12-Oct-1998 -- A Columbus Day weekend trip to Boston afforded the opportunity to visit two
confluence points within 24 hours of each other (42N, 71W and 42N, 72W). On
Monday morning, my wife, Kathy, and I visited 42N, 72W. I was still on a
post-confluence high from my successful visit (to 42N, 71W) the day before.
Our maps showed that this point, like Sunday's, was very close to a road,
and I was looking forward to another confluence cakewalk. Upon arrival at
the appropriate crossroads in rural North Woodstock, Connecticut (photo 2),
we quickly realized that it wouldn't be that easy. The point was located
about 500 feet west of the road within a small wooded area sandwiched
between two houses. I guess this was lucky -- 500 feet north or south and we
would have ended up in someone's living room! As it turned out, this small,
confluence-laden piece of property was for sale (photo 3). "Hey honey! If we
like this confluence point, we can buy it!"
In between cars passing us by
the side of the road, we scampered over a low rock wall and into the cover
of the trees. We made our way through the trees and up a rather steep grade
(photo 4) to come within one hundredth of a minute of the confluence point
on the wrong side of a fence! (photo 1) I tried poking my arm through the
fence in hopes of getting the GPS receiver to roll over to 72 degrees
exactly, but it remained firmly at 71 degrees, 59.99 minutes. Sure, we were
well within the 100-meter range, but there's something satisfying about
being there on the nose. Lucky for me, my perspicacious partner noticed a
gaping hole in the fence immediately behind me. I snuck through, keeping low
in the tall grass, until the GPS unit finally indicated exact confluence
(photo 5). Our mission completed, we bounded down the hill and drove back
home to our decidedly non-confluent home in Maplewood, New Jersey.