Grand Illinois Trail - Seatonville to Buffalo Rock

<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 - Seatonville to Buffalo Rock</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=160 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> <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> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c899cccc00.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Grand Illinois Trail - Seatonville to Buffalo Rock</B></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 16 - 08/20/2006</div> <bR> <div> Seatonville to Buffalo Rock</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=413651" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=413651"><U><IMG SRC="348cacb0.jpg" border=0 width="714" height="459" 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:  22.5  Miles   (16th day,  308.7 miles to date)</div> <bR> <div> Temp 82F, winds NE 10 to 15, partly cloudy ... a beautiful day</div> <bR> <div> Seen on the trail</div> <div> Not a lot of wild life this trip ... Canada geese, hawks, crows, squirrels, and a few cows.</div> <bR> <div> Back in May the last 10 miles of the I&M Canal was blocked at Buffalo Rock State Park.  We jumpped from the I&M Canal at Buffalo Rock to the beginning of the Hennepin Canal.  The purpose of this trip is to finish the I&M Canal west of Buffalo Rock and ride part of the connecting road route from the end of the I&M Canal to the Hennepin Canal.</div> <bR> <div> This trip will go east  from Seatonville to Buffalo Rock.  We will leave 13 miles of freshly graded gravel road between Seatonville and the Hennepin Canal for a later trip.  </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2e780ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Seaton Memorial Park</div> <bR> <div> Started in this little city park.</div> <bR> <div> 0.3 mi - It was all down hill for the first 0.25 miles ... then up hill for  about 0.5 mile.   Six months ago we would have been off the bikes and walking after 25 yards.  This time we slowed down and rode up it all the way without stopping.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2eb40d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">          <IMG SRC="2e940d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                                            </div> <div> 2.8 mi - Passing by corn and bean fields on a county road.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 4.5 mi - As we rode past one house, a  medium sized dog came running at us, barking like crazy.   He chased along side thr road  for about 150 ft., but stayed about 10 feet on his side of the rode.   It was pretty clear that he was protecting his turf, and wasn't going to cross the road to get us. </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2ec80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 5.1 mi - Through the forest on a county road down a steep hill.  </div> <bR> <div> 5.4 mi -Of course, steep downhills are generally  followed by steep uphills, and this was no exception.  The uphill was extremely steep and roughly a 1/2 mile  long.  We stopped about 3/4 of the way up to catch our breath, but rode every inch of the way up.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="31e80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 5.6 mi - Looking back down the steep hill.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> 6.2 mi - Rode 3 miles on busy US 6 into La Salle.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2f140d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                     <IMG SRC="2f240d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 9.0 mi - This was another steep one.                                 And we returned to ride along the Illinois River</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2f380ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 10.5 mi - Old railroad car in an  industrial area along the river</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2f480ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 10.5 mi - Hill in distance leads into downtown La Salle</div> <bR> <bR> <div> This is the weekend for the big car show in downtown La Salle.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2f580ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 10.9 mi -  4 blocks of sharp cars</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Had some brats and took in the show.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2f740d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">        <IMG SRC="2f940d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2fb40d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">        <IMG SRC="2fd40d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2ff40d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">        <IMG SRC="30240d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> 11.4 mi - And that brought us back to the I&M Canal</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="30380ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 11.4 mi - Lock 14 on the I&M Canal - end of the line</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="30680ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="30780ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="30e40d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">        <IMG SRC="30f40d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 11.4  mi - Locks</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="30c80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="30b80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> I&M tow path</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Riding on shaded paths again</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="31140d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">        <IMG SRC="31240d60.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 12.0 mi - Over an Aqueduct</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="32480ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 12.0 mi - Fishing Egrets</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="31480ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Flying Blue Heron</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="31580ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 12.4 mi - Watching me take pictures of the Egrets</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="31780ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Happy to be out on the trail</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="31880ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Split Rock in the background</div> <div> The canal builders had to blast through this limestone hill</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="31a80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Entering Utica</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="31b80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Camp site along the I&M Canal</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="31c80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Approaching the Buffalo Rock parking lot</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="31d80ab0.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Returned to this friendly little bar in Seatonville for beer and pizza after the ride</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Another wonderful ride on many different kinds of roads and paths.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> [<A HREF="wauconda_to_glencoe.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Wauconda to Glenco"><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_navy_pier.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Eggers Woods to Na"><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="wauconda_to_glencoe.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Illinois Trail Wauconda to Glenco"><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>