It rained around 8 inches over night and the waters rose in the area where we were in Northern GA…might have made the National news. Lots of flooding and road closing in the area…we wondered if we would get out…well, not really as Marie is very familiar with the area and she was sure that she could find us another route home. The first car in our party left early this morning and sent photos of the raging Ocoee river…the road was clear at that time. By the time we were ready to pull out there were rumors that there had been road closings in that area that we usually travel and that the water was rising. We decided to go for breakfast and figure out our "escape" route! We left and traveled in a direction taking us away from our Ocoee River route. We were following a map app on Marie's phone…one that was recommended to her…Waze…well, we started out following it…but we had trouble convincing it to take us a different way than our usual route. We did travel around a bit and stopped to take a few pictures. We stopped at a gas station in the area that we had gotten to and found out the current conditions…and that the road along the Ocoee River was now open. So we headed to our familiar route. The Ocoee River is the one that the Olympics in 1996 used for thrir white water rafting…it would have been quite a challenge today to the Olympians! It was raging. My pictures don't do it justice…but perhaps you can sort of see the force that it was running and the height to which it had risen. Tonight's two photos were taken at almost the same spot…one I tried to get a closer view of the extreme turbulence. The second one gives a reference to the height it had risen in comparison the parking area next to it…it had at one time come over the banks and covered that area. Plus you can see the road next to it.
We were glad to get past the waterway and on our way without being turned back…or awash in water!! We pulled into my driveway about 4:30pm…good to be home safely. We had such a good time plus a little weather excitement.
Weather excitement seems to go along with this trip. The first year we went to this spot, Hurricane Helen chased us back home early. Last year the weather was delightful. And, this year torrential rain and flooding! Great adventures?!?
I will say that we heard about rescue teams coming into the area…people having to be rescued from rooftops, and lots of damage to homes, businesses and properties. The gas station store had a rack with sandwiches, etc. for free for the rescue teams.
Good to be home safe and sound! Oh, my rain gauge says we had almost three inches of rain here. And, when I got out of the car, I noticed that a couple of my gerber daisies have new blooms on them! Is it really November 5th?!?!
To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!
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