Yesterday, July 6, my wife and I rode from Abshire Park to Middlebury for lunch. The parking lot at Abshire was 95 percent full, and we saw many bikers on the trail. We often ride side-by-side, but because she rides a three-wheeled recumbent that is wider than a two-wheeler, I pull ahead of her when walkers or bikers approach from the other direction. But yesterday we met so many people that I didn't attempt to ride beside her.
As we rode, I noticed more young families with small kids -- seven-to-10-year-olds -- than I normally see, and it t occurred that one reason for that increase is the opening of the newest Pumpkinvine section between County Road 20 and County Road 35. Before this new section opened, riders were forced to ride on County Road 35 and County Road 20, both of which are busy roads, and that would be problematic for young kids. Now with the Pumpkinvine completely off-road, families with small children are more likely to ride the Middlebury to Goshen section. It will be interesting to see from the MACOG trail counters how the number of riders in general now compares to the number before the new section opened.
