Outdoor Living

Biking the Pumpkinvine

OUTDOOR LIVING

Whether biking, running, or walking, people enjoy the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail as a natural corridor between Goshen, Middlebury, and Shipshewana. Beyond crossing roads and a roadway connection, the entire trail is separate from motorized vehicles making it a great space for outdoor recreation.

Hop on the Pumpkinvine by parking at any of these locations or joining along the trail:

Abshire Park, Goshen, County Road 35 parking GPS: Lat. 41.64348, Lon. -85.73452. County Road 33 parking GPS: Lat. 41.632959, Lon. -85.753455. Trailhead at County Road 22: Lat. 41.656553: Lon. -85.712469. Krider Garden. Middlebury Town Hall. County Road 43 GPS: Lat. 41.68320, Lon. -85.66804. Pack-a-Sak parking lot, Shipshewana

While I have hiked, volunteered, and bird watched along the Pumpkinvine Trail, I had never taken bikes out on the trail until recently. I see people on bikes there all the time and decided it was time to try it ourselves. We grabbed a couple of bikes, money in case we made it to ice cream, and water and water bottles. We parked at Abshire Park in Goshen, heading northeast to Middlebury.

Luckily, I noticed a friend parked next to us who gave us some tips on biking along the trail. Always bring water. There are plenty of benches to stop and rest, along with trash cans and port-a-potties. She also reminded me that Google Map directions can be converted to biking, showing an approximate time frame, distance, and route to follow. As we biked, I appreciated the regular path markers at every .5 mile. I also loved the tree canopy over most of the trail, the sounds of the birds, noticing seasonal changes, and watching a wild turkey on the sidelines. Additionally, we enjoyed seeing all the people and their four-legged friends spending time together outside.

Find out more about the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail at pumpkinvine.org. Friends of the Pumpkinvine host an electronic newsletter, sponsorships, memberships, poetry contest, volunteer opportunities, and annual dinner. The trail is managed by various groups along the path: Goshen Parks & Recreation, Middlebury Parks Department, Elkhart County Parks, and the Town of Shipshewana. What is your favorite section of the Pumpkinvine?

What do you like to do on the Pumpkinvine?

Dr. Carla Gull blogs at www.insideoutsidemichiana. com and hosts the podcast Loose Parts Nature Play.

She is often seen with four tag-along explorers in the greater Michiana area.

Check out the new sculpture along the Pumpkinvine!

Benches, trash cans, and port-a-potties can be found along the trail.

Before

After The Hosta Allée

An allée is a walkway or path lined with trees of the same species, and is a formal design concept where the view is extended to emphasize something in the distance, or extended to the horizon. Though classically created through the use of trees or shrubs, the Middlebury Landscape committee has designed a Hosta Allée in East Park to highlight the historic rock wall and walkway leading to the East Park Shelter. An allée of 104 hostas of two species in bright, contrasting color were planted to dress up one of our most visible and historic parks. Thank-you to the community for generous donations to the flower fund, to our staff for the hard work of rejuvenation, and to the Landscape Committee for design, inspiration and helping hands.

“Toad-ily Awesome” Riverfest will take place on Saturday, August 28, with some exciting new programs as well as old favorites. The Elkhart County Park Department will be presenting a live animal show about amphibians. “Channel Your Animal” with Theresa Hostetler will introduce you to family-friendly fun with yoga. There will be a toad scavenger hunt: 40 artificial toads, decorated by students at York Elementary, will be hidden in the park. Each toad will have one word and a number on it. You write down the words in order according to the numbers and you get “Ode to a Toad”—a poem to take home with you. Also, all completed poems will get you a second ticket to the raffle to win a kayak.

Returning favorites will include Jim Carpenter as “The Fossil Guy,” Daragh Deegan and his fish-shocking demonstration, the Ethos Bus, Linda Pieri showing how to paint a toad picture, and the Regatta of Recyclables. Trail Tales in August will feature a special book called “Tad” about tadpoles.

Additionally, because this is the 40th year for Riverbend Park there will be historical information displayed about the origins of the park and a commemorative rock will be dedicated to the founder at the beginning of the festivities.

Don’t miss this fun-filled event!

We still need more anecdotes, pictures, or other remembrances of Riverbend Park to be part of our 40th celebration. Send to chapman_ej@yahoo.com

Planting the Quilt Garden on May 25. Quilt Garden starting to fill on June 7

Visit the Krider World's Fair Garden to see how the Quilt Garden has filled in now.

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