#12: [15-Apr-24]

#11: [24-May-20]

#10: [23-Jun-16]

#9: [06-Sep-15]

#8: [03-Feb-13]

#7: [01-Apr-11]

#6: [14-Sep-08]

#4: [08-Oct-05]

#3: [27-Oct-04]

#2: [12-Jun-00]

#1: [21-May-00]

21-Sep-2006 -- While travelling in the New Mexico area, I decided to look at a map and visit the confluence points along the I-40 corridor. One easy one was just east of Albuquerque, near a sleepy town called Moriarty.

To get to the confluence, take exit 97 off of I-40 and take the first road south until you reach Martinez Road. This is an east-west two-lane paved road which will take you east until you reach the 106W longitude mark. Just east of there you will have a driveway to the south (near the windmill) to park your vehicle (since the road shoulder is non-existent, thus leaving you no parking room). Hop the fence to the north and walk directly to the confluence.

The land looked like a place where cows could eat grass, but there were no cows present. The initial batch of grass close to the fence was thick, but it thinned out slightly as you walked north. Watch where you're walking - there are some foot-deep holes in the dirt. You could see the occasional cow pie, including one close to the confluence point. The grass was quite walkable and there was evidence of a truck going through the ground many months ago as the tire marks take you closer to the confluence.

There is a slight hill down to the actual confluence point, which blocks the view of the vehicle we parked in.

The confluence point is about 400 meters away from the road and is in clear sight of Interstate 40. There is also a large tree which I suspect is the true center of the confluence. In order to zero out my GPS for the photo I was standing to the east of the tree, but I also noticed if I stood just slightly south of the tree I could zero out my GPS. Hence the picture west is primarily of the "confluence tree".

The entire effort did not take very long to achieve. If you are spending some time in Albuquerque you can probably do the entire round trip in a couple hours. The only suggestion I would have for future followers is to come with a spare change of socks since the grass is prickly in some areas.

The other observation is that New Mexico has been receiving rainfall far in excess of seasonal norms and thus the area is looking greener than it should be at this time of year.