5 miles.
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