Had to run down to Roanoke last night for some printer ink cartridge and decided, just on a whim, to drive back via Rocky Mount and State Highway 40. Hadn't been in Rocky Mount for about 40 years and was surprised by the vibrancy of downtown. Unlike some towns in Southwestern Virginia (Pulaski and Radford being two good examples) downtown Rocky Mount is not dominated by empty storefronts. The 30-mile drive along the twisty Route 40 was both pleasant and lonely. Didn't encounter a single car or truck on the way.