A few more pictures I have taken over the past couple weeks as Spring continues to encompass the Roanoke area.

Traveling on Melrose Avenue, the Roanoke welcome sign visible to the right on the side of the street.

Taken from along Hershberger Road near the Valley View area, soon after passing The Home Depot. If I didn't know better I'd think I was in the middle of the country, but the mix of city and country scenes is fairly common around Roanoke.

Mill Mountain showing more and more signs of green.

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Spring has definitely sprung all around town.

Here are some pictures I’ve taken over the past few days:

A view of downtown Roanoke in early Spring 2010.

A view of Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital from the intersection of Jefferson Street and Elm Avenue.

Signs of spring along the road in this scene from the Valley View area.

Blue skies and a train passing by along Apperson Drive.

Even more signs of spring along West Main Street in Salem.

Usually at least a few mornings during the week I walk across the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Bridge in the direction of downtown. So, I admit this is a fairly common scene for me except on mornings when it’s particularly clear and sunny like it has been lately.

Have a good weekend.

Approaching Downtown Roanoke via the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Bridge.

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.

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.

These are very common and daily scenes around Roanoke. In fact, the first 3 I snapped during one of my downtown lunchtime walks.

Have a great Friday and weekend.

The intersection of Jefferson Street and Franklin Road. The brick building in the center is the Western Virginia Water Authority.

Trolley making the rounds

A sidewalk scene from downtown Roanoke. The Wachovia Tower is easily spotted but if you look closer you can also see the Hotel Roanoke and The Taubman Museum.

A new sign welcomes people to the Norwich Community in Roanoke as seen along Memorial Avenue at the intersection with Roanoke Avenue.