@whattheheel: I get you buddy. I don't have a bike right now but will get another XC bike as my next purchase. Too many morons on the roads in this town and it's not safe to ride on the roads. We have plenty of woods and countryside here so I'll do some cross country when it comes to my next bike.
Thanks Kinny. I get it and I agree WTH. I'm not a super serious road rider (I just really like road bikes) so I'm okay with plotting my rides around safe times and places. If I was being rational I'd just use my gravel bike for everything and bang out all the drop bar miles safely off-road.
Yeah, Spearfish isn't really big enough to cruise on the road bike and I just don't 3-4 hours to go play anymore. That was that magical time called before kids!!