21-Apr-2023 -- South of Coldwater, the uniform grid of country roads in Kansas gives way to dusty buttes and a concomitant dearth of public roads. Fortunately, the single maintained route that connects KS-1 to the town of Kiowa, Kansas passes within feet of this confluence, and it was there that I found myself parking at 11:19am on this dusty spring morning. It was unseasonably cool, 61°F with a slight breeze. There was much oil activity all around including logoed pickup trucks coming and going. When I stopped on the side of the road with my flashers on, two pickups in succession came over to make sure I was okay and didn't need any assistance. It was from the first of these drivers that I discovered that this confluence lies just within the property of Ballet Ranch, pronounced "Ballot". I ended up walking through the open gate to the south rather than going through the barbed wire fence, and it was a short walk and quick confluence dance to all zeroes.

The confluence lies on land that looks like it was used for hay last year, and I assume it will be plowed and planted again soon. I enjoyed the silence for a few minutes before heading back to my rental car and heading east to 37N 98W, but not before a stop through the ghost town of Waldron, Kansas and an incidental visit to the grave of Tammy Faye Messner just outside of town. An afternoon of reflection and gratitude.