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#1: [16-Jan-97]

#8: [27-Feb-05] (incomplete)

16-Jan-2008 -- 39N – 77W Silver Spring, Maryland, United States – The closest Confluence Point to Washington, DC

Line Hunting Date: January 16, 2008

An unexpected hunt to an Urban Confluence Point

This is one of the more frequently visited Confluence Point because of its proximity to Washington DC – 14 so far, including this one. In fact, this point missed to be inside the relatively small District of Columbia (a square of 16 km by 16 km) by a mere 2.6 km

I was aware of this point located in Silver Spring, a suburb of DC, but the hunt for this point was not part of my original plan for the DC visit. However, an unexpected change of my meeting from noon to 4 pm, gave me plenty of time to hunt for this point.

I left the hotel a little before 11 am, and took the Metro (subway) Red line toward Silver Spring. I got off the Metro train at the Takoma station and proceeded on foot – 2.5 km GPS distance to go.

The urban hike toward the confluence point turn out to be very pleasant. It was a crisp winter day, and Takoma Park is a quaint historical neighborhood. I followed Ceder Avenue to the end, and cut left to the Piney Branch road which led straight to the Flower–Brach Apartment complex where this Confluence point belonged. It took hour and 15 minutes to reach the vicinity of this Confluence Point from my hotel just 3 blocks away from the White House.

As described by previous visitors, the all zeros point actually located inside one of the apartment building. The best I can do was to settle for a reading about15 meters off. The apartment complex was relatively quiet, and I only ran across a couple residents who did not seem to be too concerned with someone walking in circles with a GPS and a camera.

After completed the hunt, just as I was taking the last photo of the street signs of the apartment complex (Corner of Arliss Street and Piney Branch Road) (Photo 8), a bus came by so I jumped on. The bus took me to the Silver Spring Metro Station – also 2.5 km GPS distance away from the point. I did not have the exact change of $1.25 for the bus fair, but the good driver waved me through.

The Metro took me back to downtown DC by 1.30 pm, so the entire hunt took two and half hours - one of the shortest hunt I have done. The total cost was $3.20 for the metro tickets – one of the cheaper and greener hunt.

By far the most remarkable aspect of this hunt is the most urban-based Confluence point I have ever visited. It is located within the greater metropolitan area of Washington DC – 12.7 km GPS distance away from the center of DC as marked by the Washington Monument.

In all, this was a fun little unexpected hunt. A good pay off for never leave home without a GPS.

Rating of this hunt:

Degree of Challenge:

1 – A nice walk on the sidewalk (1= very easy - drive to the point; to 5= a death march – glad it is over)

Scenery:

2– Pleasant suburban environment (Scale: 1= not interesting at all; 5= take your breath away)

Culture-social factors:

3 – Part of the US Capital and near the seat of the power (Scale: 1=dull; 5= most stimulating)