#12: [09-Aug-22]

#11: [29-May-22]

#9: [17-Jan-11]

#7: [02-Oct-05]

#6: [03-Aug-05]

#5: [06-Feb-05]

#4: [09-May-04]

#3: [24-Apr-04]

#2: [13-May-02]

#1: [15-Aug-98]

#10: [23-Feb-21] (incomplete)

08-Dec-2006 -- ”The Confluence Hunter’s heel is on thy shore…” The original nine-stanza poem, "Maryland, My Maryland," was written by James Ryder Randall in April 1861. A native of Maryland, Randall was teaching in Louisiana in the early days of the Civil War, and he was outraged at the news of Union troops being marched through Baltimore. The poem articulated Randall's Confederate sympathies. Set to the traditional tune of "Lauriger Horatius" ("O, Tannenbaum"), the song achieved wide popularity in Maryland and throughout the American South during the 1860s.

"Maryland, My Maryland" was adopted as Maryland’s official state song in 1939 (Chapter 451, Acts of 1939; Code State Government Article, sec. 13-307). The following seven-stanza version, while not official, nonetheless catches the true essence of the eighth (and coldest to date!) visit to 39N 76W, when the air temperature was in the teens (F) and the wind chill factor was at least ten degrees colder…

This point is on thy Eastern Shore,
Maryland, My Maryland!
It’s two score miles from Baltimore.
Maryland, My Maryland!
The seven visits made before,
Reveal the place to be a bore,
But who’d complain to log one more?
Maryland, My Maryland!

Route 3-0-1 comes from D.C.
Maryland, My Maryland!
Then skirt Annapolis on U.S. 50,
Maryland, My Maryland!
Going east, they’ll charge a fee
But coming back, the toll is free,
And from the Bay Bridge, much to see,
Maryland, My Maryland!

You cross the Bay of Chesapeake,
Maryland, My Maryland!
It’s state road 3-0-4 you’ll seek,
Maryland, My Maryland!
Take Eagle Road, after Blackstone Creek;
Then feel frost bite upon thy cheek,
And, at the shock, exhale a shriek!
Maryland, My Maryland!

We’d hope to see a field of geese.
Maryland, My Maryland!
Canada or Snow, enjoying a feast.
Maryland, My Maryland!
But at the site, neither man nor beast
Disturbed a frigid sense of peace,
While, in the distance, leafless trees.
Maryland, My Maryland!

We saw new stakes for some survey
Maryland, My Maryland!
What use they serve, I can not say.
Maryland, My Maryland!
Clouds blocked the sun on this cold day,
But not the satellite array.
[You want it warm? Well, come in May!]
Maryland, My Maryland!

Into the breeze we boldly strode.
Maryland, My Maryland!
Until my screen had all zeroed!
Maryland, My Maryland!
This time of year, the field is mowed,
It’s just a short hike from the road,
And, as of yet, it hasn’t snowed.
Maryland, My Maryland!

To tarry long we did not dare.
Maryland, my Maryland!
We had not brought enough to wear!
Maryland, my Maryland!
We did get close to Delaware.
(Of course there’s no confluence there.)
And at that point we did not care.
Maryland, my Maryland!

From Annapolis, MD, take US-50 east to exit 46 (across the William Preston Lane Jr Memorial Bridge). Take US-301 east for 8.5 miles, and take a right onto SR-304 east (away from Centreville). Go 1.4 miles and turn right onto an unnamed road. Go 1.24 miles until the road ends in a T at Little Eagle Rd. To get to the confluence, turn left and walk 280 feet on Little Eagle Rd. Then, leave the road and walk due south 800 feet (remember to adjust if you're using a magnetic compass). Another way to get to the confluence would be to go 1.26 miles past the unnamed road on SR 304, and turn right onto Greenville Rd. Go 0.73 miles and turn right onto Little Eagle Rd. The best way to determine the confluence point is still to walk from the intersection of the unnamed road and Little Eagle Rd.