Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 13
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:
The greenway is nearly level throughout
its 8 miles.
Many of the above-ground concrete
manhole covers are painted.
Mile markers make it easy to keep track
of walking progress.
THE WALK: The Granite
City Greenway is 8 miles
(with more miles planned)
of nearly level walking.
Laurie and I walked 3.5
miles, beginning at Riverside
Park.
GETTING THERE: From
the intersection of US 52
and West Pine Street in
Mount Airy, drive 1.2 miles
eastward on West Pine
Street, turn left onto Riverside
Drive and continue
.2 mile to make a right
turn into Riverside Park.
MORE INFORMATION:
A link to a greenway map
is on mountairy.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/
Granite-City-GreenwaySystem-14.
mom,
dad and three children who seemed to really
be enjoying each other's company), so we were able
to concentrate more on our surroundings. The river
took on an almost grotto-like setting with flat rocks
providing cool places to rest, courtesy of shade trees
arching over the water.
When he was the Parks and Recreation director,
City Manger Darren Lewis sent out a call to local artists
to paint the many above-ground concrete manhole
covers. The response was enthusiastic and close
to two dozen brightly and sometimes whimsically decorated
concrete canvasses now decorate the pathway.
Our walk came to an end soon after the greenway
made a horseshoe bend to leave the Ararat River and
begin winding its way upstream along Lovill's Creek,
another trout-stocked stream. We could now turn our
attention to the original reason we had come to Mount
Airy-a walking tour of the downtown area with its
many sites paying tribute to hometown son, Andy
Griffith (the subject of a future Good Walk column).
Leonard Adkins has written 20 books on the outdoors and
travel. Find out more at www.habitualhiker.com. He also writes
Mountain Wildflowers on blueridgecountry.com.
without having to drive hours to some other place. "
The greenway borders the city's elementary, middle
and high schools and Catrina Alexander, a teacher
at Mount Airy Middle School, told us that its outdoor
learning opportunity is a creative way to motivate her
students and reinforce classroom education concepts.
" These resources connected to the school set us apart
from most communities. "
The scenic river was in sight the entire walk and, in
fact, was even visible from the Chase and Charli Restaurant's
patio, where we enjoyed lunches of a sriracha
shrimp wrap and chicken salad sandwich. (We passed
on what looked like very delectable homemade cakes.)
Beyond the restaurant, we encountered only an
occasional bicyclist or jogger (and one family of a
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025 13
http://www.mountairy.org/Facilities/facility/details/granite-city-greenway-system-14
http://www.habitualhiker.com
http://www.blueridgecountry.com
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 3
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 4
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 5
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 6
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 7
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 8
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 9
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 10
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 11
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 12
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 13
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 14
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 15
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 16
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 17
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 18
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 19
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 20
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 21
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 22
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 23
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 24
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 25
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 26
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 27
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 28
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 29
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 30
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 31
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 32
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 33
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 34
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 35
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 36
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 37
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 38
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 39
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 40
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 41
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 42
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 43
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 44
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 45
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 46
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 47
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 48
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 49
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 50
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 51
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 52
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 53
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 54
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 55
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 56
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 57
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 58
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 59
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 60
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 61
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 62
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 63
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 64
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 65
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 66
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 67
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 68
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 69
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 70
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 71
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 72
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 73
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 74
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 75
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 76
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 77
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 78
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 79
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 80
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 81
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 82
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/brc-jf-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-nov-dec-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/BlueRidgeCountryMarchApril2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCND21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCSO21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brcja21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_11_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130708
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com