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.