Over this past weekend I had to run an errand out to the Valley View Mall area. Whenever I have to go out to Valley View, more times than not I purposely avoid taking I-581. I prefer a much more laid back, slower, and more scenic route than just zooming out there on the highway.

Here are some pictures I took along the way:

Leaves in various stages of changing color as seen along Peters Creek Road in Roanoke.

Mountains in the distance, taken from the Valley View area in Roanoke.

Another scene of the color changing foilage in Roanoke, seen from along Green Ridge Road.

What a difference a week makes!

Check out the pictures I took of Mill Mountain to see what I mean:

Mill Mountain in Roanoke partly covered by fog during a cold and rainy afternoon(10/15/09).

Sunshine falls on Mill Mountain in Roanoke just a few days later (10/20/09).

I thought I was ready for Fall, and I think mentally I am. But, physically, well it just takes my body several days to officially adjust to the lower temperatures I suppose. It’s cold and rainy this week. And when I came home late last night I was even able to see my breath.

No complaints from me or anything, Fall is here and Winter is coming. And I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, maybe even a little moreso than usual. I just need some time to adjust to the cooler temperatures that’s all.

But, for just a moment, I’m going to have a few warm thoughts about how it was this past Friday. Here are some more photos I took late this past Friday afternoon.

Downtown

Fishburn Park.

Along Electric Road (Route 419), approaching Keagy Village to the left.

Further along Electric Road (Route 419) heading into Salem, mountains in the distance.

Well, the temperature is not much like summertime this week (as it was on Friday) so I needed to update with a new post. And, as it turns out would you believe this is the 200th post at Noke News?

When I started things back in early 2008 I really wasn’t sure if I would even make it to 50 posts. Nothing exciting ever happens in Roanoke, right? How on earth would I find anything interesting that was worth talking about?

Eventually, I stopped focusing on necessarily trying to find exciting and interesting topics and basically just started talking about stuff that I saw happening as I went about my regular life. I don’t talk politics or the economy that much because I really don’t find them to be interesting topics.

But, walking across and really exploring for the first time a bridge that I had driven across many times? I think that’s interesting.

It’s probably obvious that I like Roanoke and I like taking pictures, so those two ideas basically turned into Noke News. If I have an agenda it’s one that centers around being pro-Roanoke so I suppose I’m a little biased in that regard.

I’ll be the first to admit that Roanoke is not perfect by any means, but I think a lot of people could agree that there is no other place quite like it. The thing is, when I’m asked about what makes Roanoke unique I can’t always give a direct and specific answer on the spot.

So, as I go about my life I jot down a few words and snap a few photos of recent happenings in and around this area in Southwest Virginia. And several of my experiences I post online here. 

The things I write about and post are, for the most part, very simple and basic happenings that I experience as I go about living my life in Roanoke.  Nothing more, nothing less.

A late evening bicycle ride on a local greenway.

Going downtown during lunch to get a piece of fruit for a snack.

Watching the trees on Mill Mountain change colors with the seasons.

I consider this simple stuff, and when looked at individually each one of these experiences could apply to more places than just Roanoke. For example, Roanoke is hardly the only city in the country to have a downtown market or mountains nearby.

But, I think there are far fewer cities which can offer all of the above: a downtown market, a great view of surrounding mountains (seen from just about anywhere in town), and with multiple greenway paths to enjoy.

With each post that I add to Noke News I hope to add one more glimpse into what living in Roanoke is like. This site as a whole has basically turned into the best and only way I know how to explain a little bit of what it’s like to live in Roanoke.

To me, it’s all about the simple things.

I don’t know how to explain it other than to say that simple stuff like this is what has become increasingly important to me. So, that’s a majority of what I write about. Roanoke comfortably allows me to experience these simple things, but at the same time offering the benefits of what I consider a “medium-sized” city. If you live here you may know what I mean.

Thanks for stopping by, and for continuing to stop by. I’ve been busy with working a bunch the past few months and this has directly affected my blogging time. But, I’m still around and I’m going to continue to be around for a while if I have anything to say about it. My posting may be a bit sporadic for a little while, but I’ll definitely be around.

If you haven’t already I encourage you to subscribe to receive updates directly (either via email or a feed reader), that way you’ll be notified when I post something new.

Thanks again for reading and sharing with me my glimpses of Roanoke.

When I mentioned a couple days ago about Fall coming, I didn’t know it meant we’d still have room for another 80 degree day in Roanoke. But, that’s just what happened.

I stepped out for lunch today and got something to eat downtown. It’s rather nice out there and seems to me to be one of the last summer-ish days (if not the last one) of the season.

The walkway in Elmwood Park leading to the stage.

Elmwood Park on the brink of the Fall season.

Looking down Jefferson Street in downtown Roanoke.

I may even go so far as to say it’s a bit too warm. I wore a jacket to work this morning but won’t have much need for that when quitting time rolls around. The forecast calls for more fall-ish weather in the coming days but as of right now it’s sunny and warm.

It’s Friday too, which is always a good thing.

Have a good weekend.

The season is changing in Roanoke (and well, everywhere else too I suppose). Temperatures are getting lower and at the moment the leaves are still fairly green.

But, not for long.

I can already tell the trees are slowly starting to lose their grip and then Fall will officially be here. I think I’m ready for Fall.  Of course, ready or not, it’s just around the corner.

But, before the leaves turn, fall, and provide organic litter for yards and streets I wanted to post a few photos of the area. I took these pictures over this past weekend.

View from the Memorial Bridge in Roanoke just a short while before Fall arrives and the leaves turn

Corner of Brandon Avenue and Grandin Road looks clean, clear, and crisp now. But, before long it will be partly covered with scattered leaves.

Brandon Avenue in Roanoke.

Hotel Roanoke.

A view from out along Route 460 in the vicinity of Bonsack.

It’s September already. The summer isn’t officially over yet, but usually around the time that Labor Day arrives I consider that an unofficial end of summer.

How did you think this summer was in Roanoke, as far as temperature?

Actually, overall I thought it was punctuated with rather mild temperatures and adequate rains to keep things green and growing. I may even go so far as to say this was one of the more ideal Roanoke summers from recent memory.

There were some hot and humid days, but nothing too unbearable. I don’t believe there were any days when the temperature reached 100 degrees. And, there was no real dryspell like in the previous year. It seemed like at least once a week or so there was some rain, and sometimes multiple days of rain.

Of course this meant I was encouraged to mow the yard at least once every 2 weeks, and even once a week on a couple occassions. I actually mowed this past weekend and that just might be the last time for the year. I hope it is. As you can probably tell I don’t take much pride in a well manicured lawn, I just like to keep the grass to below my ankles or so.

By the 3rd or 4th week in August I was readying for some cooler temperatures, and once September rolled around that’s just what we got. Some of the mornings this week I would even classify as moderately brisk for this time of year. I’m talking temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s which are basically on the borderline and leave me guessing whether or not to wear a jacket to work.

And, as it has turned out, I’ve worn my jacket each day this week because I tend to be a bit cold-natured. I don’t believe the A/C at home has run much this week if at all. In the late afternoon it may get a bit stuffy in the house but as soon as the sun sets things have cooled off outside rather quickly.

I honestly don’t know what has happened to 2009. Do you? I mean here it is Labor Day already. Pretty soon there will be color changing leaves, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas. And then the year will be over and things start again.

But, I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. Right now at this moment in time I’m looking forward to the holiday weekend and some welcome time off. That’s all I’m focused on right now, just taking it easy. I’m going to do my best to put all the stresses of life on hold for just few days. That’s my goal, and I’ll worry about getting back into the grind on Tuesday morning.

Have a great holiday weekend.

I’m back…again. I’m still busy as can be, but I actually was able to walk around the downtown Roanoke area a week or two ago and snap some pictures.

So far this summer the weather has been rather mild and not nearly as dry as in recent years. Most of the foliage around town is a deep, healthy green.

I believe we are due for a hot and rather dry weekend, though.

Downtown Roanoke as seen from the bridge that crosses the railroad tracks and connects the Wachovia Tower to the Hotel Roanoke.

Hotel Roanoke

Hotel Roanoke from a nearby sidewalk.

Saint Andrews Catholic Church in Roanoke

Wells Avenue, which I believe has since then changed a bit due to road repaving and construction.