Another weekend in the books in North Carolina but what a few days with Hurricane Helene drifting into the US. A lot to discuss and a couple of shoots this weekend in North Carolina.
As many of you know the Dixie Grand cranked up last Tuesday and three days of competition was shot and completed except for carryovers from doubles and singles. 8 events were completed and the handicap for Friday had been moved to 1pm and the championship doubles were moved to Sunday morning.
Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty much weather free until the doubles on Wednesday. I decided to travel Wednesday night to avoid any weather and topped off my tank in Shelby at the Exxon beside the BBQ place. Hard to believe $2.19 a gallon but I will take it and rode on towards Forest City.
I arrived at 11 and got a shower and in the bed. Up at 6 the wind was blowing and the HIX was getting power washed by the storm. Little did we know there was a raging creek right behind the hotel. We ate breakfast and stayed in touch with Marty at the Homegrounds regarding whether the handicap would be held at 1pm. We got the word that the handicap would in fact be cancelled and we waited for further info on the remaining events.
About noon the power flickered, and it was out at the hotel, and we knew things might be getting worse before it got better. We were getting reports of trees down and power out and then we got the word that both sides of Gun Club Road were impassable due to downed trees. We got word that those trees had been removed but Duke Power advised it might be days before the power could be restored to the club.
Tiffany Decker posted on Facebook that the remaining events of the Dixie Grand had been cancelled due to the power being out and the overall state of the community. I know everyone was looking forward to the remaining events and some had some real issues getting home to surrounding states.
I left Friday headed back to Greensboro and took 74 and viewed no less than 20 trees that had been cut off the highway. When I got to Shelby the traffic lights were off and there were several food places and gas stations that still had power. The cars were lined out into the streets and a traffic nightmare. I made it through Shelby and hit 85 and hit 321 to I-40. 321 was a good ride with no issues and I-40 was ok also. If I had been able to get to 40 on 64 I-40 was closed at Hickory West bound.
Several folks that had travel trailers and motorhomes had to wait to be sure the trees were cut off the roads so they could pass. As of this moment Boone resident George Sudderth is still in the campground waiting on news that the roads are clear near his home. Jake Jacobs made it back to Florida safely but must have had issues finding fuel along the way.
Some TN shooters reported that it took them 12 hours to get home when it was normally 6 hours travel. Tom Shelley was stuck on Watauga Lake near Boone and thought his trailer was going to leave the earth. He mentioned that he really wanted his space to be closer to the lake but sure is glad he was farther away.
There are reports of storm damage at the Silver Dollar in Odessa and the Spartanburg Gun Club is closed for operation until they can get it cleaned up. I have no other reports about other clubs being damaged. I would imagine as time allows more clubs will assess their properties.
Big shout out to Marty Hill and Jimmy Wilson and crews that got to the HG early and did all the prep work for another successful event. To all the folks that classified and cashiered the shoot a big thanks! I know that everyone is a little down about the shoot being cancelled but thoughts and prayers go out to all our folks that lost their homes and cars and I hear over 1000 are still missing.
One person that dodged the proverbial Helene bullet was Horace Best. Horace was all packed and ready to travel until he had a close encounter with a traffic cone and a chair. He went to dump some trash and fell over a traffic cone onto a chair and thought he had damaged his kidneys. Visit to the doctor and no kidney issues detected and back to the house. The next morning, he woke up to answer the call of nature and realized he could not walk. He got his wife to help him to the facilities and another trip to the doctor with no idea of why he became immobile. At that time, he decided to call Marty and had him pull him off all the squads he had pre-squadded for. So, I guess it was a blessing in disguise but what can you say. Within the last few weeks, he has tangled with a weed eater, traffic cone and chair and the question is what is next?
Two shoots this weekend with the Rockingham County Gun Club shooting a typical 300 target program Saturday and Charlie Brown hosting a BIG50 Sunday. RCGC will be celebrating ATA National Trapshooting Month and pins will be given to all entries.
That is going to do it for this week, and I will try to get more info from any shooters that might have been in the areas of flooding and devastation. Phil Berkowitz in Florida called to check on everyone and I gave him the update so far. Have a great week and hello to Scott, Ronnie, Cowboy, Tim, Bobby, Phil, Mac, John, Will, Mark, Thea and Anne and until next week…….smokem