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PETE'S PICKS
I'm down to the wire with my Clean Commute Challenge. I pledged to bike to work 18 days in the month of May...so far I've biked 14 days. Given Monday is a holiday, I only have four more business days to meet my goal. Barring any unforeseen meetings I should meet my goal.
To finish out my month's worth of bicycle-related recommendations (as part of Bike Month), here's an idea - combine bicycling with the other sports you love.
- Bicycle fishing: use a bike to quickly and efficiently travel up and down a river
- Bicycle paddling: use your bike to set river shuttle
- Bicycle boarding: getting towed behind a bike on a longboard is the way to go
- Bicycle running: tag along with your favorite runner and set pace for them
- Bicycle walk-the-dog: don't try this unless you're advanced, or prepared to wreck
It's Memorial Day Weekend, and for many that means opening day at the neighborhood pool, but for those of us "in-the-know", nature's swimming holes never close. They may get very cold, but they never close.
So, for those of you who prefer creeks and rivers to chlorine here's my recommendation:
- Visit Roaring Run - a National Forest Service day-use recreation area that offers picnic areas, grills, trails, and a mountain creek that has waterfalls AND a 50' natural water slide.
- Need more - rent a canoe/kayak/tube and float down the James River.
- Still not done - take a tour of the Botetourt County Wine Trail and sample some of our region's incredible wines.
- Total package - morning float on James, followed by cook-out lunch/slide at Roaring Run, then some wine tasting, and wrap it up with dinner at Pomegranate.
Have a great one and, Get Outside!
Pete Eshelman
Director of Outdoor Branding
Roanoke Regional Partnership
  
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EXPLORE THE JAMES RIVER -- WIN A TRIP
 The mighty James River begins its majestic journey in Botetourt County and winds its way through the Blue Ridge Mountains on its way to the sea. The unspoiled beauty of the river is more accessible than ever through the Upper James River Water Trail. Paddlers, anglers, and families can get back to nature and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Upper James including 14 pristine miles designated as a Virginia Scenic River.
Spring canoe season is here and Twin River Outfitters is going to help you get out on the water. The full-service outfitter rents canoes, kayaks, and inner tubes for a day of fun on the James and Maury rivers for adults and children. Twin River is the oldest outfitter serving the Upper James River with trips along more than 100 miles of the river to meet the needs of any paddler, experienced or not.
Twin River's paddle shop is filled with most of the supplies you need to hit the water - paddles, life jackets, dry bags, boxes, and repair gear. The shop also sells new and used boats and is a dealer for some of the industry's most well-known brands, including Jackson Kayak, Emotion Kayak and NRS.
Continue reading to learn how you can win a canoe or kayak day trip for four people>>>
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FEATURED HIKE -- DEVIL'S MARBLEYARD
Devil's Marbleyard, an eight-acre area filled with 200 million-year-old sandstone blocks, is the main attraction on the Belfast Trail. The short 1.4-mile (2.8 miles round trip) hike includes a steep incline that is well worth the time. The hike ends at Devil's Marbleyard, a huge boulder field with rocks that could match the size of your car. The trail is not marked exceptionally well, but you can follow the blue blazes until the end of the Belfast Trail and continue to follow that trail using the suggestions on the map.
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RUN WITH GRACE
 OK all you runners out there, here's a race worth running! Run With Grace is a 5K/1 mile fun run/walk that benefits the Grace Lovegrove Scholarship. Since 2005, this annual scholarship has been awarded to a Patrick Henry High School student; funds are also used to support the school's cross country and track teams. This year's event is scheduled for June 9 at the Patrick Henry High School track. Grace embodies the spirit of all runners -- so come Run With Grace.
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| MOST INFLUENTIAL GEAR OF ALL TIME
 By: Berne Broudy and Andrew Freeman...
After months of research and countless meetings and back-and-forth emails between Outside's editors, writers, and gear testers, we've assembled our first-ever list of the most important gear ever created. These are the products and innovations that have made it possible for those who inspire us and those who read us to live a more active life.
We're sure this top 100, which is presented in chronological order and goes all the way back to 860 B.C., won't be without controversy. We're hoping you'll chime in with your own additions and changes-in the comments section, over email, with old-fashioned letters, through Twitter and Facebook, and all of the other ways in which you're used to contacting us. We'll be watching and collecting notes for when we revisit this list in the months and years to come.
Continue reading to check out all the swag>>>
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UPCOMING EVENTS TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON
Visit The RoanokeOutside.com Calendar of Events for details on these upcoming events!
- 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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