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ISSUE 14, 27 JANUARY 2026
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Welcome back to The Bend!
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The Bend follows a simple rhythm each week. The Eddy Line opens with a one-line thought or
observation, something short enough to remember but worth thinking
about. What the Current Pulled Toward dives a
little deeper into where the previous week’s energy went, whether that’s
a project, a partnership, or a personal lesson learned. Signal Fire highlights a person, place, or initiative
that deserves some attention. And One Thought Worth
Sitting With closes things out with a brief reflection or quote
that will hopefully help guide you through whatever you may be dealing
with.
It’s part journal, part field note, and hopefully
something that makes you pause for a moment before diving back into the
current.
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“Hope isn’t a feeling we wait for, it’s the decision
to keep stepping forward.”
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What the Current Pulled Toward
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This week the
current pulled toward
restored hope and
cautious
optimism.
Recently I shared an
op-ed
about the outdoor industry and how it fits into our region’s economic
and cultural life. The response I’ve gotten has been really meaningful.
Aside from simple affirmations, the conversations that followed have
given me a restored sense of hope in what we can achieve. People from
businesses, nonprofits, local government, and community groups reached
out to say they felt seen, heard, or encouraged. That kind of response
is proof of why it was worth writing in the first place: not for
applause, but for connection and collective momentum.
Over the past several years, it has often felt like
our community had plateaued, like we were all doing good work but
collectively waiting for that next shift, that next lift. Lately,
though, with the right people moving into positions of influence (and
let’s be honest, some wrong ones moving out - and still a couple more
that need to move along), there’s a sense that momentum is re-building.
I’m cautiously optimistic that a state office on
outdoor recreation can get established (for real this time),
providing a stable platform for advocacy, funding, and coordination. I’m
also excited for the way VA MTNS Outdoor
Collective is starting to take shape as a regional outdoor brand
and cluster initiative. We actually have some members now and a draft
slate of 2026 workshops and networking opportunities. While it’s still
getting some final touches, you can view the webpage
here.
We should be ready for launch in just a couple days.
These certainly aren’t overnight transformations but
they feel like the right kind of lift at the right moment: grounded in
people who care deeply about place, community, values, and
opportunity.
- Mike.
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The
Roanoke Outside
Foundation has been a major force in shaping how our region tells
its outdoor story and why that matters. As part of the Roanoke Regional
Partnership family, the foundation works to leverage natural assets -
lakes, rivers, trails, mountains - to attract investment, talent, and
attention to the region. Their work includes signature events like the
Blue
Ridge Marathon,
GO
Outside Festival (GO Fest), and
Go Cross
Cyclocross Race that bring people together around outdoor
experiences and elevate the region’s profile.
Since launching initiatives like
Project
Outside, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and
issued dozens of grants for trail work, river access and outdoor
improvements, Roanoke Outside has helped ensure that outdoor
infrastructure matches the passion people have for it. They also serve as a clearinghouse for information on the
region’s outdoor assets and promote stewardship, education, and
equitable access across every corner of the Blue Ridge.
A great example of this momentum in action is
Outdoor
Recreation Day at the Virginia Capitol on January 28.
This gathering brings advocates, professionals, businesses, and outdoor
lovers together to make the case for strong public support of parks,
trails, waterways, and outdoor economy initiatives across the
Commonwealth. If you care about where this work is headed and what it
means for community health, economic resilience, and quality of place,
it’s worth marking the date.
To learn more about Roanoke Outside, click
here.
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One Thought Worth Sitting With
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This week’s theme: Restored Hope and Cautious
Optimism.
“Optimism is not a passive expectation that things
will get better.
It is a conviction that we can make things
better.“
-Yvon
Chouinard
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Let’s Go to Germany and Austria!
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In less than 9 months, Oxbow is heading overseas, and
you’re invited. We’re partnering with
EF Adventures for a guided
multi-adventure journey
through Germany and Austria, exploring Bavaria, Tyrol, and Salzburg
by foot, bike, paddle, and rail.
It’s part cultural immersion and part active escape,
with alpine trails, lakeside yoga, village cafés, and the kind of views
that make you forget your phone exists. This isn’t a tour bus vacation;
it’s a chance to travel intentionally, move through landscapes at a
human pace, and connect with a group that values
curiosity
as much as comfort.
Monthly payment plans are available.
If you’ve ever wanted to explore Europe beyond the
postcards, this is your moment.
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Follow Oxbow on Social Media
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