13-Sep-2023 -- I’m currently in France on vacation (primarily to watch the Rugby World Cup), and of course will also try to visit some Degree Confluence Points while I’m here. While en route to Dunkirk to visit the “1940 Operation Dynamo” museum (commemorating the famous WWII evacuation), I couldn't resist attempting to visit this intriguing point, lying just off the coast. Unfortunately I had little time to spare, and my visit happened to coincide with high tide, so I was not expecting to reach the point exactly.
I drove North to the edge of the Oye-Plage beach, parking at [50.99391,1.99891]. I then changed into my swim trunks and walked onto the beach, carrying my GPS receiver and smartphone (for its camera). When I got to the waterline, I was discouraged, because I was still about 500m South of the point. I feared that I might end up being the first of the 18 visitors to this point to record an ‘incomplete’ visit. But the ocean here was remarkably shallow. I was able to get 82m (+/- GPS error of 2m) from the point, with the (albeit disgusting-looking brown) ocean water coming just up to my waist. I could have gotten closer, but I didn’t want to risk damaging my smartphone by wading deeper into the choppy sea.
Looking North, I could see a ferry crossing the English Channel from the nearby port of Dunkirk. And looking West, I could see industrial buildings near the port of Calais.