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the Degree Confluence Project
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France : Normandie

2.2 km (1.4 miles) NNW of Saint-Louet-sur-Vire, Manche, Normandie, France
Approx. altitude: 103 m (337 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 49°S 179°E

Accuracy: 9 m (29 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: View to the east #3: View to the south #4: West: hedge right in front of me #5: West a few metres north with a view #6: GPS #7: View towards the next 49er CP at the coast #8: At the coast looking west. Here the 49th parallel dives into the ocean and reaches the next land in Newfoundland #9: View north along the coast. #10: GPS at the edge of water #11: View from Pointe d'Agon to Regnéville (east). It's obviously low tide.

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  49°N 1°W (visit #4)  

#1: View to the north

(visited by Florian Schindler)

05-Jun-2010 -- I came from the Confluence Point 49°N-00° and I simply followed my car navigation system. Through the entire journey it led me well to the Confluence Points and this time it was no exception.

I entered a small gravel road and I parked my car at the first barn of the farm La Rogerie. The farm is north of the point and I needed to overcome 460 metres to get the last point of my journey. But as I passed the farmstead two dogs caught me and barked loud. I turned around and saw the farmer with his family: his wife and two daughters. I walked to them and was greeted by the farmer. “This is private.” he said in French. I apologised and said with my rudimentary French that I did not know and I did not see any sign. I asked if I could walk further but he insisted that this is private. He was still wondering what I wanted to do here and so I said that I wanted to visit a point. “Ah, the point!” he said and understood.

I said that I lived on the 49th parallel and thus a visit is very special for me. He offered his daughters escort me to the point. I happily agreed and so we walked the short distance to the point. In the meantime I showed the French letter to the landowner to the girls and it improved their understanding. They asked me how it looks like where I am living, if there are also cows and meadows and I tried to explain with my very basic French that mainly crops is planted and especially plants for producing beer. I was not able to recall the word for hop (and now I also need to look in an English dictionary), but I hope I satisfied their curiosity.

The girls knew where to go and I quickly zeroed out my old GPS receiver. I relinquished to zero out the newer one with four decimal digits in order to keep this visit as brief as possible. Back at the farmer I thanked him many times and he knew for sure that he made a big favour to a stranger.

I left the farm. No new goal on my target. No 49er Confluence Points left in France.

I was close to the sea and my first idea was to visit the place where D-day took place 66 years ago. But I had a better option: inspired by an Argentinian group I wanted to see where the 49th parallel reaches the sea. So I drove to the west. At Bricqueville-sur-Mer I reached the ocean and drove a bit to the north but about 185 metres were missing to stand exactly on 49°N. I was on the southern part of a bay and thus I tried to approach the 49th parallel from the northern side.

This was better: The Pointe d'Agon is at the end of the northern part of the bay and has a light house and a parking lot. All I had to do was to walk during low tide on the mud of the seabed to the water. Finally at 001°35.17'W I reached the point where the 49th parallel reaches the ocean. I looked to the west and I was aware that the next land based Confluence Point is in Newfoundland. I would be really a nice idea to go there some day ...

Well, while I am writing this report I am on a business trip, sitting in a hotel room 16 kilometres off 42°N 088°W and I am evaluating if a visit to any of the North American 49er Confluence Points would be feasible …

Coordinator's Note: Please note that this point is on private property and the owner prefers that you ask for permission.


 All pictures
#1: View to the north
#2: View to the east
#3: View to the south
#4: West: hedge right in front of me
#5: West a few metres north with a view
#6: GPS
#7: View towards the next 49er CP at the coast
#8: At the coast looking west. Here the 49th parallel dives into the ocean and reaches the next land in Newfoundland
#9: View north along the coast.
#10: GPS at the edge of water
#11: View from Pointe d'Agon to Regnéville (east). It's obviously low tide.
ALL: All pictures on one page