I took into account the fact that we were driving 40 miles away to Roanoke and that our restaurant gift certificate would only entitle us to a "takeout" meal. So I thought, what the heck, it was supposed to be kind of warm, and on Google maps I eyed a nearby park. I thought, hey, let's try out Wasena Park.
I understand the name "Wasena" comes from a Native American wfor "beautiful view," and I think you can say that for the part of the Roanoke River flowing by it. After picking up restaurant meals at Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen at the Valley View Mall, we followed directions and roads I'd seen on Google Maps. It was down Orange Avenue, which, oddly, had a lot of white blossom cherry trees "snowing" their petals down on the road, this being the first full day of spring. Then I believe we quickly hit Franklin and then Elm Avenue. In no time at all we were crossing the bridge that went over the river.
But we somehow missed Winchester (Ave/St) and hit Main Street (which eventually takes you to Rt. 419/Electric Rd) and I knew we'd gone too far because the river was to our left. So we stopped by a store and asked a young woman where to go. We had missed the right turn just off the bridge, so we took that, THEN we hit Winchester and the entrance to this roomy park, with its modern playground and old rail road tracks (but no train in sight -- the official railroad was across then above Roanoke River).
And though we were in the midst of an epidemic, there must have been a dozen or so people taking in the almost 70 degree weather, even as the clouds darkened and rain threatened. One woman, almost skeletally thin, with a loose blue polyester sweater hanging off of her, commented it was a good idea, taking our meals --- the spouse dug into a smokehouse burger and I ate my tasty blackened salmon with rice and broccoli --- outside on a picnic table the newspaper said had been sanitized earlier in the week. (Well, the restaurants won't "let you" eat inside so this is our option, and we weren't close to anyone, unless they happened to jog by, which I hoped was okay.)
After our meal we ventured toward the river and the rust brown bridge that looked like a former train trestle. With the coronavirus, walking is one of the few things you can do for entertainment. So we spied in some spots churning, fast flowing water and headed toward some of the so-called Greenway. But the spouse wasn't wearing his walking shoes, so he went back, but not before we came upon a little meadow of marsh marigolds (THAT was my observation) close to the edge of the water.
As he walked back I noted other spring beauties, like Shepherd's purse, Pennsylvania creases (some here and on the other side, the park side), a few lone, delicate violets (which are actually edible), a few dandelions coming up early. We had a warmer than normal winter so these wildflowers were blooming rather early.
There was also a short walkway off the Greenway with odd sculptures in bronze, wood. It was very nice to be outside, early spring an optimistic showing of nature, though the nature of the virus is really rather ominous, worrisome.
We are back home and guess we will stay here (except taking my sister to the grocery store and maybe a trip to the college library, which has only a few people in it at this point).
