Day 6 - 05/29/2006
Hennepin Canal Visitor Center, Sheffield, IL almost to Lock 21
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Stats: 9.8 Miles (6th day, 109.8 miles to date)
Temp and humidity both in the mid 90s. Wind light. First time this year we are riding in temps over 75F.
We have 10 miles to ride on the I&M Canal, but the trail is still closed at Buffalo Rock due to the flooding and wind damage. We will wait until the washout is fixed before attempting to finish it. We are also looking for an alternate route around some gravel roads in the connecting segment between the west end of the I&M Canal in La Salle and the east end of the Hennepin Canal in Bureau. This trip will be on the Hennepin Canal
We planned a 21 mile ride east from the Hennepin Canal Visitor Center to the east end of the canal at Bureau Junction. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out the way we planned.
Entrance to Visitor Center Complex
The red gear thingie at the left of the sign is the mechanism that opens and closes water gates at the various locks
Hennepin Canal Parkway Visitor Center
The visitor center is a large park with a covered shelter, drinking water, and lots of shady picnic areas.
Now we have matching outfits
Near the visitor center, the canal and the riding path seem wider and less shaded than the I&M Canal.
The path surface changes from limestone screenings to a gravel for a while.
Typical view along the tow path
One of these days I'm going to learn how to pace myself. The heat and humidity started to get to me a couple of miles into the trip. I compounded the problem by not drinking enough water, and by pedaling way too hard on a soft gravel section. At 5 miles I was winded, dizzy, and felt like I was going to black out.
Water, food, and resting in the shade for 15 mins didn't help the light headedness. I was afraid of falling off the bike. 21 miles was out of the question. Reluctantly, we called it quits for the day, rested a bit more, and rode the 5 miles back to our starting point. We will ride this section again.
Bummer ...
