I've been working on a manuscript since August. A few technical advisors I'm using know, as well as a few close friends.
I share this revelation because within the pages of this manuscript there is a common setting in the not-so imaginary city of Great Falls, North Carolina — a trail where two people meet, fall in love and marry.
This trail is where the couple makes many key decisions about their future and where, if there had not been a rude interruption, a proposal for marriage would be proffered.
Obviously, this trail is based on the Roanoke Canal Trail, a place that is a gem to our city, county and region. The fictional couple in this story understand what they have and while it melds their hearts together, it also helps them reach a crucial decision to make the fictional Great Falls their home and try to make it a better place to live.
In the real world we have a chance to let folks know across the state just how proud we are of this trail by voting for it in the North Carolina Great Places greenway division, a contest sponsored by the North Carolina chapter of the American Planning Association.
The trail is doing well in the voting, which ends at 5 p.m. on February 27. As of this writing it's at 327 votes and is only behind Estatoe Trail in Transylvania County, a trail which only stretches .70 miles while our trail stretches 7.2 miles and connects the lake park and River Falls Park in Weldon.
I think our trail is better and I think we can win this contest if we vote.
Our trail, as it is referred to in my manuscript, offers stunning views of the sun rise at Lion's Watch. On some of the hottest days of summer its expansive reach of trees offer a comfortable shade.
Our trail has history, a documented history linked to early commerce. Many structures remain and on the towpath we are given history lessons, nature lessons and lessons about how this gem figured in business and industry.
The trail offers different views to watch the river go by. You are certain to see deer, perhaps a fox, geese resting on their migration path and probably a few slithering creatures which, they say, are just as scared of us as we are of them.
An effort is being made to uncover more of the trail's history as it related to the Underground Railroad, a daunting task, but one that is sure to uncover some nugget that we didn't know before.
I often see denigrating comments made about the city, but now we have a chance to let it be known we have something to be proud of, something palpable that defines our history.
A reader left a comment on our initial story that sums up what I believe and my fictional characters know.
The reader says, “Friends and neighbors, I challenge you all to click on the above link: Great Places in North Carolina and vote for The Roanoke Rapids (sic) Canal Trail. Let's take some pride in our community. We can win this contest if we try.”
I believe we can win this as well. Out of the six trails in the running for this title, ours wasn't manufactured for recreation, it is the longest and is used not only by individuals but is the site of the popular half-marathon.
Since I've been here, I've always been drawn to the trail, have used it to reflect, to watch the river and try to imagine a time when it was used as a tool for commerce.
I've loved and won at the trail and I've been let down at the trail, but the soothing sound of the river, the chirping of birds and the grunting of frogs, the connection with nature, serves an elixir that masks the hurt and accentuates the joy.
That part of my side project as I call it focuses on this trail should not be surprising and it would not be surprising to me if we all band together we can win this title that, while it brings us no monetary reward, can bring us a sense of pride and perhaps a few more visitors to walk paths that help define us as a community — Lance Martin
