Day 31 June 22nd Paul "Hennepin"

Geneseo IL to Milan IL 38 miles (1,376)

The bicycle on the right belongs to Paul. He didn't want his picture taken, but said I could take a picture of his bicycle. I met him late yesterday afternoon as I was on the Hennepin Canal about a mile from my overnight destination. I was peddling slowly by while he was seated at a picnic table and, seeing his panniers, asked him where he was headed. He said he was from the area and quipped, "You look like you could use a break." I told him I could always use one of those, and stopped to talk with him. We decided to go to dinner together. After giving me time to check in and shower, he rode to my campsite and we walked 3-4 miles together to dinner - he generously treated. After riding 68 mi and then walking over 3 miles to get to dinner, I asked him if there was a shorter way to back to my cabin. He took me on a shortcut that wasn't nearly as nice, but was only two miles, so it was much more practical. This morning we met at the campground and he rode with me about 30 miles on the Hennepin Canal and into the Quad Cities area of the Mississippi River so I could scout the bridge I am going to cross tomorrow make sure I knew how to access the walkway leading to the bridge.

Paul was a joy to ride with. He knows all things Hennepin Canal - history, nature, architecture, etc. I never learned his last name;

so, because of his wealth of knowledge regarding the Hennepin Canal, I have given him the moniker Paul Hennepin - it is meant as a compliment. 

Here are some pictures of today's ride:

This is a viaduct where the canal is built to go over a stream.

The green river, where they built the canal to go UNDER the river!

360 degree view of the Hennepin Canal

Elevation marker on the Hennepin Canalanal. I think it says $5 fine for disturbing this Mark. Looks like someone took an ice pick to it.

Two nestlings in this bald eagle nest.

Head of a carp below the bald eagle nest

We had to walk across this with our bicycles to get to the right side of the Hennepin canal from where we had crossed to see the bald eagles.

Eight men in Silvia, IL from this one and a half block long street, now called Hero Street, lost their lives during World War II and the Korean War.

My first view of the Mississippi River, which I will be crossing tomorrow.

A large green heron wading in the Mississippi River.

Teresa, Jeff, and Marybeth, whom I met on the Mississippi River Trail. They suggested I spend tomorrow night in Wildcat Den State Park across the river near Muscatine, Iowa.

Demetrius, whom I met while scouting out access to the Mississippi River bridge crossing. My hearing isn't so great so I thought from a distance he was yelling at me and Paul to stop trespassing. Paul clarified that he was saying, "God bless you" and, "Jesus loves you." We talked for a little while and then he asked if he could pray for me - similar to my experience with Marisol and Sarah Grace yesterday.

Pictures from along the Mississippi River Trail.