Grand Illinois Trail - Hennepin Canal, Visitor Center to Geneseo

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=3 height=50 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="03c788e1dvldtc.jpg"> <div> <B>Grand Illinois Trail - Hennepin Canal, Visitor Center to Geneseo</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=20% BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <A HREF="bicycle_trips21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Larry and Mary Lynns Grand Illinois Trai"><U><B>Larry and Mary Lynn's Grand Illinois Trail Adventure</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="grand_illinois_trail___frankfort.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Frankfort To Chica"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Frankfort To Chicago Heights</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="grand_illinois_trail__chicago_heights_to_lansing.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Chicago Heights To"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Chicago Heights To Lansing</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="frankfort_to_joliet.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Frankfort to Jolie"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - 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Seatonville to Bureau</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="grand_illinois_trail_epilogue.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Epilogue"><U>Grand Illinois Trail -  Epilogue</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="grand_illinois_trail_noptes.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Route Notes"><U>Grand Illinois Trail -  Route Notes</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=396 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> Day 8 - 06/16/2006</div> <bR> <div> Hennepin Canal, Visitor Center near Sheffield, IL to Geneseo, IL</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=267530 " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=267530 "><U><IMG SRC="1fda2df0.jpg" border=0 width="674" height="479" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> Click on the satellite view to zoom in on route details, pan along the route,  </div> <div> or switch between the satellite view and a map view.  </div> <div> Click on the browser Back button to return to this page.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Stats:  26.7  Miles   (8 th day,  157.8 miles to date)</div> <bR> <div> Temp 90F, winds SW 20, gusting to 35.</div> <bR> <div> Seen On theTrail:</div> <div> Wild life:  Canada Geese and goslings, Ducks, Mourning Doves, Blue Herons, Sparrows, Robins, Starlings, Red Wing Blackbirds, Finches,  Cardinals, Squirrels, Rabbits,  Ground hog.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1cd40d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="1cf40d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Bikes ready to roll</div> <bR> <div> The panniers are lightly loaded ... tire tools, tubes, food,  5L of water, in addition to a 700 ml water bottle on each bike, a few bags of trail mix and a few power bars.  We are learning how to stay hydrated and not knock ourselves out on hot days.   We seem to do best when we stop every 20 mins or so to drink about a 250 ml of water and take a handful of trail mix.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1d080ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Last minute adjustments</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="20080ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Say, did I mention it's really windy today?</div> <div> Actually, that's what happens when you put sun screen on the top of your head to keep from getting tiger stripes from your helmet.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1d180ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 1 mi - Trail crosses an old steel bridge over the Hennepin Canal with a view of the I 80 bridge in the distance</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1d280ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 5.75 mi - Feeder canal at upper left bring water to the Hennepin canal.</div> <bR> <div> This pond is the highest point on the canal.  From here, it descends east to the Illinois River near DePue and West to the Rock River near Colona.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1d480ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Lock 22 - Upstream lock gate</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1d580ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Lock 22 - Downstream lock gate and lift bridge.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1d680ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Lock 22 - The Hennepin Canal Trail runs in tunnels under most busy roads.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1d880ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Aqueduct</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1d980ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Mary Lynn crossing bridge next to aqueduct</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1da80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Lunch break at the Lock 23 picnic area.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1db80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Hay snacks in the field across from picnic area</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1de80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Shady Rest Spot</div> <bR> <div> It was hot, humid and windy.  We  took a break in the shade of this old cottonwood.   The wind was blowing at 20 m/h with gusts to 35 m/h.  It worked against us when we were riding but was refreshing as we sat enjoying the farm view.  It's amazing how a little rest, water, and food can energize you.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1dc80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> I found this view of Illinois farmland very restful.</div> <div> Our rest stop here was one of those magic moments.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e380ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> View down trail from the cottonwood tree.  You could feel the heat rising from the trail.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e280ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Lock 24 in the distance</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e580ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> More Lock 24 park</div> <bR> <div> When we got to the end we felt ready for a rest.   </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="hennepin_canal_colona_to_geneseo.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Hennepin Canal, Co"><U>[Next]</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=34 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="hennepin_canal_bureau_to_visitor_center.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Hennepin Canal, B"><U><B><IMG SRC="03816180.gif" border=0 width="22" height="24" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B> </B><A HREF="hennepin_canal_colona_to_geneseo.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Hennepin Canal, Co"><U><B><IMG SRC="03716180.gif" border=0 width="22" height="24" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>     </B><A HREF="bicycle_trips21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Larry and Mary Lynns Grand Illinois Trai"><U><B><IMG SRC="03616180.gif" border=0 width="22" height="24" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B> </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="24" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="22"></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>