Biking the Pumpkinvine Trail

In case you hadn't heard, Sparky and Eldo are on the road again! In a honkin' big fifth wheel, in a big honkin' truck--Dodge Ram Longhorn 3500. It's a dually--you know, where the rear end fenders extend a bit over the rear wheels. Try to find a parking spot where you don't get too close to others is a challenge...trying to find a parking space where you don't stick out in the rear is a challenge...trying to find a parking space period where you will fit is a challenge! But you need a honkin' big truck to pull a heavy 42 foot fifth wheel RV. Is Sparky complaining? Nawwww.....

So, there's a bike trail here in the heart of Amish country in Howe, Middlebury, Shipshewanna and Elkhart, IN

. It's called the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail. There's a terrific bike shop right at the junction of the Pumpkinvine trail in Middlebury, called the Pumpkinvine Cyclery. Sparky got her bike tuned up, (it's a Cannondale "Quick", a nice lightweight bike, more of a hybrid than road or trail bike) and she headed out two days in a row. The first day....6.9 miles. That was easy.

You can bike the entire trail from Shipshewanna to Elkhart, IN. for 25 miles. There are side trails as well that connect Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewanna. Sparky might do the entire leg next week. Today, Sparky rode eighteen miles. Eighteen miles today was a good start, says Sparky's calves and legs. 

Sparky saw lots of cool things on her long ride today...wild turkeys, some goldfinches, beautiful wildflowers all along the way, and this sign:

Hmmmmm...rare specimen...there was a little path leading up to a fence with cows munching right there...but nope, those are a dime a dozen in IN. Wait---could this be it????

Cactus in northern Indiana???? Yep!

The trail surface is asphalt except for 1.7 miles where there is a packed limestone surface and suitable for narrow tired bikes. The trails pass through urban areas, but mostly small towns and many agricultural Amish communities. There are quite a few benches and a few quick potty stops along the way as well. Depending upon which sections if the trail you do, you could be biking in shade for 80% of the time.The countryside along the Pumpkinvine Trail includes the third largest Amish community in the U.S. 

Besides the beautiful Amish farms, there are the Kryder Gardens in Middlebury that are right beside the bike trail. They were small and narrow, but a beautiful rest stop.

Hope you enjoyed today's Pumpkinvine Trail Tour! We will be here four more days, then we move to Elkhart Campground for a couple. Still waiting to hear about awnings from insurance company. That will curtail our travels to the midwest till they come in and we can get them  installed. But RV plans are "jello", we may still go to South Dakota still. Sparky wants to see bison and elk and cooler temperatures--maybe! Bye for now.....