Roads we Love
I’ve recently finished The Journals of Lewis and CLark, required reading I think, particularly if you live in the Northwest. Being a cyclist and a birder, or “twitcher” in Britain, I decided to ride from the location where Lewis and Clark first described Lewis’s woodpecker to the location where the explorers first described Clark’s nutcracker. Conceptual bike riding.
I didn’t see either of the birds named after the famous men but I did see this pygmy owl.
More signs like this in 1805 might have drastically changed the course of history.
The roads were clear and the weather was almost mild.
But it’s the weather’s prerogative to change and it did so – often.
The views looked like this one moment
and like this the next.
This family has quite a crop of cars growing on their land.
Through the window of an old school house. Note the basketball hoop.
This is the point where my ride went from a possible loop to an out-and-back. Or an out-and-back-and-back-out-another-way-and-back.
Game was abundant in 1805 along the Clearwater River and food is still easy to find along the river. This local Chinese food was found in-between the highway and the river.
Tobacco is also abundant along the Clearwater.
Longcamp, where Lewis and Clark and co. met with the Nes Perce.
The road to Weippe is a steep climb on a bike. It is equally steep on foot or by car come to think of it, but it hurts more on a bike. As the road levels off, you find yourself in the midst of a beautiful prairie, Weippe Prairie. Keep riding through the town of Weippe and have lunch at Timberline Cafe. As far as I can tell, it is the only restaurant in town. If you find yourself in Idaho, particularly in the greater Lewiston area, go ride these roads. As soon as the roads clear I plan to go back to attempt the loop again. Join me.
