Ride on the Hennepin Canal 9-3-12

Today we drove down to Geneseo, IL to get on the Bike path, we had planned to have breakfast at a Mom and Pop type Cafe, but we couldn't find one in Geneseo, so we ended up going to "Hardee's" for something to eat, it was full of old farmers so we figured it was the place. After we ate we drove back north of Geneseo to the parking area on IL Route 82 and unloaded the bikes, we headed east to lock 23, which was our turn around point on the last ride on the canal, it was about 12 miles east, as usual I waited till we headed back west to start taking pictures.So here the pictures start at Lock 23 and head back west to Geneseo. Most of the path is paved, but by Aqueduct # 6 it is FA 20 or Ag Lime and very smooth and well packed, I wish all of the unpaved path were this nice.. I am very surprised at the good condition of the locks and Aqueducts on this western portion, it wouldn't take much to put this section back into operation. Much better shape than the eastern portion of the canal.

Don't forget to double click on any picture to see the details close up

 Lock 23 looking east into the morning sun

Inside close up of up stream gates at Lock 23

Looking east inside the lock

Close up of the lock works at lock 23

Down stream gate Lock 23, note the condition.

Lock works for down stream gate. and looking west, there is supposed to be a bridge 26 here but I don't see any evidence of it.

Looking east from Bridge 27

Looking west from Bridge 27

Looking east from Bridge 28

Looking west from Bridge 28

Looking east from Bridge 29, thats Judy on the path.

Looking west from Bridge 29

Looking east from Bridge 30

Looking west from Bridge 30

Looking east from Bridge 31

Looking west from Bridge 31

Looking east from Bridge 32

Looking west from Bridge 32

The north side of Aqueduct 6, these Aqueducts are in amazing shape

Aqueduct 6 looking east

Aqueduct 6 looking south

Aqueduct 6 looking west

Looking east from Bridge 33

Looking west from Bridge 33

West of Bridge 33, stands this old Cotton wood, makes you wonder how long this tree has stood here and the things it has seen flow by. Time will take the rest of it down eventually.

Looking east from Bridge 34

Looking west from Bridge 34

Looking east from Bridge 35

Looking west from Bridge 35

Coming up on Lock 24 from the east

Close up of Lock works

Looking east from Lock 24

Inside Lock 24 up stream gate detail showing the shelf that the up stream gates close against

Another view inside the lock looking east

Standing on the down stream gate of Lock 24 looking east.

Lock 24 down stream gates looking at old bridge 36

Up on the deck of old bridge 36

Looking west from old bridge 36 looking at the new bridge 36

The tube under the new bridge 36 with Judy coming up at the other end

Lily Pads filling the canal west of bridge 36

Closer look at the lily pads

A lily in bloom

Bridge 37 on IL Route 82 looking east

Bridge 37 looking west, where the lily pads are it appears the canal is very shallow, I would assume because the plants slow the flow of water down and it drops the sediment is is carrying filling up the channel. In the near future this could be a problem I would think.

About 1/2 a mile west of bridge 37 where we turned around to go back to the parking area.

Looking east to bridge 37, just west of here is Aqueduct 7, this will be a good place to pick up the next section.

The parking lot by IL Route 82, out starting point and end of our ride today. This section of the canal is different in many ways when compared to the rest of the canal, it is in very good shape and very wide in some points, but in some aspects much like the rest of the canal system, interesting to experience first hand.