05-Jun-2010 – Before heading off East from Moscow towards the Altay Republic in Siberia, I did a quick glance at the Degree Confluence website to see if any convenient confluences lay on the way. Altay had several unvisited ones but all seemed out of reach given my time-frame and supplies. My best bet was one in a park within the city of Novosibirsk.

I arrived on a Trans-Siberian train (Adler–Novosibirsk) in the 'platskart' class [second class], which I highly recommend for budget travellers or those who want to meet some of the friendliest and most generous people you'll ever find. It doesn't matter if you don't speak the language. You'll be invited to eat and drink as family.

In Novosibirsk, I made my way to the Avtovokzal, or bus station, where I found the right bus heading to the park I want to say that I took number 1100, but several other buses go by there and they're all very cheap and plentiful.

At the park, I encountered a closed gate meant to prevent cars from entering, but it was apparent that people on foot simply walk around it. I saw next a groundskeeper and I greeted him and asked in my broken Russian if it was okay to continue onward. I believe he said yes, but to keep to the paths. I've head that encephalitis-carrying ticks are in some areas in Russia so perhaps that was the reason not to stray.

Just before noon, I arrived within several meters of the conflunce and quickly noticed that I was getting covered in mosquitos big enough to eat the mosquitos back home in Texas. Thus, my variation on the confluence dance had extra hand motions that involved swatting any exposed area of skin every few seconds. After a very brief stay, I had to turn back to get rid of the mosquitos that were feasting on me.

I went back to the bus station and boarded a bus for Barnaul, where my friends Nastya and Kostya would host me for two nights. The total excursion to the point took only about an hour and cost me less than a dollar in bus fare. This point also happens to be 180 degrees in longitude away from my 'home' meridian of 97°W. It is also my northernmost and easternmost to date.