slow.rewind: the flood

We've had a crazy summer with heavy rains nearly every day and thunderstorms scattered throughout the week. It's driving all of us nuts and making our summer plans difficult to make it just seems it's always raining and we don't know why. But, I can't complain too much as all of this rain waters my garden so I don't have to bother with it, keeps the temperatures nice and cool and the big one, we haven't seen flooding my in neck of the woods. Last week I was yanked out of a meeting to race down to Hancock, Vt. to photograph the flash floods that were sweeping through the region. In a matter of two hours, several feet of water raged through this small country town taking boats, cars, houses and debris with it while destroying their central roadways (see photo above). I had missed the high flood waters, but the rivers were still swollen and over their natural banks so I ditched my car, donned my new Crocs and started talking to people.

I was fortunate enough to meet Larry. This guy was a character. His entire slate rock basement was flooded after the flash flood busted through his foundation. His yard used to be a nice, green pasture along the banks of the White River, now it was a flooded mess full of debris, broken trees and kayaks from the summer camp just up the road. Instead of lamenting his losses he was excited about the landscaping opportunities. "Look at all these great rocks the storm brought me!" and he was excited for all the firewood he now had for this winter. A true optimist.

Larry took me through his basement so I could photograph the damage. My first step onto his cellar stairs was a cold, thick squishy one. Oh man. The flood had mixed with his dirt floor basement and left six inches of thick mud on the steps (see photo below). My first thought was that people pay hundreds for a mud bath, I wasn't quite understanding the appeal. After leaving the basement, Larry hosed off my feet and legs so we could continue on. My next step wasted those efforts as all the sand on his property was loose and swollen with water and my foot sunk. The sand was now up to my knee swallowing my Croc! After fishing my Croc out of the goo I was a bit more careful where I tread. What a mess.

After saying good bye to Larry I found myself trekking up towards a summer camp that had suffered considerable damage. The skies were beautiful blue as I snapped away at the flooded cars, destroyed swimming holes and cabins, missing kayaks and an uprooted basketball court. But, of course, that didn't last long. Here I was a few miles away from my car, my brand new rain jacket in the trunk and the skies opened up. I ran to the nearest building and the camp's director was kind enough to give me some trash bags to wear and to wrap around my gear (see photo below). So, soggy, tired and filthy I made my way back to my car so I could get the hell out of there. No need to be there when the next flash flood decides to start. Long day but I had a ton of fun. I got to be outside talking with people and literally, getting my feet wet...beats sitting at a desk all day I say.