#2: [04-May-05]

#1: [27-Apr-01]

29-May-2023 -- It had been two years since I had the opportunity to take a multi day trip just for collecting confluence points, seeing the landscape, and meeting local people. My goal was to connect my block of Minnesota points to the points to the south and west and east, in Iowa, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas. To fill those gaps would require some planning but could be quite fun and doable. Thus after flying to Sioux Falls three days earlier and visiting 3 points, then 5 points on Day 2, and 4 points on Day 3, I still had plenty of energy for the final day - Day 4.

And thus after awakening at 5:30am and having a lovely campground walk near the lakes and in the trees on the grounds of the campground near Elbow Lake, Minnesota, I set off to the north. The weather continued to hold and be lovely; I really was fortunate, especially this time of year, to encounter no tornadoes or even a thunderstorm. After visiting 46 North 96 West yesterday evening, it was time to head north, to 47 North 96 West. I journeyed through increasingly sparsely populated areas, particularly north of I-94, and particularly enjoyed the community of Audubon, Minnesota. I drove north on State 13, then west on State 14, then north on the gravel 190th Road. Wanting as usual to have at least a bit of a hike, I parked about a half mile to the south and east of the point, and thus walked into the field where the confluence point would lie, from the southeast.

Fortunately, nothing had been planted here yet, and there were no fences. Even so, I kept an eye on the ground in cast there WAS something planted that i didn't know about which I did not want to trample. The sun was rising in the east and it was a beautiful time of day and year in Minnesota: Morning, late spring. The point lies on flat ground and the best view is off to the northwest. The temperature stood at about 77 F or 25 C; very pleasant; a bit windy as it was to be expected. I saw no animals; only a few birds and no people. The closest farmhouse lay due north of the point.

I have visited 47° north only a few times before, from Montana on the west to a point one degree east of here in Minnesota, last year. Each of these points at 47 North that I have visited are unique and wonderful. I have also visited 96° west several times in the past from this point on the north end of that line, on down to Texas on the south end, not too far from the Gulf of Mexico, in someone's backyard. It was amazing that I was the first visitor here in nearly 20 years.

I took my set of photos, and filmed the following video: 47 North 96 West, in which you can see my Geography shirt "I can name all 50 states" and hear the wind here on the Great Plains. I spent about 15 minutes on the site. Upon departing the field, then I exited the local area, driving as straight west as the roads would allow, into North Dakota and toward 47 North 97 West. Would I make it before I had to return to the airport as this was my last day in the field?

When the trip was all said and done, here are the final statistics:

 
Confluence points attempted:  15.  

Confluence points successfully visited:  15. 

Points where I met the local landowner = 4 of 15 points. 

Miles = 1731, Kilometers = 2785.  

Campgrounds = 3.  

Windy confluence points:  6 of 15.

Beautiful confluence points:   15 of 15.

Kwik Trip convenience store stops = 5.  Casey's = 1.  Circle K = 1.  Flying J = 1.  

Points along 	43 North 4 
		44 North 3 
		45 North 4 
		46 North 1 
		47 North 3 
		-------------
			 15 points.

Points visited on 	Day 1 = 3 
			Day 2 = 5 
			Day 3 = 4 
			Day 4 = 3
		-------------------
			   	15 points.  

Points visited in the 	morning = 	5 
			afternoon = 	7 
			evening = 	3 
		-------------------------------
			   		15 points

Points visited in 	Minnesota =     6
			North Dakota =  2
			Wisconsin =     3 
			Iowa =          4
		-------------------------------
			   		15 points 

Get out there and explore!