Winter stills seems to be eluding us in south-central Montana with temperatures in the mid-50s and no precipitation. With nothing on the schedule today, it was a good opportunity to get the bike out again for a winter ride.
I wasn't sure which direction I'd go and at first I thought about a ride to Roundup but then thought that Pompey's Pillar might be preferable to to the bit of wind that might kick up. I got my gear on and hit the road just before 2pm, headed up Zimmerman Trail to Skyline Drive, out through Billings Heights on Wicks and then a turn onto Main Street.
When I came to the split of Hwys 87 and 312, I took 312 and settled in. Traffic was pretty light and the weather was just perfect.
I passed through Shepard by taking Chicago Road and then back on 312 and cruised to Worden where I stopped for a photo.
Then it was on to Pompey's Pillar.
Before I got going I watched the train going by just across the roadway.
I could have turned around here but it felt so good to be out and riding I decided to continue on to Custer by taking the frontage road. Here's a view from part of that ride.
When I arrived in Custer, I checked my map online. There is a road that goes to the northwest that I've ridden before that hooks to Pease Bottom Road, a nice ride to Hysham, but I didn't know where that road went. It's the Musselshell Trail Road and from a spot check on Streetview, it looked to be paved, at least for a way. I turn left and rode it across the Yellowstone River, past the turnoff for Hysham, and on to a slow climb up a hill.
At the 5 mile point, the pavement ended. I don't like riding gravel if I don't have to.
I turned around and headed back down the hill but stopped briefly to admire the scenery and take this photo.
When I arrived back at the turnoff for Custer I had two choices. I could ride back the way I came or hop on the freeway.
It was getting late in the day and while there was still plenty of sunlight, I would be riding right into it, making visible a hassle. I opted for the slab and rode it to the turnoff for Huntley and from there retraced my ride back to home.
It really felt great to be out, especially for this time of year. The weather looks just as good for the next week or so and I'm betting that I'll be back out again.
It was a 140 mile day.
No comments:
Post a Comment