NC FLOODS

 Hundred year flood almost to the year. This Asheville flood was in 1916. For three days we had no clue what had happened. It was only until a sheriff came to our home while we were cleaning up debris and trees that we had a clue what was out there. Patti had called the sheriff to check on us (I thought it was my sister-in-law) but came to find out it was a friend in Atlanta that was worried because no one in rescue had seen me post on FB. We had no power, internet or cell service for two weeks. We had to boil our drinking water. We were lucky though, being on a hill with the river at the bottom of our pasture, we seem to be in a safe spot. We must have been in a flight path between the two areas, constant helicopters from dawn till dusk carrying all kinds of things, even equipment. 

By the time we got out to a grocery store, the shelves were empty and it stayed this way for weeks. Even now things are not fully stocked as I found out the distribution center for one of the grocery stores was completely demolished and the local stores had no generators, so all was lost. We decided to go toward Charlotte to see if we could find matches, charcoal, batteries and most importantly COFFEE in another town that was not hit by the hurricane.  Even there could find none of this and on the way started to see long lines at gas stations.  It was panic and 10 times worse than when the pandemic hit. We were also low on gas, so that would be our only trip out of our town until gas was brought in. Thank goodness we had a full propane tank and a gas stove. That gas stove made it all so much easier, we used all the frozen leftovers for dinners, the dogs had their goat's milk and I could boil all the water needed for us and the dogs. They will never take away my gas stove!! lol

Down the road where the river is, Nancy at the post office showed me a video she took the morning of the storm. The water was up to the bridge, propane tanks were hitting the bridge and exploding, even a huge shed was floating down the river. Half the road was gone and the banks where the otters lived were completely gone, and I have not seen an otter the times I've walked looking for them. They have since brought in rock to create a new bank, they still need to repair the road. A sign from Harmon Field which is a couple miles away was found down on this end. Pretty crazy.

Harmon Field on the other side of us was completely flooded and now a big mud pit. It is closed along with both roads on either side of our road that go up into the mountain town of Saluda. The 1930 bridge before Pearson Falls is now gone. Houses were taken off their foundations. I talked to one man living there who said eight died on that road and they may never open that road again because of the huge boulders that came down. Caro-Mi, a restaurant that has been there since 1945 is now gone. I have photos of all these places around me on my instagram page for the farmhouse. All the places that would be an attraction for our airbnb now gone. They say it will take two years to open Pearson Falls.  The caretaker tried for three hours to get to the falls and couldn't because of downed trees and boulders.  

This is Caro-Mi now. The covered bridge that went to the restaurant is now gone. The house I love and collect plants from is on this road. There are so many waterfalls coming down the hills that there was no way this road would survive. This road is a valley whereas Chimney Rock is a gorge which is more dangerous in a storm like that and why that town is now completely gone. 

Eventually wifi hotspots started to show up. This one in downtown Tryon was so crowded we decided to go to Columbus to the courthouse that had a big parking lot. Each day we would go after breakfast to contact friends and family who were writing. It was strange to be completely out of touch with everything with no internet, cell, tv.

At the courthouse we could at least sit in the car, but there was no free coffee like there was in Tryon. That was a lot of our local stuff going on.  When I talked to a friend and she told me the Flowering Bridge and Rainbow Bridge were gone at Lake Lure, that really made me sad. Someone had shown me Chimney Rock on their phone, her son was a first responder, and it was shocking. Lake Lure was bad too, being right next to Chimney Rock. 

Before

After

The marina and bridge gone there, too

This weekend we decided to go out to Lake Lure to see for ourselves. There were a few people wandering around like us in disbelief and sadness to see all the destruction. This time of year is tourist season, the trees are beautiful and it's a great time to hike at Chimney Rock, which makes it even sadder.  I knew the Flowering Bridge was gone, but wanted to see if all the acres of gardens were still there. To my surprise they had bulldozed a path through all the mud so that you could actually walk and see all that had happened.

This is the entrance to the gardens last time I was there.

Now. Some bushes left, but covered in mud. The mud is six inches thick everywhere, now drying and cracked. 

We walked the whole trail. The amount of lost trees piled on a hill was unbelievable. 

Last time I was there.

Now.

The trail we walked that was bulldozed had feet of dirt and mud on each side. We saw turtles that looked exhausted trying to find a way to get to water. For some reason the lake was almost dry and there were no tributaries, no marshy spots to put the turtles. Where did all that water go?  Anyway, we spent some time collecting turtles that could not climb those walls of dirt to find a place where there was some water and maybe some greenery, but there was no grass left anywhere. 

Found a muddy spot with some water and other turtles.

Then there's the Flowering Bridge. Totally destroyed. I hope they rebuild and I will volunteer to help replant as it was a volunteer project.

Found some buried plants to remember the bridge by. I hope they make it.  

You can see the flag up on Chimney Rock from Lake Lure. We went to hike the Exclamation Point Trail for my 65th birthday, but it was closed due to ice.  I couldn't go last year because of a torn meniscus. This year it will be closed. Maybe on my 68th birthday it will all come together. We are going to miss these beautiful places for the next year or so.