8/4-Herons on the Hennepin

As promised…me and Kelli! Thanks again for everything!

I decided, since I didn’t have breakfast food at the 74 Pancake House yesterday, I would stop there for breakfast today. The same guy, Marco, was there this morning. Turns out, he’s the owner. Nice guy. 

When I got back on Wanda, and was heading back to the route, I had to cross the train tracks. Just as I pulled up, a train was going by. 

And going by…

Finally after 7 minutes…the end!

The first part of today’s route was along the Mississippi again on the Great River Trail.

Morning on the Mississippi 

A couple of scullers taking advantage of the calm water

I saw these two herons, one flying, one sitting.

Then the sitting one took off too

The route departed from the River to head over to the Hennepin Canal. Some of the time I was on a bike route called the Rock River Trail. 

Back out in the countryside (after going around the prison)

I came into Colona. There I stopped at a convenience store for some chocolate milk. Right after Colona, or maybe actually in Colona, I picked up the Hennepin Canal Trail.

Beginning of the Hennepin

I would be on this for the rest of the day (and some of tomorrow too). There were many different surfaces. Everything from smooth pavement, rough pavement, gravel, packed dirt, and short bits of sand. All of it was easily rideable. 

I crossed back and forth over the canal a few times. 

One of the locks

At times it was a bit monotonous. I had started counting herons for a distraction. I tried to get a photo, but I was never fast enough. They would be sitting at the edge of the canal out of my sight. I would startle them as I rode by, and they would take off. In all, I saw 29 herons (you know I was very excited when I saw number 27)! 

I made it to the Visitor’s Center. It is the only place to get water on the entire canal. I drank a bunch, then filled up 4 liters. 

The Hennepin Canal runs from the Mississippi to the Illinois River. It was built to save 400 miles of transporting people and cargo. It took 14 years to build. When the railroad came through, the canal was no longer needed. There are at least 25 locks. All are no longer functional. People can boat on the canal, but only between the locks.

I only saw this one boat.

After the Visitor’s Center, there was a detour due to a bridge being out. I don’t know how much the detour added, but I’d guess at least a mile or so. It was well signed. 

It was actually a nice diversion from the canal. From the VC on the canal, I would have had 16 more miles to Lock 6 campground. It was a little more.

I was counting down the locks. They are much closer together in this part of the canal, and in the 16-ish miles I went from Lock 21 to Lock 6. 

Many of the locks have camping available. It’s pretty primitive with a restroom, a few picnic tables, and a trash can. It’s supposedly $8, but I see nowhere to pay.

I walked Wanda across this bridge to the campground. 

It’s just me here. Gonna be a peaceful night with the sound of the water falling at the lock. I think there’s a chance of rain tonight, and definitely tomorrow. Must pull out the rain gear. 

8/3-Goodbye Iowa, Hello Illinois!

Iowa, you kicked my butt in the beginning, but your dedication to trails made you one of my favorite states so far. I suppose I’ll have to come back and actually do RAGBRAI!

Most of today was spent still in Iowa. 

Hello final Iowa shadow!

Right out of Tipton, the road turned to gravel. And to make it extra special, it was fresh gravel…you know…the soft kind.

I think because I don’t have as much weight up front, Wanda did okay.

A blue sky Iowa day!

The gravel went for about 8 miles to Bennett. The remainder of the day was paved. The highway had rumble strips smack dab in the middle of the shoulder, making it difficult to ride not out in the lane. However, once I crossed into Scott County, there was no shoulder, and no rumble strips, which I preferred. If there is a shoulder of any kind, drivers expect cyclists to be on it. No shoulder means no choice, and the drivers go around.

Curious sculpture in a town that wasn’t a town (really just an intersection)

The highway riding was about 23 miles until I came into the outskirts of Davenport. I stopped at one of the truck stops at the I-80 interchange for a snack. It was the first snack opportunity at about 30 miles in. I saw my first sign for Chicago. 

The road into Davenport was pretty busy. I wasn’t in a hurry, so I just rode the sidewalk. 

Eventually, I made my way to the bike path. It was part of the Davenport Trails system as well as Duck Creek Park and Bettendorf Trail.

Finally back on a bike path

The sign says it’s closed due to flooding. I went around the gate (like another cyclist).

Oh no! The flood! Okay, not really.

It crisscrossed back and forth over the creek

Spied these turtles on a rock

Took a little break here along the creek

I left that trail system, and got on another one. Guess where it took me!

What’s that ahead?

Its the Mississippi!

There was even a barge going by!

It was pretty exciting to think I had ridden my bike from Seattle all the way to the Mississippi River. I mean, I’ve done it before (Trans Am), but it’s still exciting. 

Riding along the Mississippi 

The trail came down to the road to bypass some port stuff. I was wondering if it was the Mississippi River Trail too (MRT). Sure enough!

I’d be going across that bridge!

I continued to make my way toward the bridge. I went under, then came around. 

You can really tell because it’s dirty, but the glass looks down to the water. 

Middle of the bridge

State number 8!

I’m staying in Moline with Kelli, a woman who has offered to host GAWR riders. Her house is less than 2 miles from the route. I stopped at a restaurant (74 Pancake House), and had some lunch, and to kill some time before Kelli was home. The restaurant was closing, so I made my way to Kelli’s, figuring I’d just hang out in the yard. 

Kelli sent me a route that brought me right to her back gate!

I messaged her to tell her I was there. She said to go on in and say hi to Duke. She told me where everything was. Now I’m just waiting for her to get home.

Duke the beagle of awesomness!

He’s such a sweet dog!

Kelli also has two birds, a Conure and a Quaker. I’m in bird heaven! Kelli is getting dinner. I’ll try to get a photo before I leave tomorrow.

8/2-Taking My Time to Tipton

I didn’t have a tremendously big day today, although there ended up being more to it than I anticipated. I slept a bit longer, and didn’t get on the road until 7:30 (after helping a guy figure out the coffee machine in the hotel breakfast room, and helping a kid make a waffle…I’ve stayed in too many of these places).

The first handful of miles were spent negotiating Cedar Rapids. It was all on bike path (still the Cedar Valley Trail), but it was a lot of navigation. 

Good morning shadow!

Through industrial and urban areas

Into downtown Cedar Rapids.

Entrance to a neighborhood. There was another one called Czech Village.

I was still mostly next to, or near the Cedar River. There was another trail closure, but this time there were detour signs. 

These turkeys were supervising the road work. Of course, it was Sunday, so no work happening, but…well…they’re turkeys…can’t trust them during the week (don’t tell them that…they think they are being useful).

Once back on the trail, it was the usual green tunnel. 

Before too long, I was back out in the countryside. 

Back to corn and soybeans. 

The Cedar Valley Trail seamlessly connected to the Hoover Nature Trail. It started at Ely. 

Welcome to Ely!

When I came into the town proper, I looked to my right and saw this down the road. 

Oh look! It’s a Casey’s!

It was mid-morning calcium supplement…I mean chocolate milk time! I also replenished my snack foods as I had finished off everything.

Going back to the trail, I noticed this in an intersection.

“Be Social”-there was another one the said “Be Home”

Ely was a cute town. It looks like they have really worked to make it look inviting. 

There were lots of people out riding, walking, and running. I saw a few cyclists twice, as they had passed me earlier, and were on their way back. 

The trail continued out of Ely. For the first time since Perry (218 miles ago), I came to the first climb on the Climb Pro.

Climb 1 of 7 for this 498 mile section

Going up!

The trail continued to the town of Solon. There it ended at large park with all the sports things, and this cool building. 

The Timber Dome Lodge

Map of the Hoover Trail

Since that was the end of the Hoover Trail, I was back to roads. 

Surprise! It’s a long straight rolling Iowa road!

At one point, there was a sign that said “Pavement ends”. But, it didn't. Then there was a sign that said “End of Oiled Surface”. Then, the pavement ended. 

Cedar County hasn’t bothered to pave their part.

At least it was a shorter gravel section than my route said it was going to be. There were a couple more Climb Pro climbs in that section. They weren’t very long or very steep. 

I was thinking I was going to be on gravel the rest of the way to Tipton, but no. I popped out onto a paved county road. It didn't have any shoulder, but most of the traffic seemed to be going the other way. I had another climb, the fourth one (out of just 7 over 498 miles). It said the next climb was in 135 miles! Okay! No more Iowa climbs (Climb Pro climbs anyway)!

Just after passing a sign that said “Tipton 6 miles” (going straight), my Garmin had me turning. Oh, I know what this is…why stay on the nice paved road when you can take a gravel road instead? I turned. I was in no hurry to get to Tipton because I couldn’t check in until 4:00. May as well take the slower way. 

It was good enough gravel

In about 5 miles I came into the outskirts of Tipton. I stopped to see exactly where the hotel was located. It’s actually right on the route as I leave town. Since it was still early, and I wanted some lunch anyway, I stopped at the Hardees in town. There I met Judy and Ray, an older couple who drove from their town just to eat at the Hardees. According to them, it’s the best Hardees around. Personally, I found my bacon cheeseburger to be extremely salty. But, I had a nice time chatting with Judy and Ray. 

I killed as much time as I could, then figured I’d see if I could check in early. I rode through the rest of the town. 

Now THAT is a painted rock!!!

Lisa, at the Tipton Motel, not only let me check in early, but she upgraded me to a ground floor king bed room so I wouldn’t have to haul Wanda upstairs! Bikes aren’t allowed in the rooms, so Wanda is locked up outside.

Very nice room!

Lisa said she had two women who left this morning. I asked who it was. It was two of the RAILS women. Apparently, the other three have gone ahead. Maybe I’ll catch up to the two women. 

Today was way shorter than yesterday, but having half of it being back on roads, including gravel, made it feel longer. Tomorrow will be my last day in Iowa.