PORTLAND, OREGON -- AUGUST 30, 2013 -- Doc Mishler, who is reportedly raising money for hungry children, is heading into Portland on the shoulder of the eastbound lanes of highway 26. Mishler rode one horse and lead two others along Highway 26 and into Portland on Friday. He was escorted along the breakdown lane by several ODOT vehicles. Dave Killen/The Oregonian

Oregon highway officials just issued a warning to motorists that they should beware of a lone rider on horseback heading into Portland from Cedar Hills on U.S. 26.

Traffic on the busy highway may be slowed, said Department of Transportation spokeswoman Kimberly Dinwiddie.

"In the city, we don't see that," Dinwiddie said.

Doc Mishler, who is reportedly raising money for hungry children, is heading into the city on the shoulder of the eastbound lanes, Dinwiddie said.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Mishler offered this: "God did it again: camped out on the Nehalem river where it is but a bubbling brook, and I'm a babbling fool; now at the Comfort Inn in Hillsboro -- looking forward to riding thru Portland, if it be God's will...."

Department of Transportation "maintenance and incident response crews" will follow Mishler as he rides into town leading two pack horses so that no one gets hurt.

Motorists were warned to be extra alert and expect delays. Mishler will travel sections of U.S. 26 that permit non-motorized vehicles.The horseman told ODOT he plans to ride on two segments of U.S. 26 starting at 10 a.m.:

From Southwest Murray Boulevard to Cedar Hills Boulevard.

From the Oregon Zoo exit to the Jefferson Street off-ramp.

-- Bryan Denson