The White Cliffs of Conoy
4:41:00 PM |
But, as it turns out, what was supposed to be a very short walk from parking lot to destination, turned into a 1 mile hike, to and from, said destination. We didn't realize the road that took us directly to the place would be closed that day.
This wouldn't normally be a problem if we weren't on a time schedule, almost literally racing the sun. We had to make sure we could get there in time for "the golden hour" to take some good photos and be back in the car before dark.
As you might have noticed, the usual suspects are back. You may remember Michael and Willis from The Sweatiest Hike Ever, but you'll also meet Ryan, another photographer you'll see several pictures down. He seems to have an uncanny ability to stay just out of frame in pictures...
All of the photos that Michael, Ryan, and Willis took are labeled and linked. You should go check out their Flickr accounts to see how awesome they are! All the unlabeled low quality images are mine... but they do tell my perspective of the story.
This ethereally beautiful place that you're seeing right now isn't the White Cliff, but a place literally "just off the tracks" of the railroad we were following. Michael stumbled across it in his reasearch of the area and we managed to find the place tucked behind some cement walls covered with overgrowth.
Looking at the place it looked like an abandoned park, with weathered picnic tables and benches everywhere. But we were informed by a nice girl & guy we met there that it's actually a diving school. Which makes perfect sense, looking at the clear blue water. Still, I couldn't help the feeling that we were urban explorers, navigating forgotten lands....
After we made our way out of, what I like to refer to as, the River Cove, we were called over to investigate this poor turtle on the tracks. Upon further inspection, it was definitely dead, but we couldn't figure out why or how it got on the tracks like that. We parted ways after the strange event, but it made me more optimistic to encounter strangers with such friendly demeanors. It gives me a little more hope in humanity, when I sometimes believe in a Cormac McCarthy world.
After about another 1/4 mile, we found the cliffs. Which are so amazing and odd in the landscape because they look like natural landforms, but are so stark and foreign from the surrounding landscape. The reason for this, is that the cliffs are actually the limestone/dolomite waste product from a long ago quarry. The whole place used to be a limestone quarry, so you'll find the ruins of some old cement walls and buildings along the way.
The place feels like another planet, the cliffs are open to the public after the rocks were tested free of toxic substances. However much of it is roped off and I dont recommended it to anyone under the age of 18 or so. They're called cliffs for a reason, there are pretty extreme steep drops that can be incredibly dangerous if you're careless. It's definitely a place for some unusual photos, but not a place for recreation, unless photography is your recreation.
It was only after we rode the Struggle Bus up this steep and dangerous incline that we realised there was a much safer route right onto the cliffs if we'd just walked further down the tracks... but I guess it was part of the adventure. (Oh, that's Ryan btw :P)
Trying to get up and down the cliffs with camera equipment was so hard and nerve racking. It was hard enough for me without any equipment, and here they are with their tripods and expensive lenses...
It looks like no man's land. But it had a great view of the Susquehanna River, you can definitely we're getting the last hour or so of light.
After some wandering and ducking around, we realized the light was going fast and the guys all took their photographer/bboy shots. :P
And here's Ryan, they gave me heart attacks doing their freezes at the edge of the cliff. Smh.
In the words of my dear best friend, "wow, he even makes your derp face look nice." Something I agree with whole heartedly. I was not prepared for this picture.
On the whole, if you're up for the walk and you're into some light urban exploration, I would definitely check out Conoy Township in Bainbridge. The river walk is also great for bikers and runners. BUT make sure you do your research first! It is a Nature Preserve so check to see what's open that day and what is acceptable behavior in the area. Keep yourself and your community safe!
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