If Tent Caterpillars are endangered, I am going to Caterpillar Hell…. (Escape to Shevlin Park)

Shevlin Park directly west of Bend is a young scientists delight this time of year. And it is not a bad place for the scientist’s parent as well.

The park is only 4.4 miles directly west of Bend and offers a plethora of walking, biking, and wading opportunities.


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With our goal of two solid hours of exercise a day, Shevlin seemed like a logical place on this rainy, cloudy Saturday. It was close to town, it would be a quick trip home if we got soaked to the undies. (There is nothing worse than an hour car trip home with two cold, soaked kids.)

We biked the road in. It is about two miles, fairly flat. It is an easy ride that even the youngest kids could accomplish. No traffic even though the gate was opened! It is suitable for most kids, even kids with training wheels if they are willing to pedal hard.

We stopped at the top end to boulder.


There are rocks and boulders all along the road that are fun for clambering. Don’t let the kids loose unless you have time to wait. The boulders are tall, but not THAT tall.

From the far end of the park, we took the trail that heads directly south. It is an easy, flat trail that is ridable by almost anyone on two wheels. At the first junction, we headed North back to the car. This is an easy ride, with small ups and downs that is about two miles long. It is fast (more down that up) and winds itself along the ride back to the car.

(There is a map of the Shevlin Park Trails available here: http://www.bendparksandrec.org/Park_List_Hidden/Shevlin_Park/shevlin.html )

The biking portion took only about an hour so we decided to walk along the east rim. We found wild strawberries, and caterpillars. Hence, my going to tent caterpillar hell.
Nestled among the bitter brush are thousands of tent caterpillars. We have an aquarium just waiting for bugs at home…so we selected a few (okay ten or twenty tents) and kyped them. Yes, we plucked them off the bushes, and took them home. We’ll let you know if they turn into anything interesting. I am betting some sort of hideous moth….

The trail to the east was just a little over a mile, with some steep switchbacks at the beginning. Suitable for walking at almost any age, it takes a pretty fair set of legs to be able to ride up the switchbacks.

If your time is short, or if you have younger youth that need an excellent adventure, Shevlin Park is a remarkable park with lots of diversity. For older youth, bouldering and biking in Shevlin provide a close outdoor experience.

#FAIL (aka no marathon in Sarah’s future)

Life is just too fast, or I am just too slow. I will not make the marathon in June. In fact, I haven’t seriously tried to train. Call me lazy!!!

My fantastic sister, Darcy, however is well on her way! She and her husband, Chad will compete in the San Diego Marathon in June. I am so proud of them. Their daughter, Holly, meanwhile is continuing to battle leukemia. She is amazingly resilient. Follow her story here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/hollyrosedavis

The Resurrection of a Blog.

Since our grand summer adventure, life has gotten in the way of my writing. Two active homeschooled boys, job changes, life changes, and moving (twice) seemed to limit the amount of time I had to pontificate. No worries…I am back.

And back with a cause. My niece, Holly was diagnosed with Leukemia just a year ago. She was just two years old! Earth shattering! Those are the only words I can use to describe what she and her family have been through in the past year. As far as being diagnosed with cancer, the leukemia she has is the best one to get. The cure rate for childhood leukemia is high, and she is responding with amazing progress!

Last week, my sister (and Steve, the pastor from my mom’s church) came up with the idea that they should run a marathon in support of leukemia research and cures. Darcy (my sister) is an amazing girl: three kids under six, and walking/running nearly daily. She is in good shape, although not quite up to running 26 miles. Me on the other hand, well…. I walk the butte (slowly, to see the sunset at the top). I am one step above couch potato, but not because I am “athletic”.

This story really starts the year Darcy and I entered our Master’s degree program at Eastern Oregon. Darcy, who is a year younger than I, decided she needed to run a marathon. Being the supportive older sister that I am, I couldn’t let her do it alone. (Or perhaps my motives were a bit competitive.) At any rate, she trained. I pretended to train. I ran three or four miles a couple of times a week. Needless to say, I was the slowest marathon runner ever, but I did manage to finish. I didn’t cause myself any permanent harm. Darcy managed to finish way before me (like an hour or two) and seemed fine at the end. My feet, on the other hand, hurt so bad I couldn’t walk for a week, and limped for two.

So, timewarp ten years later, and we are doing it again? What is it with me and saying yes to insane requests?

Please note, not only am I just above couch potato in endurance and speed, but I also dislocated my elbow three weeks ago snowboarding. Darcy is planning on the San Diego Marathon June 6th. Can I manage to go from busted, slothlike persona to marathon runner in fifteen weeks? I am going to need all the help I can get!!!!