Happy New Year and I hope it will be a good one for everyone. The Perry family had a wonderful Christmas and an even better after Christmas vacation. It has been a dream of mine to spend Christmas in the mountains, but with Bill's mom it is hard to get away. Jill has a friend that gave us his house in Mccayesville, Ga. for the week after Christmas, so with lots of planning and shuffling we headed out for our vacation the day after Christmas at 6:00 in the morning.
We knew there was snow in the mountains north of Atlanta, but no one could have prepared us Floridians of what lay ahead. When we got to Lake City, Fl. that should have been a small sign of what was to come, but after a sausage biscuit we trudged on toward fun in the snow.
All went well and when we got near Atlanta the sun came out and Jill called from her car that was in front of us and said it looked like the snow was moving away from us and toward the east coast and she was so upset. We kept seeing cars on the other side of the highway covered in snow. We knew it was snowing somewhere close by, but it may be over by the time we got there. We just weren't sure and were even a little worried it may be melted by the time we got there.
When we got to Atlanta the snow was lightly sprinkled on the ground and on rooftops. We were excited. When we got on 575 we saw heavy snow on the side of the highway in the trees and everywhere. Then it began to get dark and the snow got thicker. We never reached the point that we couldn't see the road, but it was blowing toward our windshield and piling up on the sides of the road.
When we got to Jasper, Ga. we stopped at the Ingles and I bought some groceries. The car was so packed I had to put lots of stuff on the floor beneath me and in my lap. We had Sydney and our 14 year old dog in the back seat and in the back we had all of our luggage, coats, and Jills things too.
Jill called from up ahead and they said they were stuck on the road up to the house. When we pulled in behind them she was in a ditch. There were a couple of people who came down to help. When I stepped out of my car the snow was up to my knees. It was really snowing hard. Some men came with their four wheelers to pull her out and then God sent this angel named Jeff in a huge pick up with four wheel drive to rescue us. We loaded all of our stuff and groceries in the back of his truck and we all piled in. Bill, me, Syd, Jill, Matt and Troy. It was a scary ride up to our cabin, but we made it. Jeff helped us unload our stuff. I tried to get him to take some money, but he refused. When he tried to go back up the hill he got stuck and two guys on the four wheelers had to pull him out. We had our cars parked way down the mountain from us, but they were out of the way from traffic, that is if any one could get in or out.
We were in the cabin and we turned on the heat. We got the groceries unpacked and finally Katy and Matt called. They have a four wheel drive so they decided to try to get to the cabin. I literally got on my knees by the bed and prayed they would get to us safely. It seemed like it took them forever to arrive, but suddenly little children came running in and I was never so happy to see those smiling faces. His car had made it and it was snowing horribly. He said they had slid and they were pretty much stuck here until things thawed out that it wasn't safe. Now we were waiting on Jeff, Angi and Ray. They were several hours behind us. When they called it was already dark. We told him he needed to find a hotel and wait until the next morning to try to come up. They got the last room in town and God was looking after us crazy Floridians. They were at least safe and we had the makings for chili and we settled in for the night. We didn't have t.v. and couldn't get the gas logs lit. The snow was falling all evening long. We didn't want to go to bed it was just so beautiful to watch.
We needn't worry the snow was still falling the next morning and it was 7 degrees outside. I got up early had my coffee and made pancakes and bacon for breakfast. We felt like we were rationing food. Everyone got two pancakes and two pieces of sausage, who knew if we were going to get more food before the next day. We realized we had two rolls of toilet paper, no paper towels, ten napkins and no paper plates or cups. We had a two pound package of hamburger meat and a one can of tomato sauce. I brought two packages of spagetti noodles so I knew we would be ok for one more day.
Jeff called and said it was still snowing and wasn't sure what to do. We told him to go to Walmart and buy a gas can and get 5 gallons of gas. We also gave him a massive grocery list. We told him to call when he got to the road that came up to the cabin and we would come and get him on the four wheeler. That is what we did! It must have taken all morning to bring up Jeff, Angi, and Ray and then all of the groceries and their clothes. It was so exciting and fun, but we did it. Everyone was there safe and sound.
We spent the afternoon tubing, four wheeling and the kids made snow angels and a snow man. I have never taken so many pictures. I must have taken a hundred pictures and most of them didn't have anybody in them. My children got in one or two and the grandchildren were in five or six, but the scenery was like something out of the most beautiful Christmas Card I had ever seen. Later Jill, Matt and the kids got in the hot tub. We had so much fun all afternoon. That evening we all sat down together asked grace and thanked our precious father for getting us all there safely. We had a great supper and later the kids went downstairs and played ping pong and later we played Taboo. It was a full and fun day.
The next day it was more fun in the snow. The guys would pull the older kids on the tubes behind the four wheeler, It was another great day, but we were still stuck. Matt got his car moved to higher ground, but his wheels were frozen to the ground. Jill's car got stuck closer to the cabin. We didn't even try to move our vehicle.
Katy and Matt were able to get out on Wednesday, but the rest of us didn't have four wheel drive and there was just to much ice. We were going to wait one more day, because the temp wasn't going out of the twenties and everything was still icy. We made the best of our time left. The guys carried some of our things to the car on the four wheeler. Then Matt and Ray had to make a run into town. Taking the back roads and avoiding traffic (which there was none) they took the gas can to the handy way to make sure we could get to our cars the next day. They wanted to pick up beer, but the locals said they would have to go across into Tennessee to get it. Tennessee was across the street from where they were, but the sheriff's office was right next to the store where you buy the beer. Matt was afraid to buy it with Ray with him, because Ray was underage. The men in the store said, they knew those poor boys was stuck in the mountains and just needed some beer to make there stay more enjoyable. They came back to the cabin with the gas we needed some cokes and snacks, but no beer. Jeff wasn't sure he could make it without a few to get through the evening. That is when my adventurous daughter, Jill stepped up and said she was going to Tenn. to get the beer. She and Matt headed to town taking all the back roads. They parked the four wheeler in Ga. and crossed over to Tenn. by foot. They came back across the Ga. line with two twelve packs of budlight. They were hoping the one deputy wouldn't stop them. They hurried to the four wheeler and took off for home. We were so happy they didn't get picked up by the law and we didn't have to bail them out of jail. We had a great evening.We cooked all the food in the fridge which meant we cooked two pounds of bacon and one package of sausage. We cooked a dozen eggs and made thirty pancakes. We cooked the last package of cinnamon rolls and drank a gallon of o.j. We made a bonfire outside and the kids and some adults spent time in the jacuzzi. We played some games until late then called it a night.
The next morning it was dreary and still below freezing. We knew ice would still be on the roads. We all packed up our stuff and finished taking it to our cars. Then the guys decided they were going to get all the cars, but Jeffs down to the entrance to where we were staying. Jill' s little car went first and it was icy and it slipped around, but they made it out. Jeff brought Matt back to our car and he got it out. Yeah!!! Then they came for us and took each of us to our cars. Lastly came Jeff and his family they got to the truck and then Little Matt took the four wheeler back to the cabin and locked everything down. He walked back to Jeff's truck and they all made it to the entrance where we were waiting.
It was now 12:00 and none of us had eaten. So Jill and her family and Bill and I all went to Merciers store for lunch and to buy some souveniers. The food was great and they make the best fried apple and peach turnovers you ever ate. The store was full of people who had been stuck like us. We bought our goodies then headed home. Ollie and Troy were in the back seat and Bill was driving. It was a long trip, lots of traffic outside Atlanta and down near Macon. We made it home around midnight. We were all worn out, but it was an awesome trip. We made some precious memories. I hope our kids and grandchildren will always remember. God has blessed us and we are so thankful for all that he has given us, most especially our family and wonderful friends. Snow it is one of God's beautiful creations and I am glad I got to see it at least once before I die.
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