September 24, 2011: Michigan City to Goshen IN: (64miles)

This morning it was cloudy, but not raining, however it had rained some during the night. After breakfast Cal began riding.  We were on narrow back-country roads of Indiana.  It was very rural, but all the roads were paved in comparison to Iowa’s gravel. There were no bike paths today. By 10:00 we were seeing water on the road, however it was not raining on us.

We were not going through any towns, but at one point we crossed a State road, and thank goodness there was a convenience store at the intersection, so I was able to purchase a much needed cup of coffee! At the convenience store, the clerk told me it had been raining there all morning and had just stopped in the last half hour. This meant we were just behind the rain.  The sky to the west was clear, but it was still very cloudy to the east.  I was afraid we would still have rain.

Our destination for the day was Goshen, Indiana. As we were approaching Goshen from the west Cal began to get wet.  By the time we arrived at the hotel it was raining fairly heavy. Cal was ready for a shower and dry clothes.  Before dinner tonight we stopped at a laundry mat to wash our clothes.  While the laundry was processing I went to a nearby grocery store for a few items.      

Goshen is a large Mennonite & Amish community.  We drove by 2 rural Mennonite churches, and began seeing buggies on the roads and in farm yards.  In town as we drove by the Menard’s home improvement store, Cal saw a group of buggies.  After we checked into the hotel Cal asked me to return to Menard’s for a photo of the buggies.  On my way I stopped at Wal-Mart for a photo.  Wal-Mart has built a shed just for the horse and buggies.  The shed has stalls on both sides, to hold approximately 6 horses on each side. The horses are not standing in the hot sun, rainy, or snowy weather. We were simply amazed what Wal-Mart has done.  However it does go along with what we witnessed in Anchorage, Alaska.  The Wal-Mart in Anchorage has 1/3 of its parking lot marked for RV’s, plus they provide a dumping station for the RV’s.  They are trying to make shopping a pleasure!   

Before we went to dinner, the sun was shinning. We returned to both Wal-Mart and Menard’s to get photos in the sun. Cal had not seen the Wal-Mart buggy shed!

Menards Buggy Hitching Post

Buggy with Cart

Wal-Mart Buggy Shed

Hitching Post at Wal-Mart

Leaving Menards with Trailer of Purchases

Double Buggy

Cal has a grand niece attending Goshen College, and we have made plans to meet her late Sunday afternoon.  Also Goshen College is where my Mom attended and received her degree in l942.  I still cannot imagine her coming to Indiana from Penna in l938.  There were no Interstates or Turnpikes that first year.  Later there were – she referred to them as ‘Super Highways’.  They were ‘super’ compared to the 2 lane highways.

Cal is ready for a ‘day off’!  His muscles need a break.  Everything is going well. Tomorrow after sleeping in, we will check out the town of Goshen, and may drive around the country side.    

There is a high percent chance of rain the next few days and the temps will be in the low 70’s! 

September 23, 2011: Chicago Heights, Il to Michigan City, IN: (55 miles)

Today was not photogenic! We basically rode through towns to catch a Bike Trail, Cal would then ride the trail, while I went to the next town to meet him, we would go on streets to the next Bike Trail, he would ride, etc.  He rode on the Glennwood trail, Oak Savannah Trail, and the Prairie Duneland Trail.  All of the trails were paved, level, and tree lined. Cal made very good time on the ride today. 

Oak Savannah Trail

My biggest challenge was to find where the trails ended.  I had more luck than sense at times!  - as my maps are not the most detailed – frustrating to me as a map reader! We do not have a GPS in the vehicle I am driving. However all went very well today.

The weather was lovely again today, but this evening the temperatures have dipped. We have turned on the heat in the motel room tonight!  However I’m still not ready to put my sandals away!! 

We stopped this afternoon at a main highway that goes toward Michigan City, IN, so we are in a motel on the south side of Michigan City tonight.         



Fall Colors of Indiana






September 22, 2011: Morris, Ill to Chicago Heights, Ill: (50 miles)

Another beautiful fall day in the Midwest!  Cal did wear a long sleeved shirt and I am wearing a vest as the temperatures are cool in the morning and evening – perfect biking weather.  Cal came to the end of the I & M canal on the south edge of Joliet. We followed a Google map route 3 miles through Joliet to the ‘Old Plank Trail’.  The Old Plank trail was a bikers dream!  It was paved and smooth in comparison to the condition of the I & M Canal.  Cal averaged approx 11mph whereas on the I & M it was 8.5mph.  The Old Plank trail went as far east as Chicago Heights. It was only 2:30pm at this point, but due to our evening activities Cal stopped riding for the day.

The Old Plank Road

At approx 5:00 we left Chicago Heights for downtown Chicago to attend an evening event sponsored by Rotary.  Rotary is one of the leading partners in the fight to eradicate polio from the globe. India is one of the last four countries with a polio issue.  Rotary’s current International President is from India.  Tonight the guest of honor was India’s Minister of Health who has a passion for good health and polio eradication in India.  Since he became the Minister of Health this passion has lead him to commit huge sums of government funds to help with the eradication of polio, plus now the Indian Government is fully supporting the World Health Organization (WHO) and Rotary in their efforts.  The great news is that since January 1, 2011 there has only been 1 new Polio case in India. This is beyond imagination, but what Rotary has spent millions hoping to achieve. After visiting both India and Nigeria, we have always felt that these countries have to take ownership in the eradication of this disease and this is now happening in India and Nigeria –both countries are seeing results for which everyone is thrilled. 

Chicago Skyline

Union League Club Building

Rotary International President Banerjee with Cal and Rachel

The evening was lovely.  It was held in the elegant Union League Club building where the Rotary One Club meets weekly.  There was a group of approximately 80 in attendance, with over half being of Indian nationality, and of the Indian community in the US/Chicago.  Cocktails were followed by a 5 course delicious dinner.  It was great meeting other Rotarians.  The evening was a success! We arrived back at the hotel at approximately11:00. 

I almost forgot - yesterday (Thurs) I drove 9 miles south of I-80 at Joliet to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetary.  We had no idea there was a National Cemetery in this location until this past summer.  Dear friends from Michigan buried a parent there this summer.  It is a lovely place on the open plains of Illinois. I am glad I took a few minutes and drove out there.

By tonight night we will be in Indiana and probably in the Eastern time zone.  

                    

Sorry we did not post this blog on Thurs pm, but we were too tired!

September 21, 2011 Wednesday – Bureau, Illinois to Morris, Illinois (55 miles)

Canal Boat near LaSalle, Illinois

I & M Canal near it's Origin - LaSalle, Illinois - Illinois River

The ride today took Cal from the end of the Hennepin Canal in Bureau, Illinois, to LaSalle, Illinois where the I & M Canal began, then down the towpath of the I & M to Morris, Illinois.  The towpath with a few exceptions was either gravel or finely crushed rock.  This type of surface takes more effort and slows Cal’s progress by several miles per hour.  Cal has approximately 50 miles remaining of the I & M to complete tomorrow.

The Parkway is well marked with educational signage in a park at the western origin of the canal, as well as along the canal.  I was able to read the signage in the park and Cal told me about the info provided along the route.

 

The I & M canal was completed in 1848 and was operational until 1933, nearly a 100 years.  It connected Lake Michigan, via the Chicago River to the Illinois River, a little over 90 miles. Abraham Lincoln who was in Congress at the time was a strong supporter and he attended the inauguration of the canal along with his family. The existence of the canal gave merchants the opportunity to both send and receive good/products from Chicago. The canal caused the origin of numerous towns along the canal.  The cargo barges were pulled by horses, mules or oxen. The animals were usually tended/driven by 15-19 year old boys who were known for their swearing and fighting.  One of the more notorious was “Wild Bill Hickok”. 

A typical boat could carry 150 ton, compared with current barges that carry 1500 ton, 10 times more capacity.  Add to that the fact that a single tug boat on either the Illinois or Mississippi rivers, usually push 9 barges. The I & M canal itself has not been maintained since they stopped using it in 1933, therefore much of it is dry with trees growing in what was the actual canal.  Later in the 1930’s, during the depression, the towpath was converted to a recreational pathway by the CCC (Civil Conservation Corp), which it is to this day.  The canal was also used during the Underground Railroad days.  On one occasion the local people actually took a slave from the US Marshals and smuggled the person to freedom.

Typical Canal barge



Canal Collector's Office



Current Bike Trail - Original Canal to the Left

Current Bike/Recreational Trail

The history of the canal is very interesting.

A change in plans! The other weekend while we were in Chicago, we made plans to stay with one of Cal’s District Governor Classmates.  This morning while making final arrangements, he invited us to a Rotary function in downtown Chicago – a dressy event; however we do not have dressy clothes with us!  So today I went shopping for clothes! Hard job!!! Tonight we shopped for a white shirt and tie for Cal.  So I think we will look presentable!  We’ll give you a report later.

 I think it is time to close for tonight.    

September 20, 2011 – Geneseo, Illinois to Bureau, Illinois (50 miles)

What a beautiful fall day!  Cal rode the rest of the Hennepin canal today.  He arrived at the Illinois River - the end of the trail is at Bureau, Ill.  Bureau is a very small village, so we drove into Princeton, Illinois for the night.

The structures that caught Cal’s attention today, along the canal, were the aqueducts that transported the canal over the creeks and rivers. The uniqueness of this canal is that it was the first canal to use concrete for its locks, and aqueducts. What is so amazing about the aqueducts is that they are strong enough to support the weight of the water for a 7 ft deep canal.  The engineering used to build the Hennepin was later used in building the Panama Canal.  As mentioned before the canal was finished in 1907. The canal today is not in prime workable condition. The structures are still there, but the canal has not carried traffic since 1951. Today Cal took more photos of the canal which he will post.  Cal met other people on bikes today, as well as we both saw someone canoeing on the canal.  It would be a great waterway to canoe. 

Hennepin Canal and Tow Path (Bike Trail)

Canal Agueduct

Canal Aqueduct with river flowing underneath

Aqueduct Structure

Gate at upper end of Lock - Gate is closed with water flowing through it

Gate at lower end of Lock

Draw Bridge over the Canal

As to me – I browsed at several antique/gift shops and did find a few items on sale at a women’s shop in Geneseo.  At 1:00 I met Cal at the Hennepin State Park for a picnic lunch. Interestingly, as I was approaching the exit on Interstate 80 for the Hennepin State Park, (I-80 goes over the canal) at that moment I saw the flags on Cal’s bike! Perfect timing! In the Park, there are large areas where goldenrod is blooming. It is such a delicate bloom, but I thought about those of you who have ‘hay fever’ issues with goldenrod pollen – the time is here!     

This afternoon I spent time browsing at a huge antique mall in Princeton.  By the time I left my feet and back was tired!  Such hard work!!

Tomorrow Cal will be on roads taking him from the Hennepin canal to the I & M (Illinois & Michigan) canal which begins 12 miles east (upriver) on the Illinois River.  It is his understanding the tow path along the I & M canal is gravel, so that will slow the progress! Tomorrow I hope to check out the towns of Peru, La Salle and Ottawa.  These are town we usually fly by on I-80 as we are going to Chicago or farther east. 

It is so nice when Cal does not have to think about traffic on roads.  So far we have been on ‘low volume’ roads and of course along the canals there is no traffic.            

Goldenrod

September 19, 2011: Muscatine Iowa to Geneseo, Illinois (60 Miles)

The dreary misty weather continued overnight.  Since we were in the home of friends we spent a leisurely morning eating a delicious breakfast of pancakes.  Besides spending more time visiting we were also hoping the weather would clear.  Cal did begin riding in the slightest of mist, but within the hour the sun was shining and the rest of the day was beautiful.

Muscatine is known as the Pearl Button capital of the world.  Years ago it was discovered a certain type of mussel grew in the waters of the Mississippi River near Muscatine and their shells had the look of pearl.  The mussels were harvested from the river, loaded into flat bottom boats, taken ashore where the meat discarded, round buttons were cut from the shell, holes were punched for buttons and the buttons were attached to a card. At one point every family in Muscatine had at least one family member somehow involved in the Button Industry. Today on the River Front Park there is a sculpture commemorating those by-gone years.   

More recently Muscatine is knows as the Melon city, as lots of muskmelons and watermelons are grown on the sandy soil of the Mississippi flood plain. Each summer you wait for the Muscatine melons to arrive in the stores!  

After crossing the Mississippi River we were in the State of Illinois.  We meandered our way on back county roads to the Hennepin Canal which begins on the eastern side of the Rock River near Colona, Illinois. (near the Quad Cities) Cal rode along the canal from Colona to Geneseo, Illinois.  I am not allowed to drive a vehicle along the canal, so I am going ahead to places where roads cross the canal.  This will be completely different than on our first leg of the journey.   

Soybeans - Golden color of fall

Ribbon of Highway - Western Illinois is not completely flat

Flowers of Fall

More Fall Flowers

History: The Hennepin Canal was built between the 1890’s and 1907.  It was built to provide a waterway between the Illinois River and the Mississippi River, thus reducing the distance from Chicago to the Mississippi River by 419 miles.  It played an important role in US commerce and industry. The idea of such a canal/waterway began in 1834, and by the 1870’s there was enough pressure for a transportation shortcut which was cheaper than rail, that Congress authorized a survey. The Hennepin has a sister canal, I & M canal (Illinois & Michigan).  It tied the Illinois River, Des Plaines River and the Mississippi River together.  With the completion of these two canals a transportation network connected Lake Michigan to the Gulf of Mexico, by way of the Mississippi river.  Along the canal is a tow path (used by animals to tow boats).  This is now a lovely level bike path.   

Cal will be riding along both of these canals across Illinois.  For those who are interested, Cal went to Google maps, clicked on ‘bike routes’ and they showed him the route across Illinois, Indiana and Ohio using canals and bike paths.    

With the sun shining today the golden fall colors of the crops were beautiful. Also the fall flowers growing in the road ditches are beautiful.

September 18, 2011 Wednesday – Mt Pleasant IA to Muscatine IA (60 miles): 
 

“On the Road Again”! The Atlantic Ocean or Bust!

Cal left our home in Mt Pleasant at 9:15 am in weather which changed from mist to rain to mist.  We have been without rain the latter part of this summer in Mt Pleasant, so we could not complain about this much needed moisture. Our yard still has cracks from the dryness, so a gentle rain is very welcomed.  However riding bike was not the most comfortable activity today but Cal was a trooper riding 60 miles to Muscatine, Iowa. By the time he arrived he did not have any dry clothing on his body!

Leaving Mt Pleasant for the Atlantic Ocean

Muscatine is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River.  Tomorrow we will cross over the river into Illinois. Tonight we are being hosted by Rotary friends in the Muscatine club. After a great dinner meal, several other Rotarians stopped by to say Hello.  One of the gals had a radio segment, so she recorded a conversation between Cal and herself regarding Volunteerism and how Cal’s bike ride is raising money for Rotary projects. 

I did not leave Mt Pleasant until 2:15 this afternoon – I had several odds and ends to pull together before being gone for a month or more. 

As I began driving I reflected on how Iowa has changed since we arrive home on July 7.  In early July the crops were lush and green, now they are shades of gold and tan. Harvest is beginning - I saw a few (very few) corn fields being harvested. I stopped for a few photos of fields – compare the colors to earlier photos.  Another season has just passed!

Field of Soybeans almost ready for harvest

Fields of corn - harvest has begun 

Roadside color

Mississippi River at Muscatine - Barge waiting to go through the locks

One of the projects we completed this week in preparation for being gone was stealing bee juice! Cal extracted 23 gallons of honey from his 6 bee hives.- those little guys were busy during the early part of the summer, but when it became so dry that flowers were not blooming, the honey flow almost stopped. 

Hopefully tomorrow will be lovely day as we continue east