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.
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