Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, October 26, 2009

George? Where are You???


Yesterday morning, while waiting on my Sweetie to pick me up at Maggie Valley, he ran into a huge problem. Luckily, he wasn't involved in an accident ---BUT he did get into a huge traffic jam due to a big rock slide. Here is what happened (taken from an article published on the internet). The pictures above and below are also from the internet ---but ARE from this big rock slide.

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"A massive rock slide has shut down Interstate 40 at the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. The slide happened around 3:00 a.m. Sunday about 3 miles inside Haywood County, North Carolina.

Authorities say one woman is reported to have suffered a minor injury when the Jeep she was driving was hit by a falling rock.

The rubble reaches about 50 feet high and 100 feet long. Troopers say some of the rocks that fell were the size of a house.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation web site says they expect that section of I-40 will remain closed for at least several weeks.

That stretch of Interstate 40, which winds through extremely rugged terrain, has been prone to road-closing rock slides over the years. In the summer of 1997, a slide just inside the state line completely closed I-40 for more than two months."


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SO----a three hour trip from Crossville, TN to Maggie Valley, NC turned into a SIX hour trip for George. There are very few ways to get across the Smokies ----so George had to turn around (in TONS of traffic) and head toward Gatlinburg and over the mountain to Cherokee, NC. And since it was a gorgeous Sunday in October, there was bumper to bumper traffic that way. Worn out, he finally got to Maggie Valley about NOON Eastern time. That was a LONG 3 extra hours for me also---waiting to see him!!!!

After picking me up, we decided that since we couldn't go on the interstate, we would head west across the Carolina and Georgia mountains and enjoy the beautiful Fall colors. We went on the Blue Ridge Parkway part of the time, and then through Silva, Bryson City, Robbinsville ----and then across the Cherohala Skyway into Tennessee. We stopped at many overlooks --taking pictures of the beautiful Fall colors. I can't remember EVER seeing such gorgeous colors (especially between 2000-3000 feet above sea level). I'm sure we'll share these pictures soon.

SO---a long morning turned into a beautiful Autumn afternoon ---even though it made for a LONG day, especially for George (who was driving). The good news is that we are both SAFE---and we are HOME. Yeah-Rah!!!!! The vacation was great---but home is BETTER.

Hugs,

48 comments:

Beth said...

I thought about you and George yesterday, Betsy, when I heard about the rock slide. I figured he would have a considerably longer drive down. But how lovely that you two turned an inconvenience into a scenic, leisurely drive home! And what a blessing that the rock slide occurred in the wee hours of the morning so that there were no serious injuries. There would have almost certainly been fatalities had it happened in the middle of the day.

Welcome home, my friend!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Betsy: Any trip that ends up safely is a good one. The mountains do limit your direction of travel.

Peggy said...

I too thought about you when I saw the news. Very glad you made it home safe and had such a delightful drive back.

Harriet said...

Glad you made it home safe. Look forward to seeing your pictures.

Carol Murdock said...

WOW! How scary! I guess if I decide to go to the bookfest in Sylva in 2 weeks, I should check with the Hwy Patrol first? Glad you got to enjoy your visit ad returned home safe! :)

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Praise God that George was kept safe during all this.I am happy to hear that the day turned out to be enjoyable for both of you.
Blessings,Ruth

Sunny said...

I'm so glad that you are both home safe and sound. My goodness what an adventure! Thankfully no one was seriously hurt from such a huge rock slide.
I look forward to seeing your pictures, I agree...there's no place like home!
Sunny :)

Susie said...

I'm glad no one was seriously hurt in the rock slide. Poor George I bet he was really tired.

Glad ya'll are home safe and sound.
Look forward to seeing the pictures.

Darla said...

Your vacation ended with a BANG! Glad George and you are alright...I've never seen anything like this before.

Snap said...

Welcome home! What an adventure for George!

Lisa said...

Your positive attitude just made all sour lemons into lemonades :)

Welcome home George & Betsy.

Roses and Lilacs said...

A very frightening thought to have all those rocks come crashing onto the highway. Glad no one got hurt.
Marnie

Anonymous said...

from a 3 hr trip to a 6 hr trip! Yikes! Glad no body was seriously hurt.

Now, George has been worried about his 'honey-do' list... take it easy on him, ok? hehehehee

Small City Scenes said...

I'm glad your and the ladies had a good time at Maggie Valley but how nice to get home, eh. that was/is quite a rock slide but it made for memrable time and something to look back on.
Yes the colors have been gorgeous this year out here too. MB

Salitype said...

oh! thank GOD george is ok. when i read the title...thought to myself. hope he's ok! thank goodness he is!

good to hear no one was seriously hurt...it could be a fatal accident, this rockslides!

have a wonderful week ahead!

eng

I Am Woody said...

I'm always a little uneasy when driving that section of I-40. And with good reason!

Glad you were able to make some lemonade out of the rock slide lemons and get in some leaf peeping!

LV said...

Lord have mercy! What a terrible thing to happen and with George there. What a blessing he was safe and not a lot of others injured. We just never know what is going to happen. That would have scared me to death. Take care.

Busy Bee Suz said...

What an ordeal for everyone traveling that day! Glad there were not major injuries and you both made it home safe. Can't wait to see the pictures from your detour.
Suz

Betty said...

I am sg glad that no one was injured and that you adn George made it home safely. Looking forward to seeing the pictures of your detour.
I click the heels of my red shoes togeather often,because "There is no place like home"(click click)

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

So glad you're home safe and sound with lots of photos to show us!!!

Connie said...

Glad to hear you're both home safe and sound. That is scary to think about what might have happened. Oh my!

Jen said...

Oh what an ordeal.
Glad to hear everyone is safe.

Cedar ... said...

wow,...that's quite the slide. was it a result of heavy rain? wonder why you didn't have your car there to drive yourself home? But then you wouldn't have had the nice afternoon trip! Looking forward to your pics of that drive.

NCmountainwoman said...

Silly me! I was worried about that road to the cabin after the hard rain. Never even thought about I40 being closed. Glad it turned out all right.

Cassie said...

Yikes Betsy! Glad George made it home safely. That rock slide looks awful.

Did you know there is a lady in a print ad that I see all the time who looks just like you?? I'll have to cut it out next time I see it and send it to you! Happy Monday! Blessings, Cassie

Clara....in TN said...

Oh My Goodness! I'm glad you are home safe and sound!

Kathy W said...

Now that is scary to think George could have been near the rock slide. Glad you made it home. You've been missed by everyone. :-)

Joy said...

Oh my goodness! How frightening for that woman in the Jeep.
So glad everyone is ok thru that.

What a trip you all won't forget.

Glad your back together and safe.


Joy

Cheryl said...

When I saw the rockslide on the evening news way up here in Maine I thought of you and George! SO glad George wasn't involved. I imagine you were very pleased to see him.

Diane said...

Thanks to God that nobody was under that when it happened. Rockslides you can deal with. I bet it's good to be home.

SquirrelQueen said...

One of the hazards of driving in the mountains, I'm glad no one was seriously injured. Also glad you and George finally got together and had a leisurely, and safe, drive home.

Hugs,
Judy

Neal said...

The Cherohala Skyway is beautiful. We went across it a couple years ago and the leaves were just gorgeous even though we were really too late.

Wendy said...

Oh, I am sooooo glad George wasn't under those rocks!!! Good thing your slow morning turned into a lovely afternoon. That rock slide is really really scary!!

Rebecca said...

What a great tradition your girls have! Looks like you all had such fun! Poor George's face looked so sad on his blog! :( SO GLAD he made it safely to Maggie Valley. I heard about this! So glad y'all got home safely! When the boys were little, we went to Maggie Valley..to Ghost Town In The Sky. Take care my friend!

Huggles,
Rebecca

Elenka said...

That's pretty scary!!!!! Yikes.

Janie said...

What a traffic mess, but at least no one seemed to be seriously hurt in the rock slide.
Glad you made it home and had a nice drive (after George made it to you) enjoying the fall colors!

Mary said...

I'm glad that neither you or George were in this rock slide. That's scary! And how nice to get some wonderful scenery by going the other way.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Wow Betsy, what a mess !
I was watching the news footage on tonights news and they say it will take three months to clear the rocks away and make it safe to drive that stretch of road again.
Poor George ;) I thought maybe you had driven there by yourself, and met up with the ladies in the mountains, but guess not.
The main thing is, you are all safe and sound, and finally tucked in your own bed.... now hang up your boots for a while ;)

Kirigalpoththa said...

That looks dangerous..Glad no one is hurt badly

Rose said...

Whew! I am so glad George wasn't hurt.

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Thomas headed back to Memphis yesterday..he called and told me about this rock slide. How aweful! And Scary! It's just a miracle that there was not a lot of traffic.

I'm so glad the two of you are ok and back home.

You are right about the fall colors..they are just beautiful here right now...

Hugs,
Stephanie

Jayne said...

When I heard the announcer say, "Maggie Valley" I immediately thought of you Betsy. Whew! Glad George found a way around, even if it did take so much longer, and that you all are home safe and sound. :c)

amelia said...

Even up here in Canada I read about this! Of course I had no idea it would affect you two because I don't know the roads and things.

It's a blessing no one was seriously hurt, it could have been much worse. Better to be inconvenienced than something much worse..

diane b said...

Whoa! You were so lucky not to have been on the road when the slide occurred. Itis great to see you made a positive outcome to the disadvantage that it caused.Poor George It must have been a long day for him. Aint love grand?

Dorothy said...

Betsy, we were caught in the road block on Sunday afternoon, too! I wish they had told us several miles back, instead of letting us go for miles inching along like a snail. We took a lesser road (I think it was # 32) which had a million tight curves! We went on 16 miles of really rocky road to Cataloochee road and then 7 more miles of dirt road, most all of these roads were one-way except for a few places where two cars could squeeze by. Needless to say, I was very glad to get back to civilization!

Lola said...

Those rock slides sure can be dangerous. I'm glad you all are home safe. Glad you had a good time with the "girls".
Loved the pics of places that I have been to in the past. Brings good memories back.

Cookie said...

Wow! I've seen those signs to watch for falling rocks, but I never saw or heard of anything like that before! Glad you made it home :)

storyteller at Sacred Ruminations said...

I read about this on George's blog and am relieved that neither of you was hurt. Love the way you two make the most of everything. I did enjoy reading about your experiences with the gals ... loved the virtual visit to the Mountain Farm Museum and all the lovely scenic views. You did seem to have a MARVELOUS time together ;-)
Hugs and blessings,