My MVOR Adventures with Jim - Spring 2013

This would have been my 4^th MVOR except… it got cancelled.  Mother Nature had other plans for our MVOR  site this weekend.  Although the cancellation was disappointing, the weekend was FULL of adventure and personal challenges for me. 

We left home looking forward to an action packed weekend of camping, friendship, meetings and maybe a cocktail or two. The next 48 hours provided most of those but more importantly, it proved that life with Jim is ALWAYS an adventure.

We arrived Thursday at the Dillard Mill turnoff around 11:00 am.  Turning the corner to head down the road, we saw our “port-a-potties” sitting on a truck waiting for us to guide them in.  Things were going well!

We guided the truck across the three creek crossings (which were almost dry) and into the field, where they were easily deposited.

Alicia and Jim collaborated on what needed to be done next.  Marking the “road” through the hay field became our next chore.  Off we all went with yellow “caution” tape and wooden stakes.

Adele and Linda showed up and began setting up registration.  This is when the rain began.  Very lightly.  We were taking our time, goofing around and trying to think positive.  Adele had brought my bat umbrella that I have bought so I played around with that for a while.  Larry was already there so we were chatting with him.

Jim got the registration tent out of our trailer and we started putting it up.  At this point people were starting to show up and set up camp and the rain was getting heavier. 

This is where things began to get interesting.  The rain continued to get harder, and harder……. and harder.  We had a canopy set up outside our tent so luckily were able to talk to people without standing in the rain.  Bob was parked next to us so we had a good neighbor. 

By Thursday evening the group included Jim and I, Alicia, Adele, Larry, Earl and Lannis, Matt, Gary and Deb, Tony and Mary, Scott and Linda, Brian and Rhonda, Elvis, Mike and some of our vendors.

Later in the evening, Jim and I had to run into town (which ended up being Sullivan) to make some needed purchases.  My rain pants broke, Jim’s rain jacket was no longer repelling water, Adele’s jacket was no longer repelling water and our tent was leaking.  Wal Mart was our only choice. 

We ended up with all of our needed items plus duck boots and a heater for our tent.  Both the duck boots and the heater  became very close friends of mine. 

By the time we got back to camp the temperature had dropped and most everyone was huddled in their tent or camper.  I was exhausted so Jim got me nice and comfy in my sleeping bag and he went off to socialize. 

I slept great but woke up to heavy rain (that had been going on all night) and very cold temperatures.  Jim began his rounds of the site and the situation was worsening by the moment.  The river was rising, the creek crossings were all rising and the hay field was a muddy mess.

Jim and Alicia made the decision to get everyone off the property and to the other side of the three creek crossings.  We all began tearing down our campsites and packing up.  It was cold and raining and now there was snow in the forecast! 

People were leaving the site and Elvis was monitoring the creeks. Everyone was to meet on the other side.

Finally, Jim and I were packed and ready to leave!  Was I scared to cross the creek? HELL YES!  Although I love the Subaru and have a lot of confidence in it, the creeks were way up and I didn't want to end up downstream.   

Jim gently talked me through the first two crossings and I knew there was only one left.   Is my story almost over?  NO.  We came up to the third crossing to find Alicia and Larry stopped prior to the crossing because Joel had tried to cross and had driven off the concrete pad that was under the water.  There was a hole off one side of the pad and his driver’s side was in it.  He was safe but no one else could cross.  And the creek was still rising.  

We waited.  Alicia was trying to talk to people on her cell to get updates on everyone and Jim was talking to Tony on the other side of the creek through radio phones.  Tony and Mary had made it out to the other side and had come back down to the crossing to see they could do to help.  Finally a tow truck came and got Joel’s van out.  Unfortunately, the creek had risen so much it was not safe to cross any longer.  Jim, Alicia, Larry and I were trapped between two of the crossings with nowhere to go.  There was a service road open that is for the mill but we were told we could not take our vehicles there.    People continued yelling to us across the creek but there was nothing anyone could do. 

Then, the road we were on began filling with water.  Someone across the creek, who we believe was a park ranger, yelled to us to use the service road and get to higher ground.  Whew!  The three vehicles took off and drove up the service road to Dillard Mill.  As we were driving up the road I turned to Jim and said, “Life really is an adventure with you!”.  At the top of the hill I felt safe at last.  We built a fire a put up a canopy.  Yes, we were breaking every State Park rule in the book.  But we were safe!

After we got settled, we walked down the walk bridge that goes across the creek.  It was impassable also. Alicia had not seen Mike for a couple days since she had come down early.  Mike was on one side of the creek, Alicia on the other.  There was just no way to get them together.  Others began coming down from the other side and talking to us also.  It was nice to know people knew where we were and what was going on. 

We walked back up to the Mill and watched the water roar.  Eventually, the rain began to slow.  We started getting visitors.  The water had gone down enough over the foot bridge to let people cross.  At least those that were brave enough to walk across it while there was still some water flowing over it.  It was somehow comforting to know we had some contact with the rest of the world. 

Then the park ranger visited us.  Ranger Rickie (a name I made up for him).  He advised us we could leave our vehicles parked where they were but he had to escort us off the property across the foot bridge. Not what we wanted to hear!   We told him we were not leaving our vehicles and we would drive down the hill again and wait it out on the road we were previously on which is a county road and not Dillard Mill property.  Which we did.  Ranger Rickie was not very helpful.  He told us that the park was now officially closed and if we walked back on the property, including to the walk bridge, we would be trespassing.

Now there we were, back between two creek crossings that were too high to cross. Alicia had previously walked across the walk bridge so she could be with Mike so it was just Larry, Jim and me.

Jim and Larry continued to monitor the creek but it didn’t look like it was going down much.  They said at 7:30 they would take another look at the creek and make a final decision as to whether to try to cross or spend the night in our vehicles and try in the morning.

At 7:15 they made the decision to wait until 7:30 and then try to cross.  If they waited any longer it would be getting dark.  I almost went into panic mode.  Jim knew how scared I was and tried to calm me.  He told me I could cross with Larry since his vehicle was taller.  When it came down to crossing, I couldn't do it.  I walked to the foot bridge (trespassing) and crossed the creek.  Then I walked over to where they were crossing with the vehicles.  Larry had made it across and Jim had already made it in Alicia’s vehicle.   He was on his way back across the foot bridge to get the Subaru and drive it across. I saw Larry in his truck and stopped him.  He told me to get in, so we backed down to the creek to make sure Jim made it across in the Subaru.  I couldn't watch in the mirror so Larry gave me the blow by blow as Jim crossed.  HE MADE IT!   I wasn't sure whether to laugh, cry or throw up.  In fact, I’m not sure which of those I did.  I just knew we were safe.

The next day was still scary but not quite as intense.  Earl,

Lannis and Bob had spent the night on high ground by our original campsite.  Elvis and Mike had been checking on them throughout the day using the back way into the property that could only be reached via 4-Wheel drive.  On Friday, Bob had to get a flatbed to get his car across because the water was still too high.  Earl and Lannis made it across safely. 

The rest of the weekend is kind of a blur.  Sue and Chuck were kind enough to host a great party.  Sunday was spent unpacking everything.  I've looked at the pictures again and can’t believe the force of water.  I've thought about how going through scary situations with people either makes you better friends or enemies.  I am thankful to say I feel I have become better friends with those I share this story.

Mostly though, I do love my adventures with Jim!  We make a great team and through an extremely tense situation, we found a million things to laugh about.  I can’t wait to see what our next adventure turns out to be. Hopefully, a little less scary.