News footage from the area TV stations proved again a point we mountain folk knew before it was explained to us in science class.
Just as all matter seeks to distribute itself evenly throughout any available space, its corollary is that water seeks its own level.
In the narrow valleys (yep, NARROWS, VA - map coordinates: 37º20'03.92N and 80º48'32.55W this causes pretty drastic flash floods. The fragile, exposed limestone and shale hills also leach water and crumble, by the ton, onto roadways and anything else we little humans have constructed in their way.
Dry Branch is normally that. However, it is now a temporary rushing stream that has destroyed some property built in the DRY season, before it became a BRANCH a couple of days ago.
The ancient New River, reckoned to be the second oldest in the world, is pretty closely controlled by the Corps of Engineers by flood control dams. Like the Nile and the Amazon, the New River flows north. Unlike its two north-flowing sisters, the New River lives in a gorge. When the snows melt and the rains come, the river and its tributaries rise dramatically.
During a flood back in the early sixties I saw both a car and a cow washed down the out-of-control East River. I don't know which won the race.
The New River begins in Ashe County, North Carolina, flows through Virginia and into West Virginia where it joins the Gauley and becomes the Kanawah and then this flows into the Ohio, the Mississippi and into the Gulf of Mexico and on to the great oceans.
Water evaporates and the rains make their way back into the hills again renewing the cycle.
This is a long, slow journey and is one reason I want at least some of my ashes cast on the headwaters of the New River. Whoever gets to do this will have a beautiful trip and my cremains will then pass by some of the favorite places I have enjoyed during this lifetime.
If whoever takes charge of my urn or Ziplock has anything left over, I'd appreciate them being tossed onto Nicole Kidman or Halle Berry, just for the heck of it. The stuff could be ground up and made into some nice foundation for them. Call it InTIMate Skinsation.
Back to the flooding river. Because of the flooding the next few springs and summers will be especially wonderful in and along the river. Much of the trash will have been washed out of the creeks and river beds. A lot of the pollutants will have been churned loose and washed away.
Some upstream fish will have been relocated. Some trout from the hatchery up the East River will populate the stream farther down.
A cleaner river is a healthier river and the old New River is renewed once more.
People fortunate enough to live along the river simply enjoy its beauty most of the time. At times like this we all return to respect its power and the river keeps on rolling. To look at some news footage of the recent floods, go to:
http://nrvnews.com/area/weather/21593-flash-flood-warning-issued.html the county radio station's weather alert
http://www.wdbj7.com/global/story.asp?s=12135295 a Roanoke TV Station
http://snap.wsls.com/sls/snap/media_view/5146/ a photo of Old Wolf Creek Road by Connie Rogers
For most people this is an inconvenience and will be a great source of new stories. We'll wait till the water goes down to go hear them.
© tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com
