Greensboro Daily Photo

Enjoying the Trains on South Elm

Greensboro still remains a great train town. People who live, work, and travel on South Elm Street are keenly aware of how often trains travel through town. Often, train aficionados hang out near the tracks at Hamburger Square, just to admire trains going by. Of course, for impatient pedestrians and drivers, it is possible to go under the tracks at Wast McGee Street. However, there aren't many places where one can get this close to trains and legally cross the tracks in Greensboro. To help orient you to our vantage point, the white water tower in the center of the photo is located by Bennett College.

While the above aren't passenger trains, it is interesting to note that at the peak of passenger travel through Greensboro in the 1940s, more than 40 passenger trains came through the J. Douglas Gaylon Depot on East Washington Street daily. As of 2022, annual station ridership was 114, o46 and annual ticket revenue was over $4,000,000.* Needless to say, rail travel for people and freight remains big business for Greensboro. If you are looking for something to do this summer, consider having an adventure on Amtrak, even if you are only able to arrange a "day-cation."

Happy Monday!

 

* reference and more information.

PTI Airport: Run on the Runway!

The Piedmont Triad International Airport is such and expansive space and is especially beautiful on a sunny day. Above is a photo we took recently, taxiing into the gate at the Delta end of the airport. This 3,770 acre "campus" in western Guilford County. The airport got its start in 1927, with only 112 acres. My has it grown since the early days.* If you aren't scheduled to travel soon but want to get a good look at the runway, and you like to run, consider signing up to run in the PTI 5K/10K/one mile event on the runway.

PTI Run on the Runway will be held on Saturday, March 25th, starting promptly at 9:00 am. The event is open not only to runners, but also walkers, and is wheelchair and baby stroller friendly. The fundraiser "Walk to Win Against Hunger" will also be held at the same time. There is also a "Kids Dash" that starts about 40 minutes later (and is free). If you aren't a runner, perhaps you will want to volunteer to help. Run on the Runway is such a great way to build community, and to see the airport firsthand. Just think, the next time you fly from there, you can have bragging rights with the person sitting next to you, informing them that you actually ran on the runway!

Happy Wednesday, and... Beware of the Ides of March!

 

* reference and more information HERE.

Reflecting on Greensboro and the Transient Nature of Trains

Happy Friday, we're moving into the weekend, Greensboro! Today's photo is of an eastbound train strolling towards downtown Greensboro. It is on the track behind Oden Brewing Company on Gate City Boulevard. On the other side of the tracks, Oakland Avenue parallels the train. You can hear the trains as they push through several times a day. Here is a list of passenger trains coming through Greensboro. Of course there are freight trains passing through, too.

If you get a hankering to go somewhere by train this weekend, head down to the J Douglas Galyon Depot on East Washington Street and see where your adventure will take you. The station was renovated in 2005 and it is quite attractive. If you want to read more about the freight transportation through Greensboro, see here. It plays a key role in the Piedmont Triad region. In his piece for "27 Views of Greensboro", Ed Cone reminds us that "chunks of our past keep disappearing" (p. 59). While our textile mills are gone, the trains still come through taking something from Point A to Point B, through Greensboro. Cone posits that perhaps transience is our most enduring trait. In your eyes, what is Greensboro's most enduring trait? What could be more fun than to ponder that thought while passing through Greensboro on a train. If you aren't going on a train this weekend, it is something to consider while standing at the fence along Gate City Boulevard.

Happy Friday! It is seven more days until First Friday, but downtown would love to see you today!

Airport Traffic at PTI Is Starting To Pick Up!

Travel in and out of Greensboro is starting to pick up again, as evidenced by the above photo, taken in the Piedmont Triad International (PTI) Airport. A Delta flight had just come in from Atlanta and here we see travelers walking past one of the Jeansboro sculptures on the north concourse. The title is "Carolina Daydream" and it was painted in 2018 by Bailey Winger of Salisbury, NC. There are so many iconic North Carolina images on this sculpture: The Wright Brothers' airplane, a barbecue sandwich, the Big Coffee Pot in Old Salem, and more. Something about the color of this sculpture, and of the travelers, is so uplifting.

In 2018, four of the statues were added to the airport. They were selected out of twenty-five submissions as part of the PTI's master art plan.* There are also several of these sculptures downtown and they are perfect for Greensboro, known for its denim and jeans making. While the jeans are now made overseas, they have been such a big part of our history. May you have a great weekend whether you are staying here, just getting into town, or going elsewhere. Happy Friday!

*reference and read more, here.

Air Force 1

Forgive the poor quality of this photo, but it is hard to plan for when Air Force 1 is going to be flying around in Greensboro. Yesterday, in the Westridge Heights and Friendly Acres neighborhoods, Air Force 1 was circling from about 3-6pm. Often, the plane does touch-and-go landings and take-offs at PTI Airport. However, yesterday, the plane was making low circles around Claxton Elementary School. When it is flying that low, the most noticeable features are the American flag on the tail and how quiet the engines are. "Air Force 1" referee to any plane that is equipped to transport the President of the United States. If  you want to read more about Air Force 1 or even sign up to receive email communication from the White House, follow this link.

Yesterday was the perfect weather to be out flying around. The sky was sunny and clear. Greensboro is a perfect destination for Air Force 1, because it is only about an hour from Washington, D.C. and the air traffic around Greensboro is light. If you want to see Air Force 1,  mid-afternoons when the skies are clear, hang out near the airport and look up when you hear a plane. If you see one with four engines and a flag up by the vertical stabilizer and rudder, it is Air Force 1.

Happy Wednesday!

C-17 Globemaster III

What appeared to be a McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster was doing touch-and-gos, flying over northwest Greensboro yesterday. Likely, they had been dispatched from the Air National Guard base in either Charlotte, NC or Charleston, SC. The Wal-Mart at North Battleground Avenue is up on a hill and when the plane flew overhead, several small children were pointing and having great conversations with their parents. These planes are very large and imposing, especially when in the landing pattern. 

The Piedmont Triad International Airport has been relatively quiet with the decrease in commercial flying. However, it is not uncommon to see people sitting in the landing path near the airport watching planes coming in for a landing. If one of the plane watchers (or anyone else) has more details about yesterday's maneuvers, please let us know. The little cell phone doesn't capture the beauty of the plane, but it does give you an idea of the size and shape. By the way, an optical illusion makes it look like it is flying towards your screen, which is why it looks like the plane only has three engines. Actually, it is flying away from the page and one of the engines is hidden by the fuselage. Happy Wednesday!

Vanity Tags Duke & App

Vanity tags are like tattoos for your car. In North Carolina, they cost $30 above and beyond the renewal fee. The maximum number of characters is eight. The above car has Duke & App for tags. If you live in the North Carolina, you know that the car belongs to a family with fans of both Duke University and Appalachian. North Carolina has so many fabulous colleges and universities it can be hard to convince high school students to even apply to universities out of state. 

If you are traveling this summer, you are likely noticing vehicles and tags. It is always fun to see where people are from and, if they have vanity tags, how long it takes you to figure out what they mean. Some, like the one we're featuring today, are much more transparent than others. If you have a vanity tag, what does it say? If you don't have one but would get one, what would you select?  How wonderful that the above family values higher education! Happy Monday!

HERS in Her Car on the Highway!

It is always fun when we are out together and "Mr. Greensboro Daily Photo" says, "There's a photo for you." Such was the case recently when we were on the urban loop around Greensboro and he spotted the "HERS" car. Armed with only a cellphone camera, I snapped the photo as the car changed lanes and Mr. GDP navigated behind the wheel.

We immediately wondered if the family had a "HIS" or a "HERS2" car. It is fun to read vanity plates and see how quickly we can figure out the message and even the backstory that goes with the tag. Do you have a vanity/specialized tag? If so, what does it say? If not, and you got one, what would you want on it?

As for 421, please know that is what they have renamed Business 40 to and through Winston-Salem. For some reason, the signage takes a little getting used to. We're not sure if the car in front of us was headed on 421 to Winston, but what we do know is that it was HERS! Happy Tuesday!

By Train from the J. Douglas Galyon Depot

Greensboro is known as Gate City because we were the hub of so much rail transporting of commerce throughout the state and south. Above is the train depot downtown, the J. Douglas Galyon Depot. This past weekend, a carbon footprint-conscious family member of ours opted to take Amtrak to Raleigh as opposed to driving. She reported that the ride was fabulous, the train was not very busy (unfortunately) and that the round trip cost was about $30. When you consider purchasing gas, the stress of driving to Raleigh on I-40, fighting traffic once there, and paying to park, $30 sounds pretty good. Shared transportation is increasingly a viable option these days, especially with ride services like Uber and Lyft upon arrival at your final destination. Also, you can take your bike on the Amtrak train if you want to bike upon arrival.

Imagine planning a day trip to a nearby city, going with friends by train, maybe even traveling with your bookclub, scout troop, biking or running group. The more we start using public transportation, the more it will be available to us. That sounds like a good New Year's resolution. Happy Tuesday! Happy Point A to Point B. Look how clean and pretty the depot is. Grab your softest blanket and let's ride!

Country Ride in Vintage Mercedes

Over the weekend, this vintage Mercedes was out for a country stroll between Greensboro and Summerfield. A middle aged couple and their happy canine were cruising along the back roads, evoking a bygone era when taking a ride for the sake of riding was commonplace. We hope you had an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend and that this week will be a good one.

It is predicted to be hot and dry in Greensboro, so double check that your vegetable garden has been watered. Let's all try to schedule in some time for a country ride, even if we don't have a car as cool as this vintage Mercedes 200- series Diesel.

GSO

If you are from Greensboro and travel a lot, you likely know that GSO is the three letter code for the airport here. We've already mentioned that travel is increasing at the airport, flights are being added, and it isn't quite as necessary to fly out of Charlotte or Raleigh. The above photo features one of the airport's eating establishments, The Local @ GSO. HMSHost of Bethesda, MD, has a ten-year, $50 million contract to run the six restaurants at the airport. HMSHost made an effort to give the restaurants a local feel and spent over two million dollars to upgrade them and replace former establishments.* Time permitting, try one of them out. As you see, from the upper right corner of the photo, PTI now has a Starbucks near Gate 27!  

During this last weekend before Christmas, travel is heavy, not only at the airport, but also on the roads. Also, the east coast is a little messy today. Drive safely and, if you celebrate Christmas, may it be everything you want it to be- whether you are in Greensboro or elsewhere!

* reference and more information, here.

Piedmont Triad International Airport- So Much Happening

Over the last few years, the Piedmont Triad International Airport has undergone renovations, added flights, seats, and even art. Possibly, the above decorative ceiling was installed in celebration of Spirit Airlines. In September of this year, Spirit Airlines starting flying from Greensboro to Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale. Greensboro is the 66th airport that the low-cost, budget carrier has started to use. Spirit is growing; PTIA is growing, too. According to PTIA Executive Director Kevin Baker, "seats scheduled for January 2019 were up 23 percent from January 2018."  6,500 of the 20,000 seats are coming from the added Sprint flights; however, Sprint only accounts for one-third of the increase.*  This growth is great news for the Triad area, making it decreasingly necessary for the people of Greensboro to drive to Charlotte or Raleigh to catch a flight.

On your next flight out of PTIA, take time to look at the artwork; not only these ribbons, but also a pair of the fiberglass bluejeans, a life-sized mosaic horse, and more!

* Reference and additional information, here.

Tiny House Living

Elizabeth and Adam Paashaus can barely contain their excitement. This past weekend, they had a giant yard sale to minimize their possessions. They are selling their Lindley Park home, leaving brick and mortar jobs, and traveling the United States in their tiny home. They will home-school their two children and work remotely through the Internet. Here you see them in the kitchen area of their 40' long Thomas school bus that has been redesigned as a 270 square ft. home. The transformation took over two years with the couple doing the work. The beautiful wood countertops and walls are covered in wood harvested from a farm on North Church Street.

Elizabeth loves to cook and bake, so the couple dedicated ample room to the kitchen space. The bathroom and sleeping areas are behind the white door. Forward, there is a seating area, and just out of sight is a wood burning stove, an especially cozy feature that Elizabeth loves.

Elizabeth, a lifelong Greensboro resident and Grimsley grad, and Adam, first New York and then High Point, will be launching this new lifestyle by mid-October.   They love adventure, outdoor sports and living life to the fullest.Hats off to them for living their dream.  If you want to follow their adventures of living the good life on the road, follow them on Instagram at Deliberatelifebus and read Elizabeth's blog.

PART- A Great Transportation Option!

Have you been out  West Market Street to see the transportation hub? The above photo features a PART (Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation) bus leaving the main terminal on its route. This regional transportation system connects Winston Salem, Greensboro, and High Point. Created in 1997, it has 13 routes. PART has a great website where you can learn everything from the history to learning ticket purchasing options (here).

It would be so nice if every public school student learned how to use Greensboro's public bus system. If more people used the system, route options would expand even more. Treat a friend to a ticket and ride!

Airplanes Over Greensboro

Public school is out in Greensboro. Families will be leaving town for their beach and mountain vacations. Others will travel by air to start their summer adventures. The above airplane is in the landing pattern for Piedmont Triad International Airport. For those who aren't in a position to take out-of-town vacations this summer, great staycations can be arranged in Greensboro, centered around plane watching in and around the airport.

This photo was taken at Bur-Mil Park.  On many days, Bur-Mil is right in the landing pattern and the planes do seem really close, especially if you have your head in the clouds, dreaming about your summer fun. Speaking of summer fun, tonight the Bur-Mil swim team will host the Friendly Frogs in a dual swim meet. If possible, we will post a photo of the meet tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Trains in the Gate City

Greensboro has been known as the Gate City since the 1800s, because it was a hub with 60 trains a day moving through town. The trains transported raw materials and finished products to and from Greensboro's local manufacturing plants. While trains no longer play the significant role in transporting goods as they did in the 19th century, they still travel through town daily. The above photo features trains on the tracks off of Patterson Street near the Coliseum. While graffiti on trains is destructive, against a blue sky with clouds floating along, it does add a memorable touch.

In addition to freight trains, Greensboro also has passenger trains. Amtrak maintains a robust schedule through town.Tickets to Raleigh, Charlotte, and to other places up the east coast are very reasonable. If you are looking for summer adventures, consider booking train tickets now.

Railyard on Binford Street

The above rail yard, where many Norfolk Southern trains appear to be stored, is located on Binford Street between the Coliseum and Patterson Street, near Stamey's BBQ. Norfolk Southern is a Transportation Service, Cargo and Freight Company based out of Norfolk Virginia. Greensboro is called "The Gate City", a nickname dating back to the 1890s when the city had sixty train arrival and departures a day. There aren't quite as many trains today, but you can easily travel by train to major cities along the east coast and cargo and freight trains pass through daily. The many tracks and train cars above is just one example of Greensboro's great rail system.

Winter can be a challenging time to take photos. The hours of light are short; often the sun doesn't shine and the whole city can look gray. However, on a day when skies are blue, even a scene without the verdant colors of spring or the red/rusty palate of fall can be visually interesting. The geometry of the above view caught our eye; specifically, light poles, perpendicular to the ground, and rail lines slicing across the page. You just never know when and where you are going to find something with visual appeal. If you see something (or someone) you think should be featured on Greensboro Daily Photo, please let us know. We're always on the lookout for people and places to showcase and everyday comes around pretty often!

Aviation

Greensboro has so many aviation businesses and opportunities above and beyond PTI airport and the major carriers. As examples, Honda Jet Aircraft Company and Fed Ex are located here. Terosphere Aviation Services and NexGA Aircraft, and Carolina Aircraft are here, too. GTCC even has an aviation center with degrees in avionics, management, and systems technology. There is a flight school and you can obtain airframe and power plant certificates. GTCC started their first aviation program in 1969. The T.H. Davis Aviation Center was founded in 1991 on land the Piedmont Triad Aviation Authority owns. If someone in your life is interested in aviation as a career, their options are only a google search away.

It wasn't entirely clear whose carrier we photographed a couple of weeks ago when we were visiting the airport. The photo was taken from West Market Street. Remarkably, planes are this close when driving along the western side of the county. Driving the perimeter of the airport is a fun venture for a day off.

REUSE Tiny House

The REUSE Tiny House came to Greensboro this past weekend. It was parked at Reconsidered Goods on Patterson Drive. Virtually everything in the 98 square feet of space has been recycled or up-cycled. The vehicle was originally a moving van. Alex Eaves and Deek Diedricksen travel in the van to promote their upcoming documentary film. While the other side of their mobile home has a window in the middle, this side in the photo does not, because they use the side of the vehicle as a screen for showing their documentary.

The items outside are t-shirts, handmade bracelets, and other items for sale to help fund their documentary film making. They also have informational pamphlets, in case visitors are interested in learning more about their Box Truck and all that they have recycled. The mission of Alex and Deek is aligned with that of Reconsidered Goods and Saturday's customers really enjoyed seeing and dreaming about the tiny house lifestyle. If you want more information on the truck and upcoming documentary, visit boxtruckfilm.com. If you want to more up-cycling and recycling in your life, visit reconsidered goods Tuesday through Sunday.

Stop back tomorrow and we'll share an interior shot of the BOX TRUCK!

Pilot Mountain

October weekends are great for traveling in North Carolina. Pilot Mountain is only about 45 minutes from Greensboro. This iconic landmark just off U.S. 52 between Winston Salem and Mt. Airy is a fun day trip from Greensboro. It is located in Surry County and is part of the Sauratown Mountains. The elevation is 2,421 feet at its highest point. The Saura Indians called The Knob (above)  "Jomeokee" or Great Guide.*

As you can see, the leaves haven't really turned yet, so the next few weekends should still be good for exploring the counties north and west of Guilford County. Pilot Mountain is a great place to hike and picnic, if you are looking for outdoor recreation. The Andy Griffith show called the destination Mt. Pilot. If you head to Mt. Pilot, you might want to make a day of it, head on over to "Mayberry" as Mt. Airy is truly a town steeped in nostalgia. Happy Monday!

*reference.

Gate City Redux

This billboard is located behind Thousands O'Prints, Chakras, and Schiffman's at the corner of Davie and East Washington Streets. The "Go. Reconnect." is a reference to travel by train. It is the closest billboard to the train depot a half a block away. Greensboro has a tremendous rail history. The nickname "Gate City" dates to the late 1800s when as many as 60 trains a day moved through Greensboro. Today, people are still able to travel to and from Greensboro by train, hence the above sign.

If you are interested in train travel, head down to J. Douglas Gaylon Depot at 236 East Washington Street and learn about your options. Sure, you could look online (www.ncbytrain.org); however, the building is beautiful, the interior is historic, and seeing people coming and going is an experience that can't be replicated virtually.

Let's Ride

Weekends can feel so liberating. The above photo features a driver in his vintage car on 220 North, leaving Greensboro. He appears to be heading towards Virginia in what looks like a 1940's Plymouth. Can you believe that this car is over 70 years old and that it could still be on the road at 100? 

If you like classic cars, Greensboro Auto Auction (GAA) will hold its next classic car auction on March 2,3,and 4 at 301 Norwalk Street. Also, if you are an antique car lover, the Cars & Coffee Event will resume in March. From March-October, the third Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. classic car owners gather behind the Weatherspoon Art Gallery to open their hoods and talk parts, engines, and anything they can think of about their classic cars. Let us hear a virtual honk, if you love classic cars. Have a happy weekend, dear readers.

Sunrise, Sunset

Yesterday morning, the sunrise in Greensboro was a powdery pink and blue, and very noticeable with the leaves now off the trees. The sunset was also a beauty. Instead of sharing a sunset photo, we moved the camera over a bit to feature this pink contrail and the sunset reflecting off the airplane heading into Piedmont Triad International Airport. We bet the view was especially beautiful for the passengers in the plane.

Contrails are actually condensation trails that form from the water in jet exhaust mixing with wet cold air in the atmosphere. The water freezes and condenses into ice crystals. At just the right time, when the sun is low to the horizon, the contrails can take on a beautiful pink glow; cloud-stripes of sorts. Yesterday was a great evening for contrails in the northwestern part of town, near the airport. It is not uncommon to see cars pulled off the road near the airport watching planes take off and land; a beautiful sunset is always a bonus.

Time for a Road Trip

Fall is a great time for festivals and heading to the mountains, especially in North Carolina. This fall, however, the raging forest fires in western North Carolina have made it difficult to camp out. With Greensboro, since our city is centrally located in the State, heading to the beach is always an option. The above Airstream camper is dwarfed by these mature trees at this suburban home northwestern Guilford County. Look at the size of that magnolia tree in the foreground. It has been said that you know you are in the south when the yard has magnolia, dogwood, crepe myrtle trees, with a touch of kudzu sneaking in.

If you live in Greensboro, and own an Airstream, you may want to consider joining Unit 161, the Piedmont North Carolina group of the Wally Bynam Caravan Club International (WBCCI). At their rallies, they have tours, potlucks, and fellowship around campfires-- and Airstreams. The local group was organized in 1976, and at last count, had 56 members. The club has ten officers and an historian and they pride themselves in service to others and fellowship among members. Stanford-educated Wally Bynam launched the first Airstream in 1936. He would be pleased to know that eighty years after the first riveted, bullet-shaped, aluminum Airstream was made, it still has a commanding presence on American highways.

In the middle of the above photo, in the blue sky section, you can see a squirrel's nest. Wonder if Mr. Squirrel is waiting for his chance to move into this Airstream for the winter. His back up plan is that big ole magnolia tree.

P is for Pullman on the Mighty 611

It is not every day that a Pullman sleeper rail car come to town. However, one was in Greensboro this weekend as part of the train we've been featuring for the last two days. And, this is not just any Pullman. It comes with a great deal of provenance. The car was built by Pullman of Chicago in 1925 as a 12-section, one drawing-room sleeper. In the 1950's it was reconfigured as a fancy office car and operated as part of North Western Railway's office car fleet. In 1996, it was purchased by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. It was sold to Dearing Railroad LLC in 2006 and is now part of  he 611 steam locomotive.

In its present configuration, the Pullman Dearing features two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a crew room, a dining room, a kitchen, an observation lounge and platform. *  It sure added a lot of character to the bullet-nosed, vintage 1950's train as it came chugging down the track and parked at the J. Douglas Gaylon Depot. 

 Today is ABC Wednesday and for our A-Z Urban Finds, "P" is for "Pullman." 

*reference and additional information, here.

Train Engineer for the Spirit of Roanoke

Today's photo features the train engineer of the coal fired steam engine, Spirit of Roanoke,  as it pulled out of Greensboro's J. Douglas Gaylon Depot 7:00 am Sunday morning. Being a train engineer requires a tremendous amount of preparation and concentration. Train engineers must be certified by the Federal Railroad Administration as well as have on-the-job training. Unlike the conductors, the engineer does not have ongoing contact with passengers. While he hopes passengers are happy, his job is to ensure they get from Point A to Point B safely and incident free. The round trips between Greensboro and Roanoke, VA were, indeed, incident free.

You can see the concentration on the engineer's face as he navigates the journey. Not seen in the photo were the exuberant spectators, hopping from gravel pile to gravel pile near the track, trying to get a good look and a photo or two of the Mighty 611.  Onlookers were fascinated by the train's bullet-shaped cars, enveloped in steam. Equally thrilling were the sounds of the wheels rolling along the track and the whistle alerting onlookers that the train was in motion. It can easily take a train up to a mile to stop, so knowing what lies ahead is serious business to an engineer. 

Ashes to Go... and So Much More!

Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday have come and gone. In the above photo, taken yesterday on the campus of UNCG, just in front of the Elliot University Center or EUC, you see a sign advertising "Ashes to Go" in the Willow Room. A person of the cloth was available yesterday to help students honor the first day of Lent, without leaving campus. To the left, you see a student skateboarding to class and, in the far distance, a bus picking up and dropping off students. The red flags on the lawn are for raising awareness about "red flag" issues like domestic violence. In the distance, the white stacks of the Jackson Library, looking like an open book, are seemingly calling students to study.

These are a few of the many disparate images that merge on a college campus. In an instant, you can see many different things happening and talk to people from different walks of life. As education becomes more and more virtual, we're here to extol the value of an on-campus experience. We learn about ourselves and the world by interacting with others. The value of spending four years on a college campus is priceless.

 

All Will Soon Be Calm

The above photo was taken, downstairs, at the Piedmont Triad International Airport. You can see from this sculpture in the middle that you are in GREENSBORO/HIGH POINT. We hope that weather you are staying in Greensboro, coming here to visit, or leaving town, that you are safe and happy. This will be a busy travel day, but by evening, most businesses will close and the air will have the peaceful sound of silence. Some people will be out attending midnight mass; some will be out trying to do last minute shopping; others will be home waiting for Santa. 

With the temperatures in the 60's and 70's in Greensboro it's beginning to feel a lot like we are in the southern hemisphere where it is summer right now. If you are lucky enough to have carolers in your neighborhood, don't be surprised if they show up in shorts and tank tops. You may want to have some hot chocolate cooling, just in case. In the busy, over-decorated spirit of the holiday season, the stark, monochromatic look of the above photo is to sight what palate cleansing is to taste.

Just Who Is He?

Vanity tags add to the fun of summer road trips. Which passenger in the car will find the most interesting vanity tags? The North Carolina license plate on the above Nissan states, LOOKN4HM. Sometimes, on Greensboro Daily Photo, it may seem like we take ourselves a little too seriously. Our heart is in the right place. We want to represent our city well and we don't ever want to make fun of people. But, it looks like the owners of this vehicle don't take themselves too seriously. So we will piggy back off of their fun and have fun along WITH them.

Looking for him? Just who is he?

For this Thursday, we leave you with food for thought. Someone in Greensboro, North Carolina is looking for him. So you know who he is? If so, do share the backstory!

Twilight on Wendover

Wendover Avenue, Greensboro’s central east/west boulevard, is a wavy road with lots of street lights, stretching from NC-68 in High Point in the west to McLeansville in the eastern end of Guilford County. Known as “the bump,” the busiest part is the corridor is the shopping area at Bridford Parkway running past Wal-Mart, Costco and all of the car lots. Wendover Avenue even has a Wikipedia entry. It is hard to believe that Wendover Avenue has been around since the 1960's.

The above photo was taken on the eastern end, looking west. The sky is a deep sapphire blue. The white stripe on the horizon shows that night not has not completely rolled in. While East Wendover is not nearly as busy as West Wendover, with the urban loop, the east side will change drastically over the next five years. Already, there is no isolated stretch of road between East Greensboro and West Burlington. If you get a chance, drive Wendover’s entire length and think about all of the places you could go. Time your trip just right and you, too, just may see a sapphire sky. They are pretty common in Greensboro. Happy Saturday!

GSO

GSO is the three-letter code for the Piedmont Triad International Airport. This is the ticketing area of the terminal. As seen above, GSO is under renovation. The multi-million dollar renovation will improve the ceiling and office space. Additionally, the airport plans to enhance the travel experience for passengers. Wireless internet, charging stations for devices, and interactive kiosks are also in the plans.

The airport, located eight miles west of Greensboro, has been serving our community since 1927. Here is a great timeline for the history of events, significant to the airport. This is not your grandpa's airport! If you get a chance, stop out for a visit. They have great artwork displayed downstairs. As for the orange, plastic construction fence, it is kind of fun to navigate. Welcome to GSO!

Q is for Quagmire

This Greensboro "quagmire" can be found on North Battleground at the next leg of the Urban Loop. The above swampy, wetlands that go from dry to wet, depending on the weather, are being altered so that the road can be built. 

Quagmire can have a slightly muddy definition. In geography, it is a soft boggy area of land; it can also be ( literally or metaphorically) an awkwardly complex or hazardous situation. Let's hope the above is not the latter and to be sure, it is the former. Monitoring the construction process of the Greensboro Urban Loop is interesting. We are trying to document how the road crew will make the land sufficiently solid to support a heavily traveled bypass. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our ABC S.T.E.A.M. Series, "Q" is for "quagmire." Regardless of where you live, we challenge you to use the word "quagmire" today!

Lemonade Highway

Summer is about to come to a screeching halt for families with children in school. Today is a glorious Friday and many people will be driving in and out of Greensboro. Some people will be lucky enough to head to the beach or mountains; others, will be returning from trips. I-40 and I-85 are always busy on weekends in the summer.

Today's photos were taken when we were on the road returning to Greensboro this past Sunday. The giant, roving lemon reminded us of all the road games we used to play back in the day before in-car movies, texting capability, video games and all of those other digital distractions. Do you remember trying to find license plates from as many states as possible? A-Z towns? Well, the mobile lemonade stand perked us up and put everyone in a super cheerful mood.  If you are traveling this weekend, please be careful and, if there are others in the car, consider playing some "old school" games. Finally, a friend of ours said that if this vehicle ever breaks down, they'll need some lemon-aid!

Miami Air International at PTI

 A couple of weeks ago, this Miami Air charter plane was parked on the northeast side of the Piedmont Triad International Airport, between the terminal and the Fed-Ex facility. Miami Air, established in 1990, is a toddler in the industry. Military, sport teams, cruise lines, tour operators, and incentive groups are their main customers.* Perhaps they were transporting an ACC team to Greensboro. As of 2011, the airline only had 7 planes in service; so, seeing one of their 737's at PTI was a pretty fun- rather like the license plate game on the highway.

As we enter this Passover/Easter season, many Greensboro families are taking vacations, going elsewhere to visit relatives. With the Guilford County Schools forgiving a few snow days, students who take next week off will only be missing 2 days of school instead of four. If you are one of the lucky folks who will spend time with friends and loved ones (here or elsewhere), we hope your time will be great! As for us, we'll be spending the week enjoying all of the plants on the verge of blooming.

*reference & see more, here.

 

L is for Lindley Field

Sunday's weather was Sunny, cool, and windy. This photo was taken at the Piedmont Triad International Airport around 4pm when the unfurled  flags were evidence that the winds were strong. The airport is currently experiencing road construction with frequent traffic pattern changes and cones and signs are everywhere. The yellow sign above the unknown traveler's head reads, "stop for pedestrian." We got a chuckle wondering why it didn't say "pedestrians." 

In 1927, the property for the airport was purchased from Paul and Helen Lindley, which is how Lindley Field got its name. Also in 1927, Charles Lindberg stopped here in the "Spirit of St. Louis" on his cross country tour.* My how Greensboro's airport has changed over the last 87 years.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our Alphabet Soup series, "L" is for Lindley Field, and Lindberg and Spirit of St. LOUIS for that matter. Happy, ABC Wednesday. It is one of our blogs most seen days as ABC'ers from around the blogosphere stop by to see what we've posted.

*reference.

 

A is for Airplane, Airport, and Aviation

Here we see a photo of a Beechcraft Bonanza, the rightmost plane in the photo. The hangar is located at the general aviation area of the Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI), near the main terminal. Landmark Aviation and Atlantic Aero, Inc. both serve general and corporate aviation at PTI. The owner of the single engine red & white airplane above could zip you from Greensboro down to the beach in about an hour.  Just think, you could go for the day! The aerial views would be stunning.

Today is a new round of ABC Wednesday. For this round, we're not sure we're limiting ourselves to a theme. This A-Z round might just be alphabet soup. For today, A is for airplane, airport, and aviation. As for the Beechcraft Bonanza, it has been around since 1947 and, over the years, more than 17,000 have been built. These post-WWII planes have really interesting features. If you are interested, read more here. As for us, if we ever get to the North Carolina beaches this summer, likely, you'll see us doing the ole I-40 shuffle. 

Day Trip to (or through) Winston Salem

Spoiler alert! The above photo is not Greensboro, but neighboring Winston-Salem. These sunny days of late summer/early fall are perfect for day trips. The mountains are ripe for apple picking adventures. Wake Forest University is offering some fun football Saturdays. Old Salem Museum and Gardens is offering their fall gardening workshops and ready to show you what fall was like in a Moravian village. Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Park are begging to be traversed, as is Grandfather Mountain. Mount Airy is waiting with some Mayberry nostalgia. All of these places have one thing in common. When leaving Greensboro, you need to head west and pass through Winston Salem. Greensboro is a great place to call home, but once in a while, we love to visit our sister city (of sorts) the next county over.... especially on bright, sunny days!

Happy Saturday, dear readers! And, a special thanks to Kim for her GDP comment yesterday about Bain Street having been named for former Greensboro Mayor Carson Bain. Read the 2010 obituary of this prominent Greensboro citizen, here. Readers and commenters like YOU (and Kim) make this blogging effort all worthwhile!

Captive Audience..... on the Road

Driving back from Washington, D.C. this weekend, as we were approaching Greensboro, we saw this truck on the road: "best coffee on the Interstate", Pilot travel centers. On the side, the truck's tank had written, "flammable". Somehow, we don't think the liquid inside was coffee. This was a brilliant piece of advertisement from which one cannot escape. Seeing the coffee-bean shaped sign made us want to stop for coffee. However,  the closest Pilot (Flying J) travel center to Greensboro is in Mebane and we had already passed it. We settled for getting back to town 15 minutes earlier and brewing coffee at home.

Seeing this photo and looking at photos from this time last year,  we notice spring is a little later in arriving this year. Perhaps it is for the best as we don't want any beautiful blossoms to get damaged. If you want to learn about trees that will be blooming soon, look here. Do you have any in your yard? Something a little farther away from home is this 1:32 video about early blooms of spring in the Chicago Botanic Garden. At any rate, as we look at the dull, almost colorless, photo above, we can hardly contain ourselves, anticipating another beautiful spring in Greensboro. Spring, hurry up! Please!

 

I LOVE NC

Vanity tags, like bumper stickers and slogans on t-shirts, get at the core of who we are. Deep in the heart of North Carolina is a driver who LOVES Texas. Perhaps we should have followed the shopper into Pier One at Friendly Center* to ask why one would purchase a vanity tag proclaiming love for another state. Do you think there is someone driving around in Texas with a license plate that reads, I LUV NC? To be sure, there is an interesting story here.

As you drive around on the roads this holiday, don't forget to play the license game. There is nothing better for entertaining children in an educational way while on the road. Then again, that was the last generation. This generation has text messaging, internet access, and great movies in the car. Still, if you see a fun license tag, especially one in Greensboro, point it out to the people in the car with you and let us know here! Stop back tomorrow for our ABC Neighborhood post. And, by the way, WE LUV NC (in North Carolina). Think that tag is taken?

*This photo was taken last winter which is why you see snow on the bumper.

 

Remembering Little Marissa Nicole Shelton

Thanksgiving week, Americans log more road miles, traveling to be with loved ones, than any other week of the year. If you are among those traveling, please remember to drive defensively and responsibly. The above photo is a reminder of the grief one suffers with the unexpected traffic death of a loved one.*

The pink floral cross is located on Highway 29 north between Cone Boulevard and Hicone Road. Marissa Nicole Shelton, an eight year old girl who lived nearby, was struck and killed on her bicycle in a hit and run accident an July 21st, 2011. Her grieving family maintains the memorial. The little sign of Santa says "Santa, please stop here." We hope that the family's Christian faith community has been helping them get through these very difficult first few holidays without Marissa. Since today is Sunday, we like to share something religious, spiritual, or a message that helps us reflect on the beauty of life before us. Here's to a safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving for us all. As we say in the South, "Have a blessed day."

*As of this week, the roadside memorial was still standing. If you are interested, read more about roadside memorials here. Some people say the markers are a remembrance and remind us all to be safe. Others say they are unsafe and distracting. What is your perspective on this tradition?