Day 13 Harlowton to Billings

After a good night's rest at the Assembly of God Church, John and I headed out toward Billings. We stopped to photograph a locomotive engine that commemorates the role the Milwaukee railroad played in the development of Harlowton. Interestingly, the railroad pulled out of Harlowton in 1984, taking even the track that ran through town with it. The town's population shrank from 3,000 to a little less than 1,000 citizens in the months that followed. Some followed the railway move, others just moved on. John and I mused at the logic of a monument to the Milwaukee railroad in light of its ultimate effect on the community. Things that make you go hmmmm.

Riding down hwy 12 east was a 48 mile joy. Rolling hills, we characterize as roller-coasters, and very little traffic. We soared, losing altitude and gaining speed. We departed Harlowton at 6:30AM, cycling 48 miles through the Montana high plains, Ryegate (home of the testicle festival!) and were in Lavina for lunch before 9AM.

Lunch in Lavina..mmm peanut butter!

The high plains of MT.

We averaged 20 mph, we never average 20 miles per hour. We were elevation strong, or should I say lack-of-elevation strong. Having a mere 43 miles left, we were off to finish the ride in record time.

Notice the slight uphill nature of the land... we did too.

But all good things must come to an end, and Saturday was no exception. Billings, MT is 1,400 feet higher than Lavina and thus we began to climb. We climbed, and climbed, and climbed. The hills were never steep, they just seemed to never stop. After pausing for a second lunch and a sit in the shade of an awning (it was 85 F and not a tree in site), we continued to climb. Having been told the last half of the ride was flat, we began to resent the continual hill. It didn't care and continued to rise.

It is a lot prettier in person.

The city of Billings was a welcoming site: the hill stopped and secondly, Billings, MT is beautiful. The city, spread out below us, provided a view impossible to capture.

Gliding down a steep hill (at last!), we found the University of Montana Petre Hall easily. We were welcomed with a cold beer and later, a delicious meal (mmmm rare moo cow!) prepared for us in the park. We survive to ride again. Tomorrow a day off in Billings!