A Bicyclist on Highway 140

Highway 140 looking west, really really lonely.

Yesterday Renee and I went into Winnemucca, 90 miles away, to send off our checks for the Hats, Hops and Hucks ultimate tournament in Santa Cruz in July. I've been three times and can't wait to go again, it is one of the funnest weekends imaginable. Anyway, on our way into town I saw something strange, as we neared, I recognized the silhouette, but almost couldn't believe it, but when we passed I saw that it was indeed a bicyclist, towing a trailer. It's probably not the first bicyclist on Highway 140, but is definitely the first I've seen.

Highway 140, or the Winnemucca to the Sea Highway, was built by the CCC in the 1930s. It runs from Highway 95 west to Denio, across the Sheldon Refuge into Oregon near Dougherty Slide, through Adel to Lakeview, across the Klamath Falls and then to the coast at Coos Bay. The section of the highway near the ranch (the ranch is 25 miles off the highway) is pretty extremely lonely, and it only gets more empty as you cross the Oregon border. I haven't been too excited about riding on it as it's quite narrow and has no shoulder, but traffic is also light (although it is a truck route). Anway, kudos to you bicyclist, you make me want to get out there all the more. On our way back we saw him again, resting and smoking alongside the road. I wanted to stop, but we'd already shot by and he seemed so peaceful sitting alongside the road, looking north toward Desolation Peak, that we decided not to bother him, although I was very curious about his trip. But it will have to remain a question mark. Hopefully it will be the start of many bicyclists, and we'll get some visitors from our warmshowers.org membership. So exciting!

Greasewoods along the highway.