Grand Illinois Trail - Colona to Albany Mounds

<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 - Colona to Albany Mounds</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> <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> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c899cccc00.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Grand Illinois Trail - Colona to Albany Mounds</B></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"> <div> Day 11 - 07/08/2006</div> <bR> <div> Hennepin Canal in Colona to Albany Mounds</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=299401" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=299401"><U><IMG SRC="251a2bd0.jpg" border=0 width="674" height="445" 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:  34.1  Miles   (11th day,  220.3 miles to date)</div> <bR> <div> Temp 90F, winds S 10 to 15</div> <bR> <div> Seen On theTrail:</div> <div> Wild life:  Canada Geese, Blue Heron, Egret, Ducks, Doves, Sea Gulls, Sparrows, Robins, Starlings,   Squirrels, Rabbits</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="22580ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fitting a new water bottle cage to Mary Lynn's bike.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The forecast was for hot weather again, so we loaded up with extra water.   We carried two bottles on each bike, along with a liter of water and a liter of Gatorade in the panniers.  </div> <bR> <div> Our trip started where we left off two weeks ago, in Colona,  in a very pretty town park that runs for several miles along the Hennepin Canal.</div> <bR> <div> We headed off through Colona's typical suburban neighborhoods.    </div> <bR> <div> After half a mile, the route turned onto busy Route 84 over the Rock River.  This section of Route 84 has a very wide shoulder and a 55 mph speed limit.   We had just taken the League of American Bicyclists Road I course, and were feeling  fairly confident about riding on heavily traveled roads.  Traffic was light and it was a comfortable ride over the bridge.  </div> <bR> <div> The only surprise was the storm drains at both ends of the bridge.  The storm drains were enormous holes in the road,  2  1/2 ft. wide by 3 1/2 ft. long .  They took up fully half of the shoulder width and had  widely spaced metal bars set parallel to our direction of travel.   Dropping a wheel into one of those would be a guaranteed end over and possibly a fall off the bridge.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="22680ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 1.0 mi - The Rock River</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22780ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 1.0 mi - Crossing the Rock River on Route 84</div> <div>  </div> <div> 1.3 mi - I wish I had the camera  to take Mary Lynn's photo as she rode under the 55 mph speed limit sign.</div> <bR> <div> 1.5 mi - A turnoff labeled Route 84 North is a shortcut into the town of Carbon Cliff.   After 50 yards or so, Route 84 North turned into a short  dirt road,  leading to 1st Street in the  village of Carbon Cliff.  </div> <bR> <div> 2.9 mi - We took one wrong turn in Carbon Cliff before making our way onto Valley View Road, and the steepest hill we had yet to climb on bikes.   Valley View Road climbs the cliff after which the town of Carbon Cliff is named.  We managed to get about 1/4 of the way up the before running out of steam.</div> <bR> <div> Unfortunately,  these pictures do not do justice to the steepness of the hill.  This one was hard to walk up, even without pushing the bikes.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="22880ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   </div> <div> 2.9 mi - We had to get all the way up there.</div> <div> The top 1/4 of the hill is around the curve.  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22a80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> This is as far as we got up the hill before having to get off the bikes and  walk.   </div> <div>    </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="26a80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Looking down Valley View Road from 3/4 the way up.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22e80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 4.4 mi - Looking  towards the Mississippi River from the town of Silvis on top of Carbon Cliff</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22f80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 4.4 mi - Going through neighborhoods in Silvis.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 4.5 mi - The payoff for riding up a hill like Carbon Cliff  is that you get to ride back down it.    A fast coast down Carbon Cliff brought us back onto Route 84, now a moderately busy 2 lane city street, and the town of East Moline.</div> <bR> <div> 6.4 mi - We rode through the East Moline business district.  The age and style of the buildings reminded me of my home town in the 1960's.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="23080ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 7.6 mi - In East Moline we get  back to the bike trail through the Quarter</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23280ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 8.5  mi - Beacon Harbor in the Quarter,  a refuge for boaters, hikers, and bicyclists</div> <bR> <div> Beacon Harbor has restrooms, candy and soft drink vending machines, a viewing deck, and an air conditioned information center.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="23380ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The river from Beacon Harbor.  A large boat dock is just out of sight below the levee.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23580ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Beacon Harbor from the river side</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23680ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Great River Trail going north from Beacon Harbor on the levee</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23880ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 10.0  mi - There is one park after another going north from Beacon Harbor.  This one is just north of Campbell's Island</div> <bR> <div> There are people in the parks, but not a lot of bike traffic on the trail.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="23980ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 10.6  Balcony overlooking the river</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23b80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 10.6  mi - Quaint memorial at the balcony </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23a80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 10.6 mi - More in the park</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> 11.1 The route took us through downtown Hampton and more parks.    Eventually the bike path routed us along Route 84</div> <bR> <div> 14.25  The I80 bridge over the Mississippi has been a land mark for me for over 30 years.  On vacations, it was the first state line we crossed on our way west to visit my parents lodge in Wyoming.  On the return, marked  the  reentry into our home state, and meant that vacation was almost over.   When crossing over the bridge by car I always wondered what it was like along the river on  road below.  And here I was, at last, on the road below.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="23c80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Under the i 80 bridge crossing the Mississippi River.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23d80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Wild flowers under the I80 bridge.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23e80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 16 mi - Another of the many parks between East Moline and Hannover</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23f80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="24340d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                              <IMG SRC="244d7420.jpg" border=0 width="215" height="322" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 17.6  mi -  Dunking a tire in the Mississippi at Port Byron  -- Gonna dunk the other one in Lake Michigan when we get back there.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> There were interesting little restaurants in all of the towns north of East Moline.  We decided to stop for lunch at Jimmy Lees in Port Byron.  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="24580ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> View from inside Jimmy Lee's Bar and Grill in Port Byron.</div> <div> A grilled chicken breast  Sandwich never tasted so good.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="24680ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 22.8  mi - Cordova</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="247ab800.jpg" border=0 width="427" height="640" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 22.8 mi - Shelter in Cordova</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="24880ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Shelter in Cordova</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="24980ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 25 mi - Site of 19th century river front warehouse just north of Cordova</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="24a80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 31 mi - We were riding on a levee.  </div> <div> You could hear the boats running on the Mississippi River immediately on the other side of the trees to the left.</div> <div> In the distance, the trail leaves the levee for a country road to Albany Mounds. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="24bab800.jpg" border=0 width="427" height="640" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 32 mi - Entering Albany Mounds Historical Area.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="24c80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A Hopewell burial mound in the distance</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="24d80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Hopewell Period Burial Mound</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="24e80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The Albany Mounds Trail does have some hills.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="24f80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 34.1 mi - The end at a garden in the parking area of Albany Mounds.</div> <bR> <div> We made 34 miles today.  The trail has taken us through suburban neighborhoods, rural neighborhoods, on expressways, up hills,  through business districts, on river levees,  through parks, forests, a native American burial area, and prairies.  This has been a delightful trip.</div> <bR> <div> The Great River Trail has had the best signage of any trail we have ridden so far.</div> <bR> <div> The frequent drink and snack stops a made for an easy tour.  </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> [<A HREF="albany_mounds_to_thomson.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Albany Mounds to T"><U>Next</U></A>]</div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=34 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="eggers_woods_to_lansing.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Eggers Woods, Chic"><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="albany_mounds_to_thomson.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Albany Mounds to T"><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>