11-2-15

Haven't ridden the canal as much this year, health and weather, haven't helped

Crossing the dam we saw these Pelicans all huddled up against 

the wind and dropping temperatures.

9-10-15

9-10-15

We rode down to Buhel Road and back was a beautiful day for a ride.

9-4-15

Was a foggy morning and we rode the Trail to Sinnissippi Park

There was a train sitting and waiting for another to come through.

June 11, 2015

Judy is in Georgia, so today was a solo ride. I rode the feeder Canal down to Buehl Road and back.

This is a shot from the downstream side of the construction

 on the Rt 40 bridge over the Feeder Canal

Here is the Garmin Report.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/801178929

June 8, 2015

Rode over to Sinississippi Park and on to Woodlawn Park, then took Woodlawn Road to Stauffer Road and then to Oppold Marina. We took a break at the river. 

Panoramic View looking west on the Rock River.

The road out of the Marina is up hill for about a mile.

Here is the Garmin Report

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/801178830

Sunday Ride 5-31-15

It was a windy but beautiful day for a ride. The pictures will show what I mean.

Garmin Report....https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/791092235

Looking Up Stream from the Dam Walkway

Down Stream View from same spot

View of Dam and walkway from Sterling side of the Rock River.

Back on the Rock Falls side south of the Guard Lock on the Feeder canal 

after riding over thru Sinississippi Park

 and turn around at Woodlawn Park.

Abandoned Rail Road bridge in the distance

About 24 Kayakers  were on the canal today

Work Continues on the Rt 40 Bridge 

But it didn't stop the Kayakers  or 4 canoes from going through.

Turned here and headed home, this view from the Rt40 Bridge looking north.

Combined ride on Feeder Canal and the Rail Road Trail 5-28-15

Today we rode down to Buehl Road and on the way back we got off on the Rail Road Trail and rode over to McNeil Road then around on Riverview Drive and home.

Garmin Report.......https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/791091930

At the start of the rail Road Trail as accessed from the Feeder Canal. The left side has been scraped and painted to cover graffiti.

The first segment is grass, but fairly smooth and not to hard to ride on.

The next portion is paved, originally the City of rock Falls or whomever intended this path to go all the way from the hennepin Feeder Canal to Route 30, so why they paved this section from McNeil road, about a half mile, I don't know. it would be nice if it was paved all the way to the feeder. But this trail is rarely used and is unknown to many.

Rained out ...... 5-26-15

I checked the Quad Cities radar and it didn't show any local rain, the closes was the Quad Cities, about 45 to 50 miles away, so I said to Judy lets go. We got everything lined up and off we went, about 1.5 miles in we stopped because it was starting to rain, so we waited under the abandoned Rail Road bridge and waited a bit, it continued to rain more, so we headed home. When we got home we were soaked. I checked the Radar again and it din't show any rain in our area. So much for local radar.

This is the Google Earth View of the Abandoned Rail Road bridge we waited under.

Here is the garmin Report, such as it is..... https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/78590555

5

May 25, 2015

The wind was awful on our way back, and there were lots of people out walking on the WRONG side of the path. So I stopped and explained that it is like driving a car, walk and ride on the right and pass on the left. Don't know if it will do any good, but it is worth a shot.

Garmin Report.....https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/784947759

Nice view of Lake Sinississippi today

May 23, 2015 Ride the Feeder Canal

Got back to the Feeder Canal and rode 14 miles total, we didn't get going until late and I evidently forgot to plug the Garin in, so it went "Low Battery" on us on our way back so we did complete the trip but the Garmin Report only shows part of the trip. 

Garmin Report and Map    https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/782562249

The Cotton Wood Trees are really producing "Cotton" this year, there are parts of the path that are covered, this branch had fallen from the tree and was laying next to the path, it shows how heavy the cotton is this year. 

May 22nd, 2015

Again we rode the Sinississippt Trail, it was a beautiful day. Got to build up stamina and get back in shape, this trail is very trying with lots of hills, so hopefully we will be traveling to some new spots soon.

Garmin Report and Map    https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/781489004

View of the trail along the Rock River and the rail Road Tracks. This is a beautiful trail and very well maintained, it is part of the Sterling Park District. It receives some very generous private support. Thats Judy in the distance!

The Upper Dam with the Hydro plant to the left. A very nice walk way across the dam to Rock Falls and the head of the Hennepin Feeder Canal Trail.

,

May 15th Ride thru Sinississippi Park

On Sunday May 17. 2015 we rode over to Sinississippi Park. The weather hasn't been very co-operative, either COLD or Raining. We are hoping it settles down soon and we can get back to daily rides. I can't speak for Judy, BUT I am really out of shape!

Here is the Garmin report with Map.  https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/777665190

This is the stump in Wood Lawn Park that was covered with "Jack-O-Lantern" mushrooms last year, I will keep watch to see how they progress this year.

This is what it looked like last year at its height on August 26, 2014.

Nearby is a field of these flowers covering the size of 2 football fields!

April 19, 2015 First ride of 2015 on the Hennepin Feeder Canal

This was to be our first ride this year, not on the trainers, but actually out of doors, we didn't get far as it started to rain. BUT, the bikes are ready, and so are we. Attached is the Garmin Report, short as it is.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/751418950

October 27th , Last Ride for 2014 on the Hennepin Feeder Canal

On October 27th, 2014, we took our last ride locally, We went to the Guard Lock of the Feeder and crossed over to Sterling, rode the path from the Dillon Home to Sinissippi Park on into Wood Lawn Park. Then returned to Rock Falls across the dam to the Feeder canal. Where we rode south to Buehl Road and returned home.

Garmin Results and Map    https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/621328376

At the Guard Lock on the Rock River

Along the Sinississippi Lagoon

In Sinississippi Park

The bridge to Wood Lawn Park

 In Wood Lawn Park

Back to the Feeder canal

Falling Leaves

Golden Arches

Turn around and head for home