Spyder Adventures in Maggie Valley, NC

[troop]

So very sad

[racoon]

So I'm still going round-and-round with Choice Hotels about canceling my reservation, which they refuse to do until they talk to the hotel manager. The latest support person actually told me I may have to wait until the end of the week or next week to contact the hotel. They had no response when I reminded them the reservation started on Tuesday.

They also ignored my pointing out that the State of North Carolina is now saying:

All roads in Western N.C. are considered closed. Non-emergency travel is prohibited.

https://www.ncdot.gov/

I'll be visiting my bank on Monday morning to talk to them about the hotel charge.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

So I'm still going round-and-round with Choice Hotels about canceling my reservation, which they refuse to do until they talk to the hotel manager. The latest support person actually told me I may have to wait until the end of the week or next week to contact the hotel. They had no response when I reminded them the reservation started on Tuesday.

They also ignored my pointing out that the State of North Carolina is now saying:



https://www.ncdot.gov/

I'll be visiting my bank on Monday morning to talk to them about the hotel charge.

Did you ask them if the Motel is even open ?????? ....Mike

[racoon]

Did you ask them if the Motel is even open ?????? ....Mike

They tried multiple times to call the hotel manager, and were not able to get through. :|

[Mikey]

From what my friends and brother-in-law's telling me most of that area don't have power, phones, or supply's. Roads are gone, it's a $%#@ show!! So, you not getting to talk to the hotel don't surprise me a bit. I told my friends and brother in-law I was waiting till the county has straightened out before I was going down to visit!! Last thing they need is a bunch of tourists stumbling around.

[BajaRon]

I am sorry that there is so much confusion about this event. I think it should be quite clear by now that the handwriting is on the wall. Disasters (and unfortunately, this is the only way to describe the current situation) take precedence over a Spyder event. Most all of the roads are closed so there isn't going to be much opportunity to ride even if you are able to get there. Availability of fuel and basic necessities are questionable. It's going to be awhile before things get back to normal.

I hate to say it. But attempting to attend this event may simply add to their burden. Bridges are out, infrastructure is damaged. And we've had entire houses floating down rivers.

[ES44AC]

This should give you a good idea what's going on in WNC
https://youtu.be/BLKEerp75pE?si=eZGxfc6DurH5qXvW

[blacklightning]

I believe it is very relevant. They still think the rally should be on. Their reply is proof of that. And they have yet to announce a cancelation. NO ONE should travel to that area. That's my take! Tom

I was hoping for more feedback from the event organizers myself, but that hasn't happened yet. Some people from my area are still planning on going, if they can get verification that the homes didn't get damaged. As for me, I will be going in 2 weeks if there is no damage to the resident. If we were in a hotel, I would give it a second thought, as I would not want to take shelter from the locals that might need the hotel space. But this is a private residence, and there is a no refund policy. If we go or not, no one would be staying there, and it would not help the locals. I messaged my pastor last night and we will be collecting items to take up with us to help where we can. We already know to take cash, and plan on not being able to get gas in the local area. The people from our group that are going this week are in the same situation. They have a home rented, so they will not be taking shelter from the locals. Just keep everyone in your prayers and help out however you can. As of now, we have plans (and room) to take about 4-6 large totes of supplies. Yes, we are going to do a mini vacation, but we are also going to help and give back to an area that we love so very much.

[JayBros]

The NC DOT is repeatedly putting out information that I-26 and I-40 are impassable in several spots and the following quote:

"We cannot say this enough:

DO NOT TRAVEL IN OR TO WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA."

My Bolding.

[Navydad]

Issued this morning here in Ohio.

Ohio Task Force 1 (OH-TF1), one of 28 Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) teams within FEMA’s National US&R Response System, has been reassigned to North Carolina after completing critical missions in Pasco County, Florida, in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The team is expected to begin operations in North Carolina around noon on Monday.

North Carolina has been hit particularly hard by flooding from Hurricane Helene, with many small communities devastated by raging floodwaters. Some areas have been so severely impacted that entire towns have been “wiped off the map.” The true extent of the damage, along with the total loss of life, remains unclear as many rural communities in the southern part of the state are still inaccessible due to washed-out roads and collapsed bridges.

Seems pretty clear to me.
I sympathize with folks who have had vacation plans disrupted and those that have put out $$$ and are trying to recoup or even regroup, but compared to what is taking place in the area you really don't have a problem.

[CloverHillCrawler]

Did you ask them if the Motel is even open ?????? ....Mike

The question may be is the hotel even still there?

[racoon]

North Carolina Department of Transportation website has this:

Western N.C. All roads in Western N.C. are considered closed. Non-emergency travel is prohibited.

https://www.ncdot.gov/

[EdMat]

I'm sure many of you have stopped in Biltmore Village when passing thru. It's not the same any more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lruqWTU3Rqc

[Deanna777]

The crews from our region (Vermont) are hard at work lending a helping hand to the Southern States hit hard by Hurricane Helene.

The storm is now blamed for more than 100 deaths. Officials in the Carolina's describe the toll as Biblical, even apocalyptic! More than 2 million homes and businesses from Florida to Ohio are still without power. Our First Responders and Utility crews from here are either on their way or already on the ground there to help begin the road to recovery.

The Vermont Urban Search and Rescue Teams have been in Florida since Tuesday performing Swift Water rescues in the Pensacola, Orlando, and the Tampa Bay areas. Once they get done in those areas, they will head to North Carolina to continue the Search and Rescue work.

There are crews from New York who are headed South; the Govt from New York have sent 30 members of the New York Incident Management Team to assist with recovery efforts in Asheville, North Carolina. They have joined 17 National Guard members deployed there, and a team of 16 Swift Water Rescue Crews, along with 2 two dogs.

A Power Utility here in Vermont has sent 50 employees and line workers into West Virginia to help assist in the mutual aid to help restore power. The American Red Cross from our Region are also heading South to help with getting supplies to those in need. Government Officials and Aid Groups were working to deliver basic supplies by air, truck, and even by mule in attempts to reach the hard-hit tourism hub of Asheville and its surrounding mountain towns. Several main routes into Asheville were washed away or blocked by mudslides, including a 4-mile section of Route 40; and the city's water system was severely damaged, forcing residents to scoop water into buckets so they could flush toilets. FEMA officials said on Monday that hundreds of roads were closed across Western North Carolina that shelters were housing more than 1,000 people.

Officials implored travelers to refrain from coming into the region for the next several days, and to keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles. More than 50 Search and Rescue Teams have spread throughout the region to search for stranded people.

I have cousins who live in the Carolina's who say that the entire county is without power. Chimney Rock area is just GONE, and they have heard that Cedar Springs/Brevard is gone too. Also, they've said that many bridges have been affected. Some people are low on food, water, & gas.

Deanna

[Mikey]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn_uo1_LVRE Why would you want to get into this????

[blacklightning]

I have cousins who live in the Carolina's who say that the entire county is without power. Chimney Rock area is just GONE, and they have heard that Cedar Springs/Brevard is gone too. Also, they've said that many bridges have been affected. Some people are low on food, water, & gas.

Deanna

Chimney Rock area is pretty much gone. Numerous bridges got washed out. But Brevard is still there. One of our church members son goes to school there. It is flooded, and evacuations were taking place, but the town is still there. I will be giving a first hand view of the area in about 2 weeks.

[Deanna777]

Chimney Rock area is pretty much gone. Numerous bridges got washed out. But Brevard is still there. One of our church members son goes to school there. It is flooded, and evacuations were taking place, but the town is still there. I will be giving a first hand view of the area in about 2 weeks.

Blacklightning, Thanks for the update. I am glad that the town is still there. Looking forward to hearing the first hand view from you in 2 weeks. Stay safe!

Deanna

[ARtraveler]

This is an informational post. Let's keep the animosity and other rhetoric out of it. I have done a "clean up."

[racoon]

So I'm still going round-and-round with Choice Hotels about canceling my reservation, which they refuse to do until they talk to the hotel manager.

I had previously Googled contact information for the CEO of Choice Hotels, and sent him an email complaining about the problem I was having canceling my reservation.
Perhaps that did some good, or possibly they are just getting around to dealing with reservation problems for all of their affected hotels.

I received a phone call from someone who said she was calling on behalf of the hotel I had booked in Maggie Valley.
She said she was calling to confirm that I was checking in today, and I told her that I would not be checking in.
She thanked me, and the call ended.

I said "calling on behalf of", as the area code that showed up in the caller id was for Birmingham, AL.

A few minutes later I received an email confirming that my reservation had been canceled, and it included a cancellation number.

[FIRECAT]

Clearly this rally is completely canceled. I’ve been watching all the news; and Asheville is completely leveled. Many people are still missing. Roads are washed out; over 107 bridges are gone. We will be lucky to even have a rally next year! Blue Ridge Parkway is completely washed out in some places. It’s the biggest disaster they’ve ever had!! This will take over a year to fix if not three! So, so, sad!

My daughter used to live in Asheville for a couple years. She moved to Florida, a good part of Florida though, a part that didn’t get hit by Helene!!!

[Tango]

Clearly this rally is completely canceled. I’ve been watching all the news; and Asheville is completely leveled. Many people are still missing. Roads are washed out; over 107 bridges are gone. We will be lucky to even have a rally next year! Blue Ridge Parkway is completely washed out in some places. It’s the biggest disaster they’ve ever had!! This will take over a year to fix if not three! So, so, sad!

My daughter used to live in Asheville for a couple years. She moved to Florida, a good part of Florida though, a part that didn’t get hit by Helene!!!

Looks like this next storm is going to hit us hard! I'm in Daytona Beach. It's going to be a west to east storm crossing the entire state at this point. Mother Nature sure is pissed off at something. Tom

[BajaRon]

Looks like this next storm is going to hit us hard! I'm in Daytona Beach. It's going to be a west to east storm crossing the entire state at this point. Mother Nature sure is pissed off at something. Tom

Yes, they are telling us we will be getting more rain in East Tennessee (and elsewhere) from this next storm. There are many who still do not have power, phone service, or water. Those who still have a place to live, that is. We got water back at the shop late Wednesday. It's in the city of Greeneville. I live in the county and we still don't have water at the house. It's amazing how we take these things for granted. It's inconvenient, to say the least. But we've got it better than many others. The destruction is breathtaking.

I and 2 other members of the crew spent Monday working with heavy equipment cutting trees that were piled 10-12 feet high and 50 feet deep from a roadway in the area. Like a giant Pick-Up-Sticks game. Other friends went with search & rescue parties looking for specific missing persons along the river. The overall effort found 1 live person (rescued) and several bodies. But none were of the people they were looking for.