Grand Illinois Trail - I&M Canal, Buffalo Rock to Gebhard Woods

<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 - I&M Canal, Buffalo Rock to  Gebhard Woods</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> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c899cccc00.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Grand Illinois Trail - I&M Canal, Buffalo Rock to  Gebhard Woods</B></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> <A HREF="hennepin_canal_colona_to_geneseo.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Hennepin Canal, Co"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Hennepin Canal, Colona to Geneseo</U></A></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 Pi"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Glencoe to Navy Pier</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="capron_to_richmond.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Capron to Richmond"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Capron to Richmond</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="capron_to_rockford.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Capron to Rockford"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Capron to Rockford </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="lake_le_aqua_na_to_apple_river_canyon.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Lake LeAquaNa to A"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Lake Le-Aqua-Na to Apple River Canyon</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="hanover_to_9_mi_east_of_galena.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Hanover to 9 mi Ea"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - Hanover to 9 mi East of Galena </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="galena_to_apple_river_canyon.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail 9 miles East of Ga"><U>Grand Illinois Trail - 9 miles East of Galena to Apple River Canyon SP</U></A></div> <div> <A 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"> <bR> <div> Day 5 - 5/18/2006</div> <bR> <div> I&M Canal, Buffalo Rock State Park (Ottawa) to  Gebhard Woods State Park ( Morris)</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=194327" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=194327"><U><IMG SRC="162bce90.jpg" border=0 width="700" height="489" 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> <bR> <div> Stats:  27.3 Miles   (5th day,  100.0 miles to date)</div> <bR> <div> Start ride in heavy overcast, end it in partly sunny conditions,  65F, winds NW 15 to 20 m/h</div> <bR> <div> Seen On theTrail:</div> <div> Canada Geese, Ducks, Mourning Doves, Sea Gulls, Blue Heron, Sparrows, Robins, Starlings, Red Wing Blackbirds, Finches, Painted Turtles,  Squirrels, Rabbits, a Muskrat, lots of Mosquitoes and Noseeums in the wetlands.</div> <bR> <div> It has been two weeks since we were on the ride.  We had scheduled two trips ... a day trip and an overnighter ... but canceled both because of bad weather.</div> <bR> <div> The plan today is for a 37 mi day trip on the I&M Canal from Gebhard Woods State Park near Morris, IL  to the west end of the Canal in La Salle -Peru, IL.  We would use 2 cars in a self supported trip ...</div> <bR> <div> It rained heavily the night before the ride. The forecast was for intermittent light rain all day, and it was sprinkling as we loaded the bikes on the car.   We briefly considered calling this trip off, too.</div> <bR> <div> But we were determined that a little rain was not going to spoil today's trip.   After all, riding in intermittent light rain is not like riding in a tornado.   So we threw ponchos and a change of clothes in the panniers, and drove off into intermittent rain for most of the 60 miles to Gebhard Woods State Park near Morris.  </div> <bR> <div> At Gebhard Woods we asked about the status of the I&M Canal trail to the west.   We did not want to be surprised by another trail closure as <A HREF="i_m_canal__joliet__morris.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail IM Canal, Joliet t"><U>on our last trip</U></A>.  </div> <bR> <div> Bad news.  Heavy rain and winds had downed trees and washed out a section of the tow path.  The I&M Canal trail was closed near Buffalo Rock State Park, about 10 miles from the La Salle end of the trail.  Also, hikers reported several sections of the trail between Buffalo Rock and La Salle were flooded.   We tried to reach the Buffalo Rock administration office to see if there was a way around the  flooding and washout, but there was no answer.    </div> <bR> <div> We decided to drive to the trail access at Buffalo Rock.  If the I&M Canal trail was passable to the west, we would continue driving to La Salle and start the 37 mile bike ride from there back to Gebhard Woods.  If the trail was not passable to the west, we would start at the Buffalo Rock access and ride the 27 miles from there back to Gebhard Woods.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="16558ac0.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="428" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The Buffalo Rock access</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="16758ad0.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="429" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Can't go west,</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="16a58900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> But we can go east!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> When we started the ride, the rain had stopped.  Every 50 to 100 feet,  there was half inch to inch deep puddle across the trail.   We slowed down a bit and didn't get too splattered, but I have a new appreciation for fenders on bicycles.  </div> <bR> <div> Much of the trail was *extremely* soft.  The bikes would not coast.  We seldom got over 12 m/h.  There were large sections where we were peddling constantly in very low gears at 5 or 6 m/h.  I didn't have a handling problem with the panniers, but it was noticeably difficult to get the bike started and keep it rolling on the soft sections. </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="17258900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> First Lock - the sun even came out for us.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="16e58900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> View from the bridge over the lock</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The I&M Canal Trail runs thru the center of Ottawa, and there are stop signs on the trail where it crosses streets.  Mary Lynn and I would come to a complete stop at a street crossings, only to have cars, which didn't have to stop,  stop  and signal us to cross.  I couldn't tell if they were being super courteous, or if they were being super cautious because so many local cyclists run those stop signs.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="17458900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 4.7 mi in Ottawa - Checking the sights  at the Fox River Aqueduct.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="18a58900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="17658900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The steel structure visible to the left once carried the I&M Canal </div> <div> over the Fox River.  There is no water running in it now.</div> <div> We walked our bikes over this bridge because the center section was wet and very slippery.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="17858900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> View of the Fox River from the I&M Canal bridge</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="17a58850.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="901" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="17c58900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Just before Marseilles.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> For several miles before Marseilles the trail was very soft where it passed thru wetlands.   This is also the only section where we ran into significant bugs ... swarms of Mosquitoes and Noseeums.  I was very glad to have wraparound glasses.</div> <bR> <div> In Marseilles, we jumped  over to a road that parallels the tow path for a mile or so.  We were both surprised at how much easier it was to pedal on the pavement than it was to pedal on the soft tow path.  Enjoyed the easy mile.</div> <bR> <div> Mile 12 - I have to be more attuned to my body on these rides.  During the first 12 miles I did not snack, and only took one small drink.   I was exerting myself more than usual on the soft path, and having a hard time finding a comfortable cadence.  By the time we stopped for lunch I was winded and it took a long time to catch my breath.  I scarfed down PB&J, raisins, walnuts, and half an orange.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="17e58900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 14 mi- View of Illinois River from tow path</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="18058900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 14 mi - Another view down the tow path</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 17.  Seneca has a pretty park, gas stations, a bar, and a library,  all in view of the trail.  We stopped briefly to refill water bottles and use facilities.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="18258900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Took short break in Seneca</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="18558900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Hogan Grain Elevator in Seneca.</div> <div> Oldest grain elevator on the canal</div> <bR> <div> I was careful to drink and snack every couple of miles after lunch, and was feeling much better by the time we pulled out of  Seneca.</div> <bR> <div> Signage on the I&M Canal must be handled by the local municipalities.    Near towns there is every sort of sign imaginable ...  Stop Ahead signs,  Curve Ahead signs, Caution signs, Yield signs.   Away from the towns, you have to anticipate the hazards on your own.   Most notable was a  4 foot deep, 20 foot wide concrete walled drainage ditch across the trail with no warning signs whatsoever.   There were ramps quite a bit steeper than a typical stairway leading in and out of the ditch.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="186841c0.jpg" border=0 width="388" height="540" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> One of the many Blue Heron along the canal.</div> <div> This guy was a few miles west of Gebhard Woods.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Mary Lynn took off down the trail after taking that photo of the Heron.  I started to follow but stalled thanks to being in too tall a gear and on too soft a path.  I put my foot down, but slipped on the wet grass.  I fell off of a canal tow path, on my back, holding the bike over me as I skidded 4 or 5 ft down the side of the berm. There was no serious damage to me nor the bike, but I did a plow my way thru one of the most luxuriant patches of poison ivy ever grown.  Fortunately, I'm not sensitive to poison ivy.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="18858900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> End at Gebhard Woods</div> <bR> <div> This was another great trip.  </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="hennepin_canal_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Hennepin Canal Vis"><U>[Next]</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=34 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="i_m_canal__joliet__morris.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail IM Canal, Joliet t"><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_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Hennepin Canal Vis"><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>