A very popular shortcut in Roanoke is a road that runs basically through a section of Towers Shopping Center.

It’s formally known as 23rd Street S.W. In fact, I believe because traffic is so heavy on the road that sometime ago oversized speed bumps were built to slow drivers down.

This road links Brandon and Colonial Avenues and prevents having to drive all the way to the corner, at the intersection where a CVS store is now located.

No Left Turn

Well, as of several days ago the traffic on this road is probably a good bit less than it has been.

When traveling northeast on Colonial Avenue (going from The Roanoker towards Towers Shopping Center) a sign and raised center median are in place to prevent left turns to 23rd Street SW

As part of recent construction in the area access to this road has been restricted to help minimize its use as a shortcut, and overall improve traffic flow. Espeically to help improve traffic flow coming off of I-581/Route 220 during peak times of the day.

Automobiles traveling northeast on Colonial Avenue (after passing The Roanoker restaurant on the right) will not be allowed to make a left turn onto 23rd Street SW anymore.

And, off the record, as I was taking these pictures a police officer was on site nearby I assume to help enforce this new restriction. Just in the few minutes I was in the area 2 cars were pulled over in the parking lot of Towers Shopping Center, for what I don’t know for sure but I can probably take a guess.

Will this change have any affect on your drivng routes?

I’m biased.

I love Roanoke because I live here, and live here because I love it.

On a similar but much larger scale, the same applies to my feeling on this country. I’m thankful to be living in what I believe is the best nation in the world. All things considered, I think we have it rather good here.

Roanoke is a pretty neat place, but we’re just one city of thousands in this great country.

Sometimes I sit and wonder how many other citizens, in some other cities across the nation, write in the same fashion as I do about their hometown. I certainly hope that number is a lot.

Happy 4th of July!

I’ve frequently noticed this little fountain downtown, have you ever seen it?

The fountain sits at the intersection of Salem Avenue and Market Street, and is on the side of the street nearest the train tracks.

It appears old, but all still in working order with 2 sides both with flowing water.

I’ve heard that the fountain dates back to the “early days” of Roanoke before automobiles. And its purpose was to provide a cool drink for a horse (at the low, wider side) and also respectively a rider (at the higher side with sprouting water.)

Well, that’s what I’ve heard at least, does anyone know for sure if that’s true or any other information into the history behind this fountain?

I typically find myself pulling up to a pump at Sheetz on Apperson Drive when the low fuel signal lights up in the dash of my car. I stop there mostly out of habit now, which originally started because they always seemed to have fairly competitive prices.

But, a coworker mentioned a website that enables checking local fuel prices on MSN Autos, so I gave it a whirl. The website is quick and to the point, just enter in your zip code and up pop several local stations and their respective prices. And all of the data appears to be updated on a near daily basis.

As for me (zip code 24015) the nearest, cheapest option was a BP Station on Grandin Road.

So, I drove by there this evening to verify the price that was displayed on the website, and everything checked out.

Gas Prices at the One Stop Market on Grandin Road (5/30/08)

Of course, when it comes to these gas prices, a few pennies saved (in this case 6 cents a gallon compared to the Sheetz) is hardly enough to really afford a cup of coffee when all is said and done.

I don’t aim to begin to comprehend all of the variables behind the increase in gas prices this year, but I sometimes wish it was 1996-1997 again when even breaking the $1 mark seemed a ways off.

The next couple Fridays (and maybe continuously depending on the number of responses) I’m going to propose a question for you the readers and fellow residents of the Valley.

First up is a rather easy one I think, or perhaps tough to narrow down one aspect. Either way I’m looking forward to reading all of the replies.

What do you enjoy most about Roanoke?

Just answer with the first thing that comes to mind, could be said in one word, one paragraph, or longer that’s up to you.

Leave a comment to this post below with your response or you may also email me directly. Sometime next week I may gather just the responses and incorporate them into a post.

I’ll start things off:

I’ve mentioned it before and am still reminded each time I travel outside of the Valley, but I’m truly spoiled by the mountains. I like the sense of protection they provide and how they rest quietly in the background for a great many of the outdoor pictures taken in and around Roanoke.

Now, it’s your turn.

What a difference a little over a month makes here in the Valley.

Back in early April most of the trees in our area were still bare and more closely resembled a scene from late Fall. But, now all of those tens of thousands (millions?) of branches and even the tiny twigs have sprouted new, green growth for the season.

Beautiful Mill Mountain as Seen from the Elm Avenue Intersection with Route 220/I-581 (5-18-08)

Regardless of the size and the irregularity, each and every new leaf has a part and a place in providing shelter for wildlife, shade for us, and natural decoration for all.

As for me, marveling in such simple pleasures, if nothing else, helps to keep me sane among the pressures and deadlines of life.

Throughout much of the better part of the day yesterday Roanoke received quite a soaking rain. Soon after it started, I could tell it wasn’t going to be one of those quick Spring/Summer storms. You know, the kind when the buildup of thunder and lightning beforehand actually lasts longer than the rainfall itself. Instead, this was just a steady pouring of rain that continued with no apparent end in sight.

But, there was a break around the middle of the afternoon and some rays of sunshine even managed to peek out from among the clouds.

So, during this break early yesterday evening I traveled over to the west part of Salem to pick up something to eat for dinner and, as I usually do, drove along Riverside Drive. This way in large part runs parallel to the truck route and Main Street, but offers less in the way of traffic and stoplights and more in the way of scenery.

On this particular evening, I should say the route offered more in the way of flying wildlife.

Along a section of Riverside Drive in Salem there are a couple spots right next to the Roanoke River which allow for cars to pull off the road. The one I stopped at also provides picnic tables, grills, and is a favorite location for fishermen and families alike.

This time when I stopped I was greeted by a small, slightly disorganized parade of friendly ducks.

Their little webbed feet marched around, and stopped only occasionally to straighten their feathers a little.

A couple of them took to the water and moved along like tiny tugboats against the current of the river.

For a few moments more I watched and marveled in their seemingly worry-free existence. Then, I went about my way.

After all, dinner was waiting and my stomach had already started rumbling.

It’s all over the news, nearly every night. Fuel prices are at an all-time high and we’re facing, or are in the midst of, a recession in the United States.

Gas Prices at Sheetz on Apperson Drive in Salem (4/29/08)

When I filled up yesterday at the Sheetz on the corner of Apperson Drive and Route 419 in Salem, regular grade fuel was $3.49 a gallon. I believe that’s the highest the price has ever been in Roanoke, certainly that I’ve seen. And several other stations in the area have already broken the $3.50 mark.

Now, I don’t get too involved with the hows and whys that cause the increase, I just pay what the pump says. But, I do have memories of a time not all that long ago when things were different.

I’m not so young that I don’t remember when gas was still in the double digits for a gallon, and this was only about 10 years ago.

So if I had a $20 bill I could actually fill up on gas, get a candy bar, a soda, and still get a few bucks back in change. I remember doing this on many occasions at the Country Store on Starkey Road during the late 1990s.

Of course, I was only making about $5.50 an hour then working part-time during high school and college. So, I suppose it’s good when some things increase…