Happy New Year!!

This past Saturday I drove out to see dad (near Bedford) for a holiday gathering.

So, I drove through the downtown Roanoke area once during the late morning on the way out there. And, again on the way back across town a little bit after dusk.

Here are a couple pictures I managed to take along the way:

Downtown Roanoke, photo taken late morning on 12/27/08

Downtown Roanoke, photo taken just after dusk on 12/27/08

I hope ya’ll had a good holiday. To those of you also back to work this morning, I feel your pain.

Here are some of my thoughts from over the Christmas holiday:

Warm Holiday Weekend

Firstly, the past few days around Roanoke have been unseasonably warm, culminating with a Christmas Day which felt more like an early Spring day.The better part of yesterday was actually so warm I nearly broke a sweat wearing short sleeves.

I don’t particularly mind the more mild temperatures, but with the warmth also comes the bugs. They seem to come out of nowhere when we have a warmer day or two, and I had to dispose of a couple potato bugs (stink bugs) and a lady bug that had wondered into the house.

Paying Respects

A good buddy and myself spent a couple hours in the morning on Christmas Day visiting the gravesites of people we miss. We went to visit the site of his father and my grandfather, who are both buried in the Roanoke area.

I knew his father well, and he also knew my grandfather.

This is the first year we have done this, and hopefully it will be an annual trip of remembrance. I’m not a very spiritual person, but visiting the sites is the least I can do.

Opening Gifts and Gathering

I do admit, I’m terribly difficult to buy gifts for, so quite frequently I end up with gift cards and cash. I actually prefer this because I don’t like surprises. If someone must buy actual gifts for me, I tell them socks and t-shirts so they can’t go wrong.

This year we (meaning all local relatives on my mom’s side) gathered at mom’s house in Roanoke County. This is the house where I grew up. I visited dad and his wife at their home (near Bedford) on the 27th.

So, 2 gatherings, 2 dinners, 2 different events.

Even being over 10 years since the divorce, I still wish for being able to make a single trip and get it all done. But, that’s a topic for another day.

Relaxing on Sunday

In true post holiday fashion, I spent the final day before going back to work kicking back and relaxing.

Even with last week being a short week at the office, I felt as exhausted as if I’d worked 60+ hours. I call that needing a vacation from the vacation!

This year in particular, this month seemed to really fly by and before I knew it Christmas is almost here.

It’s certainly not at all like when I was a kid and waiting from December 1st to December 25th seemed like an eternity!

If you have to travel across town, across the state (or farther), be safe and have an enjoyable holiday.

-Steve

Noke News explores parts of Roanoke by foot, equipped with a camera and a notepad, in hopes of learning something new. Perhaps you will too.

This is Part 5 (and the last part) in an Exploring Roanoke series that covers the current (as of Summer 2008) entire 3 1/2 miles of Lick Run Greenway. The path runs from the Historic Gainsboro sign on the East end of Wells Avenue (near the large water fountain), all the way out to the Valley View area at the 4700 block of Valley View Blvd (near Best Buy).

(For a general introduction to the greenway system in Roanoke, you may want to first visit a previous post.)

Distance: approx. 1/2 mile

Last time in Part 4 I had made the recommendation to take a break at this little paved area to the right. The last leg of the greenway is just ahead.

By now, I start to hear cars and trucks off in the distance from travelers on I-581.

This is the bottom of the hill that leads up to the top and the bridge that crosses over I-581. The path ahead cruves to the right and then back to the left and is a rather steep incline.

(The first time I rode the greenway I was not prepared for the hill and was pretty well tired by the time I got to the top!)

At the top of the hill is a fenced-in section that parallels the ramp from the valley View area back onto I-581. Cars zoom past just on the other side of the fence.

From this vantage point, there is a great view of I-581 going north.

View of I-581 North from the Lick Run Greenway.

After crossing the bridge over the interstate the greenway comes out right in front of the shopping center with Best Buy.

This is where the greenway actually ends (or begins again).

End (or beginning) of Lick Run Greenway.

I will say that from this point traveling back to the “start” near Hotel Roanoke seems much easier, because now I get to ride down the hills!

A complete round-trip of the Lick Run Greenway is about 7 miles.

I haven’t written many posts under this category, because as I’ve grown older I’ve found myself much more laid back in regards to the day-to-day inconveniences that I’m faced with.

And the topic of this post is nothing more than just a simple, silly inconvenience, if it’s even that. I just wanted to see if I was the only one out there who has had similar experiences to mine.

When traveling west on Brandon Avenue (away from downtown, towards Salem) there is an unusual intersection along Brandon Avenue, where Main Street SW intersects. I’m sure you know where I’m talking about.

Approaching the intersection at Wasena, first traffic light still green.

I travel this direction home from work nearly every day. On occasion, perhaps once a month or so, I barely make the first traffic light signal, but miss the following traffic light that is just ahead (which changes as the same time as the first).

First traffic light changes abruptly but I still make the light.

Then I find myself temporarily “trapped” basically in the middle of the intersection, until that second traffic light makes its rotation and turns green.

Second traffic light (which changes at the same time as the first) can't be made so I'm stuck in the middle of the intersection.

To me, it’s just an odd feeling to be stuck in the middle of the intersection on my own little asphalt island like that.

Now, maybe it’s nothing. No, I know it’s nothing and this is probably the silliest post I’ve written yet. But, has anyone else ever had this happen to them?

Several months ago in a previous post I stopped off and visited a quaint little park along Colonial Avenue, across the street from a CVS (and where there used to be the WDBJ7 station headquarters).

At that time we were on the brink of Spring. And now we are on the brink of Winter.

I still think this little spot is pretty neat, but it didn’t quite have the same charm as a much warmer Spring or Summer day.

Harkrader Park as seen just off of Colonial Avenue, across the street from CVS and Towers Shopping Center.

Foliage is showing signs of cooler temperatures.

Tall grasses now border a section of the park.

Noke News explores parts of Roanoke by foot, equipped with a camera and a notepad, in hopes of learning something new. Perhaps you will too.

This is Part 4 in an Exploring Roanoke series that covers the current (as of Summer 2008) entire 3 1/2 miles of Lick Run Greenway. The path runs from the Historic Gainsboro sign on the East end of Wells Avenue (near the large water fountain), all the way out to the Valley View area at the 4700 block of Valley View Blvd (near Best Buy).

Distance: approx. 1 1/4 mile

(For a general introduction to the greenway system in Roanoke, you may want to first visit a previous post.)

When I left off last time in Part 3 we were just about to cross over 10th Street in order to continue on the way. This is a moderately busy road, so it’s as good as place as any to take a minute and rest. I believe this point is roughly about halfway along the greenway.

Once crossing the street we can continue on the paved path of the greenway.

Throughout some of the rest of the greenway at different points, I can’t help but think of the idea that I’m traveling through someone’s backyard. But, I suppose at least the greenway path itself is considered public property.

But as the greenway path leads to and has its final intersection with a regular road, the path really does seem to go through someone’s yard! Oh well.

(I have been warned by others that this is a “bad area” and to be careful. Now, I don’t know about that for sure and all I can say is that I’ve ridden along the entire length of the greenway several times, and alone every time, and I have not been bothered even once. But, that’s just my experience.)

At the intersection with the road (which I believe is Syracuse Avenue) you
need to take a left. A short distance ahead the road ends and to the right is where the greenway picks back up.

From here I can do a little coasting and cruising.

A little ways up ahead the greenway basically forms from an extended shoulder on the side of another road. Good thing a wooden fence was installed here!

Then a bit more cruising with forest and woods on both sides. During this section in particular I have seen more in the way of wildlife (rabbits, squirrels, birds) than actual greenway travelers.

Not too far ahead is basically what I have considered a little resting spot. There is a short section of paved greenway off to the right and I often stop here for a few moments.

Why stop here and rest?

Because just ahead is the final section of the greenway, which includes a rather steep hill leading up to the bridge to cross over I-581 at Valley View (near the Best Buy).

Next time in Part 5 will be the last installment in exploring Lick Run Greenway, and I think it’s a fitting end to a pretty cool (but exhausting) journey.

I had been meaning to write a post about my increasing appearances at the Ukrop’s in Roanoke, which opened several months ago along Franklin Road. I have found myself frequenting the grocery store much more regularly over the past couple months and have been quite pleased with the prices, quality, and atmosphere of the store.

Then, I noticed a recent article in The Roanoke Times which suggested that sales at the store are currently not sufficient for it to continue to operate long-term.

Say it isn’t so Roanoke!

Well, over the past few months I have done I would say at least 80% of my grocery shopping at Ukrop’s. Shopping that used to occur almost exclusively at Food Lion and very occasionally at Kroger’s. As of yet I haven’t got into the Fresh Market scene, and I never, ever grocery shop at Walmart.

Since moving into my house in the City back in 2005, and until recently, I had done 99% of my grocery shopping at Food Lion. I usually stop at the one at Oak Grove Plaza, or the one near the Salem Valley 8. I much prefer 2-3 grocery trips a week filling up one of those hand-baskets each time, instead of one big trip a week and pushing around a cart.

For the most part, everything was fine in shopping at Food Lion. If they didn’t carry particular items (such as the only flavor of food my cat will eat) I would reluctantly make a stop at Kroger’s.

But, there came a time a few months ago when I took my grandmother out to help with her grocery shopping, and she wanted to go to Ukrop’s.

Quite frankly, I considered Ukrop’s to be a “store for the rich” because it was new and had an extensive dining area with prepared foods. Now, I make OK money I guess, but I live in a modest 2 bedroom home and drive a paid for 6-year-old car. I’m hardly rich. So for the longest time I had just stayed with my routine in shopping at Food Lion, which I considered to be a more thrifty grocery store.

But, as I was to find out, for many of the items I regularly purchase the prices at Ukrop’s are very competitive with Food Lion and Kroger’s. In some cases, the prices at Ukrop’s are even noticeably cheaper. As for the items that are more costly at Ukrop’s (such as meats and produce) I think the higher quality very easily offsets the increase.

Secondary to the quality and pricing, and much more superficial, but I just like the layout of the store. Instead of the standard long aisles, there are these half-aisles with a walkway down the middle.

Produce and meat that is on display doesn’t look sloppy at Ukrop’s, but all looks very clean and appetizing.

And I absolutely love the self-checkout, it saves me considerable time. I realize the idea of self-checkout basically does away with several job positions, but it really is much easier for an introvert like me.

I work in the downtown area so the store is quite convenient to hit on the way home to my house in Virginia Heights.

If there is even any traded, I don’t own stock in Ukrop’s, so I have really nothing to gain by writing in favor of the store. Just the hope that this nice addition to the Roanoke area makes it, and continues to be in business for a good while.

Have any of you ever shopped there? How was your experience?