31-Jul-2003 -- This visit completes the confluences along the Saskatchewan/United States border marked out along the 49th parallel in the 1870s. Heading southeast for the border crossing between Northgate, Saskatchewan and Northgate, North Dakota, we left Regina at 8:00 AM. At 11:35 AM we crossed into the United States without any trouble. A genial American customs agent sent us on our way without too many difficult questions - he seemed to understand our explanation of the confluence project and the reasons why we wanted to explore along the border. Although this confluence is approachable from either Canada or the United States, the maps show roads leading right to the border on the American side whereas the Canadian side involves a walk-in.

The confluence is conveniently situated approximately 97 meters north of the conclusion of 59th Avenue NW, a dead end because it has reached the border. Looking at the picture of 59th Avenue NW, you may wonder why this narrow rutted overgrown trail is called an "Avenue". We wondered too, but just 3.7 km south is the street sign marking the corner of 59th Avenue NW and County Road 2. The confluence is situated on the edge of a Canadian farmer's field. We had excellent satellite reception so it took next to no time to get the zeros. The actual border was south of the confluence along the barbed wire fence we had to cross. Our van, seen in the south view, is just over the border.

After a picnic lunch and a few more pictures, including one of the confluence team, we headed south on 59th Avenue NW. At the first intersection we stopped to take more pictures and a rock or two for our garden from a rock pile. A truck approached from the south carrying two farmers, a father and son, who wondered if we were having trouble. It is not a usual location for sight-seeing Canadians to be found. We explained our mission and had a nice visit with the gentlemen. They told us about some of the local history including the fact that the land just south of this location had been in their family since 1903.

We headed south to County Road 2 and east 20 km to Northgate where we stopped briefly at the Canadian Customs then headed home. With a few side trips along the way and a stop for supper our total time away was 11 hours and we covered 649 km.

The borderline with the U.S. is running about 125 m south of the Confluence.