« August 2004 | Main | October 2004 »
It was a pretty morning and the day is not looking half-bad either. Have lots of running around to do. I love these days when I can get by with shorts and a sweater. i think i'll bring along a 'pretenders' or a 'b-52's' cd to listen to while doing my thing. Peace.
Leaves are beginning to change--as evidenced by this maple tree beside the Mast General Store in Valle Crucis. I went up Winkler's Creek today and saw many more golden-hued hardwoods glistening in the fog and rain.
Last night my family sat around the kitchen table... lingering over dinner with conversation so as to delay the homework process. Oldest daughter went to a college fair at the high school and the topic of conversation drifted from thoughts of higher education to work life. At one point, my youngest daughter shared with us one of her young memories:
"I remember going to daddy's office and seeing a basket filled with strawberry candies. I knew
that he must be a great boss to work for because he would pay his employees with candy. I knew
that they must love him."
Of course in reality, none of this was true. But it was a sweet glimpse into her little mind.
I was hoping to get out today and take a couple of autumn shots, but it is raining and I do not feel like getting wet. Instead, I have been organizing some of my photos, and came across this shot of blazing sumac and a pair of chairs overlooking the pond at the Mast Farm Inn.
My good friend Wanda went hiking on Grandfather Mountain last week and told me that the sourwood and wild blueberries were turning a gorgeous shade of crimson. I'll try to make it a point to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway this week see what's happening.
Every weekday morning I drop my children off at school and see this view just beyond Jack Groce Stadium. I have to block out the busses and the fence from my field of vision, but I see the trees layered in light. Depending on how quick we are to start our day, the view may be bathed in golden first light, or as it was this morning, a blue aura surrounds the scene. This morning I let the children out of the car and drove to a side parking lot. With engine running, I grabbed my camera and poked the lens through a gap in the chain-linked fence and took a shot. I was clearly out of place and several seniors, dressed in togas for Homecoming, gave me strange looks. "What's she taking a picture of?" asked one kid to another.
This scene made me smile yesterday. Actually, sitting on the porch with Mack and his wife Reba made me smile first. Mack and I talked about the flood. Apparently, we both woke up about 4am Friday when Ivan roared through. "It was the darkest hour," Mack described. Around 6 am, the water reach the first step of his home so he took Reba up to his daughter's house. I took several photos of Mack and the 6 foot culvert that was ripped from the ground and tossed in his Dutch Creek yard. We walked around his place and he invited me to feed his trout---talk about a feeding frenzy! I promised that I would print some of photos take them to him when I visit them next week. I forgot to ask him permission to post his photo so I can't show you him now, but I don't think the Tom and the Oldsmobile mind.
I've talked to so many people lately that have real problems and am heartened to see how they face adversity with genuine grace, good-humor and kindness. Frivolous office jabber about Fantasy Football and politics is starting to grate on my nerves....I think I need to go find some more flood victims to lift my spirits. Seriously.
I've put about 450 miles on my Jeep crawling around Watauga County documenting the effects of Ivan's flood. Laurel Creek and Rominger roads are still inaccessible. The Red Cross is hiking into these areas to deliver food. This house in the photo is on Watauga River road. As you can see, it has a new driveway full of sand and the fence is lined with debris.
A couple of trees around Bass Lake show definite signs of changing colors. On my way to Banner Elk to take flood damage photos, I noticed that the peaks of Grandfather Mtn were also showing spot color. With the crazy weather this summer, I don't have a clue as to what to expect in respect to fall foliage.
On a really bright note: Check out Liz Donovan's new photoblog Southern Highlands Cam which highlights the more Southern Appalachian region of North Carolina.
This pair of ducks were almost in sync as they dove for food at the bottom of Bass Lake in Blowing Rock this afternoon. I enjoyed walking around the perimeter, taking in the crisp autumn air today. The world feels very clean today.
We finally got power around 3pm on Sunday. I took a long warm shower in celebration and in total appreciation of electrical power. I ventured out today to take photos of the massive clean-up. I created a small photo album of a few of the Valle Crucis and Foscoe flood damage shots that I found. Most definitely, Ivan's rain damage equalled that of the historic flood of 1940. Old timers said that they haven't seen the waters ever get into the Valle Crucis Methodist Church until this flood. The school is devastated as is Bob Ward's Cabinet Shop and the old Valle Crucis Bank house. The Mast Store Annex was hurt, but I spoke with John Cooper and he and his employees are determined to open up the shop by October 1st.
Hwy 105 is open, but is only a one-lane road. Banner Elk is on a boil water order. The Beech Mountain Parkway collapsed and is not accessible accept for going the back way (major uggg!)
I've seen lots of evidence of outside utility and public workers helping to restore roads. Clarks Creek and Dutch Creek roads did not exist until today until graders came in to build make-shift roads. It is some pretty crazy stuff going on around here yet everyone seems to have that 'can-do' spirit.
It was a beautiful day today.
On a personal note: We are all just dandy. Still no power, but I cooked by the light of the hurricane lamp and we played matchstick poker with the girls last night. We hooked up the small generator so we can run the refrigerator often enough to keep the food from spoiling. The only thing that I really need right now is a nice long warm shower. I came into the office to post this as the town of Boone has power.
About the area and damage: Locally the western part of the county took the greatest hit from winds and rain. Again, Ivan hurt our lower neighbor, Avery far worse. Yesterday as I was driving around for photos, I heard that the bridge in Heaton was damaged and rescue members were staged to make sure no one would cross. All the sudden I heard a panic stricken voice say, "Anyone near the Heaton bridge get away, GET AWAY ASAP, there is a wall of water coming down Beech Mtn...I repeat, get away from the bridge!" I won't soon forget the fear in his voice and was relieved to hear another voice pipe in, "10-4, we are away from the bridge." Moments later I heard the 2nd voice say, " There is a woman on the other side of the bridge who refuses to move. What do I do?" That was the end of the conversation.
Folks, that is what we call a flash flood up here in the mountains. I do not know the ending to that particular story.
Did I tell you yesterday about the natural gas line that exploded in Linville's Land Harbor? The house burnt to the ground because the fire department could not access the house from all 3 possible entries to the area because of high water. It must be terrifying to have torrential rains pour onto your burning house.
In a place much further south in a place called Peeks Creek, 30 houses were washed away. Some people died.
In Foscoe, the clean up has already started but high winds (30-50 mph) are hampering efforts. And, as if the poor electric linemen don't have enough work to do, some trees have waited a day before falling on already repaired lines.
The photo above is of mountain cascade that doesn't exist on my mountain except when we get alot of rain. I was tired of seeing all the photos of flooding mayhem. Peace.
| www.flickr.com |
Recent Comments