Vilseck reunion - Marshall, NC

Wow! We did yet another year. This was our 18th annual reunion. We were a smaller group this year for various reasons. Originally, 16 people signed up, but six had to cancel. Eight of us (Sue and Bill Upton stayed with family in Asheville) stayed at the Historic Marshall House Inn in Marshall, North Carolina, a former private residence constructed in 1903. Most of our time was spent on the wonderful deep veranda/porch. Even with rain coming down, we were able to sit out and stay dry.
This was a late Sept reunion, so we were hoping to witness a bit of fall color, but we were a bit early.

Instead we witnessed a hurricane. But more of that story later.

Our initial gathering was Tues, the 24th of Sept. We were a three-car group and a truck: Dick, Ann and Dick's sister Pam arrived soon after Diane (who had picked up Dale at Asheville's airport) and I arrived. We had to manuever cars behind the inn, which wasn't easy since it was a small space AND a very significant drop off. Becky and Tom arrived soon after in their pickup.

The inn sat up on a hill overlooking the town of 650 people and the French Broad River. For its size, it had quite a few eateries on its one main street.

Wednesday, Becky and Tom, Dick, Ann and Pam left early to meet Sue and Bill at the Biltmore Estate. That left Dale, Diane and me to tour the area around Marshall. (We three had toured the estate on our first reunion to Asheville. We didn't figure it had changed much, and we all had seen Dale Chihuly's glass art as well.) We took the bridge over to the other side of the river and up the hill to some charming countryside. For our evening meal, we met the Biltmore group in downtown Asheville at the Wicked Weed.

Just as we were leaving, the rain started pouring down. It was a mess getting back to our cozy little inn, but we made it safely. Becky had stopped to get a birthday cake and ice cream for Dale. Sunday would be his 82nd birthday. So, we sat on the wonderfully deep porch chit-chatting and listening to the rain...until the electricity went off. Tom had two flashlights, and the house had one. We made do. No one panicked; we just went to bed. Eventually, the lights came back on.

We decided we would celebrate Dale's birthday Thursday night. That would change.

In fact, a lot changed. Brewing south of us was one of the most horrific hurricanes, Hurricane Helene, to hit the Florida upper coast. She was a Category 4. According to news reports, her devestation inland up to Asheville and to us in Marshall was beyond what any could fathom. Said one security guy I overheard, "I've never in my life seen such destruction."

Thursday morning, Tom and Becky decided they needed to leave. But wait! We hadn't celebrated Dale's birthday! SO! Out comes the cake and ice cream for a mid-morning celebration. Becky and Tom left around 11, and the remaining six went down into town for a meal. As we were eating, the waitress put the "Closed" sign on the door and said many of the shops and eateries were closing early. We made our way back to the inn, got out the cards (Diane ALWAYS carries a deck with her) and played Spades for a couple of hours. I don't think any of us had dinner that night. We munched on any leftovers we had from previous meals, but I don't think we were much hungry. Perhaps anticipation of a storm was silently creeping in.

Friday morning came and we packed the cars and went our separate ways. At one point or another, we all had to turn around and find another route out. Each of our stories is below.

The following is an account from each of us regarding our departure from Marshall - our escape -from Hurricane Helene.

Sue and Bill: What we have to tell about is a string of incredible coincidences. Susan and I left the Wicked Weed, as you all did, in what morphed from a springlike shower into a raging tropical downpour. The further away from you folks and the closer we got to Kevin’s the harder it rained. As we drove over Old Leicester Highway, the roads began to flood and the sloping gravel/dirt driveways that led to every house started turning to mud and sliding across the road. But we dodged and weaved as best we could and after 15 minutes of white knuckle, butt puckering, driving we turned into Kevin’s driveway.
At this point, we had decided to stay in Asheville through Thursday and head home Friday after the rains subsided and Helene had passed. A few Crown Royals later, we went to bed. At 4:00 am Thursday, when I woke up for a nature call, I could see the rain hadn’t let up and decided, hurricane or no, we would go home. Bags packed and loaded, we bid farewell to Kevin and family and headed out.
Our hastily agreed upon itinerary settled, we set our GPS for Savannah, GA. We reasoned that we needed to be as far east of the storm as possible – first I-26 then I-95 and south to Sarasota, FL.
As it turned out, and lucky for us, both Interstates, 26 and 95, as well as I-4 and I-75 had minimal traffic. On the way, we encountered high, gale force winds, severe, and at times blinding, rain showers. But we persevered, kept between the lines, and were home by 6:00 Thursday evening. Home was okay, neighbors had closed our hurricane shutters. We took them a bottle of Oregon wine, had a couple of shots of Crown Royal and went to bed happy to be home and safe. Slept like a log.
Susan and I are happy and relieved that we all survived that terrible storm. We will keep the folks who most suffered Nature's violence in our thoughts. Hope you all are doing well and staying safe.

Becky and Tom: Tom and I received word from our home HOA for everyone to secure their patio by Friday morning as hurricane winds were projected to be 79 mph in our area so we had to leave early. We gassed up at the nearest station and left Thursday AM. We said goodbye to all friends. It was raining then and the French Broad was rising! Our trip was uneventful with a little rain. I did note on the way out of Marshall how high the creeks were rising and sent a picture back to the Inn but I don’t think it made it!

Dale: Dale's flight left Atlanta at 2:30 in the afternoon on Sunday. He got home to no water in his place, but his car was flooded out. Here are his words: "The insurance company totaled my car and had it towed away. I'm supposed to be getting a rental, but there are none available! I'll be looking for a new car. I spent two nights at friend's house because no AC, no refrigerator and no stove at my house. But today [Tuesday, Oct. 1] everything is back working.

Diane: I dropped Dale off at Asheville airport [on Friday] and hit I-40 East. I got on I-40 to exit 59, and it was shut down. Went back to exit 55 and pulled into a Citgo gas station and parked. I only had 1 gallon of gas left. Hotels were open, but I wasn't going to pay $120 for a bed. There was no food, water or toilet that flushed. So, I slept in the car. There were 8 of us at the station. We bonded and had a good time sharing all we had. Slowly but surely people had contacts and a few friends come with gas. There were 5 left, and Josh's wife was able to got through to us, so they went back and forth to a gas station at Exit 44 and brought us each five gallons. At 2am [Monday morning] we took off to exit 44, and three of us got filled up and pulled into an Applebee's and slept. Up at 7am and hit the road home. I took 26 east to 85 to Richmond where I hit I-95. Got home at 8pm. All together I spent three night sleeping in car. It was quite the experience but not traumatic. My heart goes out to all who are suffering.

Dick, Ann and Pam: Wow! A Vilseck reunion to remember! We departed the Marshall House Inn Friday moring 9:45 up the one-lane mountain road behind the inn in caravan with Charlene and then Diane and Dale following. The State/County workers had just put up signage to close the road to the town of Marshall, but let us escape enroute to I-26W/via Route 213 toward I-81N. We thought we were on our way, but ended up driving in rectangular fashion on Routes 213, 25/70 N, etc. encountering down power lines, fallen trees across the roads, bridge closures and washouts for 9 hours and down to a 1/4 tank of gas when we reached an open I-26N to I-81N, but to our dismay after using & passing a rest stop by 2 miles we reached a stow just before the bridge which became breached. We were in the stow for 5 hours and frustration rising in all stow car occupants. Cars were trying to reverse to the rest stop on both sides of the 2 lane freeway in all directions. Using patience and military bearing, I observed a State Trooper w/lights flashing coming toward us. I jumped out of the car and stood in front of the approaching trooper with arms waving. He stopped and stated he needs to turn around and lead all of us to the next exit and to a gas station. Luckily, he understood the frustration, and lead us to a closed and out of power gas station. We were prepared to spend the night in the woods and car. Happily a Marshall County Wellness Center and Central Service Center bus arrived just before dark to lead us in caravan to the gym/shelter where we spent 2 1/2 days. With no electric power/showers/potable water, but they did have cots and 1 Red Cross blanket per person. Approximately 110 poor souls resided at the shelter for the aforementioned time and more. I had my 1st PB&J on white bread in at least 30 years. I can’t even remember the taste of the J, but the P stuck to the roof of my mouth. All personnel and shelterees were exceptional, and it was a memorable experience! After 9 hours of driving, trying to get out of Marshall, we were still in Marshall 3 miles from our Marshall Inn, only on the backside of the hill., hahahaha! Becoming somewhat frustrated at our plot, with no end in sight, a few of us men forged a plan. A local man came to retrieve his daughter and son from the shelter and take them to his home. We convinced him that if he would drive 1 plus hours away to a gas station we heard was open, we would give him $100.00 each, pay for a new gas can and 5 gallons, which he could keep, for $135.00. Most expensive gas for 5 gallons ever, but worth it to get to the only road and bridge to I-81N. Prayers worked, but gas all over the left rear fender of my Lexus. Oh, well! Departed the Marshall shelter at 0945 am, enroute I-81 N to Manassas I-66, State 234 to Woodbridge ending 9 pm, rain all the way with tornado warnings, almost a scary adventure! All-in-all, the Biltmore and Chihuly Exhibition, plus fantastic Vilseckians made a very special and memorable mini-vacation! Take care! Ann & Dick

Pam: There was no cell service or internet, and food was limited. First time I ever ate a small can of chicken with a plastic fork for my evening meals. The people taking care of us were fantastic. God love them.

Charlene: Friday morning was checkout time at our inn. Our hostess, Lindy, who lives in a nearby town, called to check on us. She was expecting another party to check in that afternoon (though I'm sure they must have canceled), but said she wasn't going to force us out under such stormy conditions. She offered the game room which was a separate building behind the inn.
The six of us who were left felt it was best to just get out of town. At that point, we didn't know we'd hit closed roads. So we caravaned up the only road out of town, then each took off in a direction toward home. It was 10 am.
Thinking I wouldn't be able to go south, I headed northwest toward Knoxville to get on Interstate 40, then planned to head toward Nashville and take a southwestern route from there. Word was that west of us was clear. I got as far as the town of Hot Springs on a back road and had to turn around. A portion of Interstate 40 had collapsed. I made my way back past Marshall and into Asheville. I stopped at the first hotel I came to and asked for a room. I must have gotten one of the last ones available, probably due to a cancelation. I got to the room and realized Dale was at the Asheville airport. I checked to see how close I was to it: 20 minutes. Easy peasy. I texted Dale to see if his flight was canceled. It had, so far, been delayed, but cancelation was eminent. He was "an easy pickup," so to speak. We got back to the hotel where we would spend the next two days, until Sunday. We had just gotten there when we lost internet service. I think each of us got one last message from each other saying where we were. We heard nothing from each other again until the network came back up on Saturday night. Of the group, I'd say Dale and I had it the most easy. Our hotel never lost power. We didn't have internet or TV, but we had two restaurants within walking distance that remained open. We felt we could have left on Saturday morning, but after going to the car and turning on a radio station to find out road conditions, we decided to stay one more night. Road crews were begging people to stay off the roads and let the workers get the roads cleared. We abided. We left Sunday morning after Becky assured us that I-26 East into Atlanta was clear. Dropped Dale off at the Atlanta airport and made my way home from there. Didn't get home until Wednesday, but only because I stopped to smell the roses on the way.