Talk….About….SURREAL!

Ok, last weekend I was online looking for something else (ever heard that before) and I stumbled upon an overhead picture of the old Billmeyer Quarry (aka Bainbridge Sportmen’s Club) that looked like it was partially drained.  The way the picture was online, you weren’t able to save it in order to zoom in on a few parts. I wanted to see what was above water.  So I puttered around online for a little while, and found more pictures that were closer. You were able to see that the “Lagoon” was totally drained, the “Bowl” was partially drained, and you could see the Pennsy, some boats, and a few platforms (and the Scuba-Venture truck partially submerged in the distance). I considered driving down there to see for myself,  but figured that I wouldn’t be able to get in because of the gates, and I didn’t know how to sneak in via the trail. (and I figured that if I was wandering around there, someone would report me, and I’d get arrested) so I figured I’d do it the “legit” way, and contact Conoy Township to see if there was any way I could get in!  Thankfully, I received a response on Monday asking who I was, and why I was interested in the quarry.  I responded, and merely stated that I just wanted to see it for myself, and perhaps take some pictures.  The woman responded and said she would check with the township manager, and get back to me.

The next day I received a contact name and info, and was told to call this gentleman, and set things up, he was willing to let me come in and take pictures.  So after I got off of work, I called him, and he said whenever I wanted to come down, he would either meet me, or have the gate “fake locked” so I could get in and do what I wanted…. I immediately thought “BARN RUN!”  and texted Rob!  I figured that this weekend would be good, so I called him Friday night, and asked if I could stop by tomorrow about 10:00am, he said he would have the gate opened.

When I showed up the gate was locked (GREAT!)  so I called him again, and got his voice mail.  So I left a message and thought… “ok, I said I’d be here around 10:00 so it’s ten of…”  he called back about 2 minutes later and said that he was there early and unlocked it, so someone must have re-locked it, so he would send someone over quick.  About two minutes later, I was in! (I just hoped that the guy didn't lock me in!)

The memories came flooding back when I started driving down that road. I haven’t been there since July of 2015, but I recalled all of the nervousness, anticipation, excitement and thrill of the many times I drove on that road. As I did drive, I could see a lot more rock than I ever remember over the banks!  I pulled in to upper “A” and parked.  The first thing I did was look over the wall and see how much water was gone.  It was a little more filled from the pictures I saw recently, but still very drained!  I looked down the “steep access” and realized that there was a lot of debris pushed down there, and it probably wouldn’t be smart to try to get down (especially since I was the only person there)  So I started down the road access, and just started walking and taking pictures.  Several years back, Rob and I did a dive along that road, and this basically was what I did while walking today, taking time to look over the wall down into the water, (or deeper when we were diving) and up into the cliffs. (taking many pictures)(see my Facebook page)  The entire time, I saw the remains of dead shell fish strewn all over. The amount of shellfish death was off the charts! Debris piles, rock piles old platforms, and sunken boats were all along the path.  I got to a place that was a little rockier, so I looked to see if I could safely pass, and figured that I just needed to go UNDER a log, and I’d be ok, so I was able to keep moving (a little easier to avoid when you’re in a dry suit, in 20 feet of water, I’m sure) So I kept walking until I got to the part that was called “Access B” and came to water, and couldn’t go any further. (And I can honestly say I never saw this part in person, so it was kind of cool to see it)  After snapping a few pictures (and scaring a bunch of Turkey Buzzards)  I turned and started walking back until I got to what we called the Lagoon!! More debris piles, more platforms and boats, and the swim through pipe… so I snapped more pictures and thought of how many times I swam through that (didn’t seem as big standing next to it) so I went up to the beach into the pavilions, and back to my car after peering over the cliff just once more (and again deciding that I wouldn’t attempt the steep access)  So I got into my car and drove over to what used to be called “Access B”.

I was told that this was where the former quarry owner bred fish for stocking purposes, so it was usually off limits to divers.  In the ten or so years I was coming to the quarry, I can’t honestly say I ever drove down that part, but I figured, why not.  I snapped a few pictures, then got back into my car.  Driving along the road I took a few more along the way until I got to the abandoned quarry office. There were picnic tables, and those small platforms, as well as the old boat that used to be docked in the Lagoon over to the side. I snapped a few more, then said my goodbye, driving up the road hoping that no one locked the lock on the gate… thankfully, they didn’t and I was able to open it and drive out, then lock it. I called the man that gave me access, and thanked him again. 

I hope that there’s a time that I can get back into that quarry, a LOT of memories came flooding into my mind as I walked along the edge…..I learned to dive there, spent a lot of time during the summers I was able to dive, and made so many great friends along the way! 

As a side note, I have heard that they ARE letting the quarry fill back up, so we’ll see…

Until then, be careful out there.  Hoping to get some diving in soon!