WEEKEND UPDATE 
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PETE'S PICKS
 Continuing with my "May is Bike Month" theme...
So far I've biked to work six out of eight days as part of my Clean Commute Pledge (by the way, it's not too late for you to make a pledge too), and I'm feeling pretty good about it. My goal is to bike to work 18 days in May.
Here are a few ideas to jumpstart your weekend:
- On Friday (5/11), East Coasters bike shop is hosting a Salsa Cycles bike demo at Carvins Cove. Here's your chance to try out the latest mountain bikes for free. And to make it even better, Roanoke Parks & Recreation is offering a shuttle service to the top of the mountain...how neat is that!
- On Saturday (5/12), support our ever-expanding greenways network by participating in the Gallop 4 The Greenways. Choose between a 5K, one mile walk, or kids fun run, with all proceeds going back into making the greenways longer and better.
- On Sunday (5/13), take your mom for a lazy float down the James River. Moms paddle free on Mother's Day thanks to Twin River Outfitters.
Have a great one and, Get Outside!
Pete Eshelman
Director of Outdoor Branding
Roanoke Regional Partnership
  
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LOOK WHAT'S IN YOUR BACKYARD
Forming the headwaters of the Roanoke River, Bottom Creek Gorge boasts spectacular scenery: the second highest waterfall in Virginia, virgin hemlocks, hundreds of wildflowers, and a world-class Class V creek.
Bottom Creek is a powerful mountain stream that forms a stair-step series of broad-basin waterfalls known as the "kettles." One of the headwater streams of the South Fork of the Roanoke River, Bottom Creek boasts a 200-foot high waterfall.
One can easily hike the trails of Bottom Creek Gorge, but the trails will only get you so close to the whitewater action. To truly experience Bottom Creek you need to paddle it. But if you can't paddle it, enjoy this video as it is the closest you can get to the action without getting wet.
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CITY'S LIVING "GREEN ROOF"
 The roof that lines the entrance of the Noel C. Taylor building is now adorned by a living roof - 2900 square feet of plants and 3800 square feet of 1584 mulched tires now make up Roanoke City's new green roof. In addition to making the front of the building a little more inviting, organizers of the project say it will save energy and money. "It will save natural gas and electricity because it provides more insulation. There are actually six inches of substance or plant material above the roof, so that makes a big difference," explains Director of General Services & Sustainability Ken Cronin. Cronin said he "expects a significant cost savings by just having this plant material there". The plants include Sedum varieties known as "water conservators". They store water when it's available and conserve it by closing their leaf pores during the day. The green roof reduces the amount of storm water runoff by 27 percent per one inch of rain, and it uses a rainwater harvesting system that includes six 500-gallon tanks for watering the green roof. The water will also be used by downtown cleaning crews and horticulture staff.
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USE YOUR HEADLAMP TO MAKE A PORTABLE LAMP
 When you're camping, traveling by car, or sleeping under the stars, you sometimes want a light source other than a flashlight, headlamp, or fire. Whether it's reading book, writing in your journal, or hanging out with friends...sometimes you just need some subtle ambient lighting.
This portable lamp is just a gallon milk jug filled with water, with a headlamp pointing into it. It's a clever repurposing trick that creates a great soft light perfect for reading, writing, or illuminating the outdoors. The milk jug filled with water cuts down the glare of the headlamp and diffuses the light quite nicely.
Try it the next time your hanging out outside!
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MULES RETURN TO EXPLORE PARK
 via Katelyn Polantz at The Roanoke Times
Lester and Festus look relaxed, an encouraging sign.
The 2,000-pound custom-built covered wagon they pull through Explore Park could flatten a healthy adult.
Lester and Festus are massive animals, two mules that weigh more than 1,500 pounds each.
When they decide to go somewhere, the wagon goes, too. On Wednesday, Mikel Carmon's low voice guided them from the Roanoke River wayside up the slope to the park's Journey's End building: "Step up, son! Whup, whup! Get up there, Festus!"
Teamster Carmon, outrider Susan Hall and the mules were preparing for a Memorial Day weekend opening of their business, Spiritrider Covered Wagon Rides, one of the few commercial revivals for the park since its paid attractions closed in 2007.
Carmon and Hall have hitched the mules to the wagon in Explore Park about eight times and have worked Lester and Festus on morning and afternoon rides.
Continue reading the full story at www.roanoke.com>>>
Learn more about Spiritrider Covered Wagon Rides>>>
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UPCOMING EVENTS TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON
Visit The RoanokeOutside.com Calendar of Events for details on these upcoming events!
- Wednesday Night Disco Mountain Bike Race - 5/16
- Pigg River Ramble - 5/18-20
- Big Lick Fat Cat Classic - 5/18
- Youth Shooting Clinic - 5/19
- 9th Annual Grandin Court Baptist 5K Road & Trail Challenge - 5/19
- Alleghany Highlands Triathlon - 5/19
- Cafe 5K Family Fun Run/Walk - 5/19
- 11th Annual Pigg River Ramble - 5/18-20
- Mountain Time Trial - 5/19
- Falling Creek Dual Slalom Race - 5/20
- Storming of Thunder Ridge - 5/20
- 21st Annual Wilderness Road Ride - 5/26
- Festival of Trails - 5/26
- Tuff Strutter 5K Trail Run - 5/27
- Kirk Fest - 5/30-6/2
- Troutville Trail Days - 6/1-2
- Guided Full Moon Canoe Trip - 6/2
- 4th Annual Race for Open Space - 6/2
- A.T. Hiking Weekend - 6/2-3
- 4th Annual Race for Open Space - 6/2
- Conquer the Cove Trail 25K & Marathon - 6/3
- Quick Start Paddling Class - 6/9
- Run With Grace - 6/9
- Boat Demo Day - 6/13
- Wilderness Wednesdays Backpacking Class - 6/13
- Fat Tire Frenzy - 6/16
- Light Up the Night 5K - 6/16
- Moomaw Madness Sprint Triathlon - 6/23
- Eastern Divide Ultra Trail Marathon - 6/23
- Mountain Junkies Fat 5 Endurance Race - 6/30
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Roanoke Regional Partnership · 111 Franklin Plaza, Suite 333 · Roanoke, VA 24011540.343.1550 X 104 · www.roanoke.org
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