Eastern Montana Outing

August 7, 2025

I have a couple weeks where I have to dog sit our pet while my wife is dog sitting elsewhere so lung or overnight rides are out for a few weeks.  That's don't mean no riding, I just have to limit myself to 5-6 hours away.  Keith and I talked about a day ride a couple weeks ago and once our busy schedules had a coinciding free day, we marked it for a day ride.

To start the day off, I did go on a hike with Bart the Dog nice and early.  It was beautiful, though windy, out.  We did a mile and 3/4 at Zimmerman Park.

After that I got the bike out, got it ready to go, and then met Keith a bit before 9am at the MSU-Billings parking lot.  I'd sent him the proposed route and we chatted a bit and then got on our way.

We took Hwy 312 east and stopped at Pompey's Pillar for a break and a photo.

From there we rode the frontage road which parallels I-94 off and on.  It's a fine ride through ranch and farmland.

At the turnoff for Custer we headed west to pick up Pease Bottom Road.

I've ridden this many times and while it is paved, it can be rough in spots.  Within the first couple miles we encountered cattle on the road.

The condition of the road deteriorated after that.  What used to be a game of dodging pot holes is now one of just hanging on.  It looks like the country milled the road, ran a grader over it, and then followed with oil.  The rough marks from the tracks on the grader are still felt.

After a bit, we pulled over for a break.

After a few more rough miles, the road became smooth again.

We rode this to Hysham, the next stopping point on this excursion.

We parked at the Yucca Theater for a bit and to take some photos.

Hysham is a very small town.

Next, we headed east out of town, looking for the Sarpy Creek Road.  I'd seen this road on a map and checked Streetview that it was paved and, since I had not ridden it before, it would be something new to check out.  While the map represents it as mostly a straight ride, it is actually hilly with lots of sweeping curves.  The scenery is pure Eastern Montana with a Big Sky and land as far as the horizon.

We arrive in Hardin and Keith wanted to stop for gas.

When I moved to Montana 33 years ago I lived in Hardin for a few months before I got sort of settled in Billings.  The place I stayed was with my sister-in-law and my now-late brother-in-law.  He was the area veterinarian and had a nice place on a road that is now named for him.  When I lived there the road was gravel but a look online showed that it is now paved so we rode along it so I could take a photo of the house.

From there, it was a ride on Old 87 back to Billings.  It was uneventful and we were rewarded with the twisty roads are we entered into Lockwood.  

It was great ride and I covered 211 miles. 

To Beartooth Pass

July 31, 2025

With morning chores out of the way and nothing scheduled for the rest of the day I thought it might be a good day for a ride.  With all my travels I hadn't been up to the Beartooth Pass this season so it made a good destination.

I did a few fiddly things to the bike before getting sorted.  I had to adjust the front camera a little bit, check the air in the tires, and pack a lunch.  I headed out about 11am, stopping first at an ATM to replenish my dwindled supply of cash, and then out the standard route to Buffalo Trail to Laurel to Hwy 212.

The weather was great, cool, no wind, and clear skies.

After an uneventful ride to Red Lodge I stopped to have lunch in their city park.

The ride to Vista Point was pleasant.

I stopped to put on a sweatshirt under my mesh jacket as I knew it would chilly going to the top.

I was surprised how many motorcycles I saw on the road.  I'd expect it this time of year on the weekends but here in the middle of the week there were plenty.  Except for one BMW, all I saw were Harleys.  

At the top I stopped for the usual photo.

Those clouds to the west look a bit threatening so I didn't waste much time before heading back toward Red Lodge.

I stopped at Vista Point again to get a drink of water and as I was putting my water bottle away I felt the first drop.  Within a few minutes the rain fully arrived and it was heavy enough.  On the way down I saw other motorcycle pulled over and donning their rain gear.  I knew that I would eventually outrun and and that with the ride from Red Lodge to Billings I would get dried.

Not too far from Red Lodge traffic slowed to allow for a "goat drive."

In Joliet I stopped to get my sweatshirt off as it was plenty warm again.  That's the thing about the rides here, several clothing options are necessary to bring along.

I took the old Hwy 212 from Rockvale back to Laurel and then River Road back toward Billings where I rode the Shilo roundabouts to Rimrock Road and then back home.

It was a 192 mile day.