Grand Illinois Trail - Hennepin Canal, Colona 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, Colona 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 - Frankfort to Joliet</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="i_m_canal__joliet__morris.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail IM Canal, Joliet t"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - I&M Canal, Joliet to Morris</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="buffalo_rock_to_gebhard_woods.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail IM Canal, Buffalo "><U>Grand Illinois Trail - I&M Canal, Buffalo Rock to  Gebhard Woods</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="hennepin_canal_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Hennepin Canal Vis"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Hennepin Canal Visitor Center, Sheffield  (Local) </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="hennepin_canal_bureau_to_visitor_center.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Hennepin Canal, B"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Hennepin Canal,  Bureau Junction, to the  Visitor Center</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="hennepin_canal___visitor_center_to_geneseo.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Hennepin Canal, Vi"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Hennepin Canal, Visitor Center to Geneseo</U></A></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c899cccc00.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Grand Illinois Trail - Hennepin Canal, Colona to Geneseo</B></div> <div> <A HREF="eggers_woods_to_lansing.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Eggers Woods, Chic"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Eggers Woods, Chicago to Lansing</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="colona_to_albany_mounds.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Colona to Albany M"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Colona to Albany Mounds</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="albany_mounds_to_thomson.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Albany Mounds to T"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Albany Mounds to Thomson</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="hanover_to_palisades.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Hanover to Mississ"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Hanover to Mississippi Palisades</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="palisades_to_thomson.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Mississippi Palisa"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Mississippi Palisades to Thomson</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="eggers_woods_to_navy_pier.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Eggers Woods to Na"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Eggers Woods to Navy Pier</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="seatonville_to_buffalo_rock.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Seatonville to Buf"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Seatonville to Buffalo Rock</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="wauconda_to_glencoe.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Wauconda to Glenco"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Wauconda to Glencoe</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="wauconda_to_richmond.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Wauconda to Richmo"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Wauconda to Richmond</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="glencoe_to_navy_pier.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Glencoe to Navy 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HREF="lake_le_aqua_na_to_freeport_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Lake LeAquaNa to F"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Lake Le-Aqua-Na to Freeport </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="freeport_to_pecatonica_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Freeport to Pecato"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Freeport to Pecatonica</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="pecatonica_to_rockford.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Pecatonica to Rock"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Pecatonica to Rockford </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="seatonville_to_bureau.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Seatonville to Bur"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - 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 9 - 06/17/2006</div> <bR> <div> Hennepin Canal,  West end in Colona, IL to Geneseo, IL</div> <div> and a brief run on the Great River Trail</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=271519" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=271519"><U><IMG SRC="1fea8e30.jpg" border=0 width="680" height="483" 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:  15.5  Miles   (9 th day,  173.3 miles to date)</div> <bR> <div> Temp 90F, winds SW 20, gusting to 35 again.</div> <bR> <div> Seen On theTrail:</div> <div> Wild life:  Canada Geese and goslings, Ducks, Mourning Doves, Sea Gulls, Blue Herons, Sparrows, Robins, Starlings, Red Wing Blackbirds, Finches,  Cardinals, Squirrels.</div> <bR> <div> The Grand Illinois Trail leaves the I&M Canal in Colona, about 2 miles before the end of the tow path trail.  We decided to ride the I&M tow path to the very end.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1e680ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 2.0 mi - West end of Hennepin Canal where it runs into  the Rock River</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e880ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> End of Hennepin Canal Bike Trail</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e980ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Last lock looking east  from end of Hennepin Canal</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1ea80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Checking the Info</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1eb80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> We're here</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1fc80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 8.3 mi  - At the Green River aqueduct</div> <bR> <div> 8.5  Shortly after  the Green River Aqueduct,  the trail goes up a short. steep hill and makes a sharp right turn onto a bridge to cross over from the north to the south side of the canal.   As we reached the top of the hill,  we found a Peacock occupying a over half of the trail width.   We managed to ride around him.  We  stopped to take a picture. but he scooted off before we could get the camera out.</div> <bR> <div> 8.9 - Shortly after crossing the Peacock bridge, the trail surface changed from chip seal to single track sand.  It was the first time we had ever had our bikes on sand.  Initially, we were concerned about getting bogged down, but we managed to pedal through it without too much of a problem.  Fortunately, the sand continued for only a mile</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1ed80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Shady spot on the trail</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1ee80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Taking a break.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f180ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1ef80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The end</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f080ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Completed the Hennepin Canal</div> <bR> <div> The temp and humidity were back in the 90s.  We decided to take a break for lunch before continuing the next section of our ride.  We loaded the bikes on the car and headed for the Music Festival and Art Fair in Geneseo.  </div> <bR> <div> Geneseo's downtown area is restored to a 1930s style, and filled with antique shops, restaurants, and boutiques.   The 28th Annual Geneseo Music Festival and Art Fair  was held in a shaded city park, roughly one block wide by five blocks long.  We spent a delightful couple of hours shopping the arts and crafts, sampling the food, and taking in the continuous entertainment.  The town was crowded, but not uncomfortably so.  </div> <bR> <div> We were ready to continue our ride by mid afternoon, but the weather turned threatening.  The forecast was for severe thunder showers, and it started spritzing.  </div> <bR> <div> We decided to check the route from the Hennepin Canal in Colona to the Great River Trail in East Moline by car,  and wait until tomorrow to bicycle the last 8 miles.  The Quarter, a landscaped park along the river has a one mile bike trail that joins the Great River.  We just couldn't resist taking a short ride.  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1f380ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  <A NAME="only_one_mile_to_the_mississippi"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Only one mile to the Mississippi</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f580ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Still on the trail</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f680ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f780ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The Mississippi river from  the Great River Trail</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f9ab800.jpg" border=0 width="427" height="640" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f880aa0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="426" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Made it!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f2ab800.jpg" border=0 width="427" height="640" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Beacon Harbor is a brand new information center on the levee.  </div> <div> It's a great rest stop with water, soft drinks, and restrooms.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1fa80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> View from the top deck of Beacon harbor.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1fb80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The harbor of Beacon Harbor with tug and barges in the distance.</div> <bR> <div> We were tempted to complete the 8 miles from the Hennepin Canal to the Great River Trail section by riding from The Quarter back to the Canal.  Unfortunately,  the thunderstorms  could be seen  moving up the river towards us.  It started to spritz, so we  packed the bikes and drove back to Geneseo in heavy  rain.</div> <bR> <div> Thunder storms were still passing over Sunday morning.  The last 8 miles from Colona to East Moline will have to wait until the next trip.</div> <bR> <div> We drove home with heavy rain most of the way.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> [<A HREF="eggers_woods_to_lansing.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Eggers Woods, Chic"><U>Next</U></A>]</div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=34 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="hennepin_canal___visitor_center_to_geneseo.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Hennepin Canal, Vi"><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="eggers_woods_to_lansing.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Eggers Woods, Chic"><U><B><IMG SRC="03716180.gif" border=0 width="22" height="24" 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