Photo Sojourn at Meads Quarry • Ijams Nature Center | Fujifilm Superia 400

"Go for it!"

Me, yelling at a stranger jumping off a rock into Mead's Quarry, against the sign saying "Do not jump off rock."

I went out with my Canon AE-1 for a sojourn to Meads Quarry, a flooded marble quarry in the local Ijams nature center.

Knoxville is full of quarries - I can count at least five that are publicly available for folks to visit and enjoy, and tons that are still in use! There are even a couple private quarries that are owned by individuals.

Meads Quarry has a watersports rental kiosk managed by local outfitters River Sports, that rents paddle boards, kayaks, and other water-related items. Most of the quarry is unswimmable, but is open to the use of personal, non-motorized watercraft.

There is a small swimming area, though, and it is no less spooky!

In case you're curious, the quarry is a little over 300 feet deep.

Speaking to a local recently, he informed me that there are cranes, equipment, and cars degenerating at the bottom. Of course, you'd never know, because even if you freedove, you'd barely get a quarter of the way down...

While swimming, you're quite comfortable near the surface but the farther down your legs dangle, the drastically colder the water becomes.

I swam laps in the swimming area, staying mostly horizontal, then jettied out for a short hike!

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From the boat launching dock, a full view of the quarry hill I'd climb in this short, 1.5 mile up-and-back hike.

Hidden along the trail is the historic Stanton Cemetary. You have to climb quite a steep hill and the size is not more than a typical house yard. There are graves as old as the 1800s, and many established at the turn of the 20th century.

It's a peaceful place, covered largely by trees with speckled light spilling into an overgrown grassy landscape.

From the top of the original quarry hill I showed you ealier in the post is this panoramic view of the municipal portion of Meads Quarry. I estimate It's a few hundred feet high, but I'm a terrible guesser!

There's a small bench where one could sit and meditate, read, and enjoy the breeze. Even in the dead of summer, Meads Quarry stays crisp with a cool watery wind.

Meads Quarry is one of my favorite natural spots in Knoxville.

Sometimes it's flanked by weirdos and raucous high school kids, but the cool water and wild nature have become an oasis in this new-to-me city.

Where do you escape in your city?

Hi, I'm Amelia! It's nice to meet you.

I'm a writer, minimalist, tiny home dweller, and maker living in East Tennessee, USA. You might have found me through the Ladies of Steemit curation initiative, showcasing the female voices on the Steemit platform. Let's hang out on the blockchain and see where it takes us.

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