#2: [24-Dec-06]

#1: [18-Mar-03]

12-Jan-2014 -- This is the last out of 5 reports reaching or attempting confluence points in Myanmar. The story starts from 14°N 99°E. The previous report is 21°N 95°E

The visit was done on the last leg of our bicycle trip just before reaching Mandalay. Coming from Bagan, we crossed the Ayeyarwady River at Sagaing. Cycling on the western side of the Ayeyarwady had several advantages compared to taking the eastern side: less traffic, beautiful scenery, the visit of Sagaing, Mingun, and last but not least, this confluence point.

Six kilometres before reaching Mingun, we had reached the nearest point on the road. Elionora was already exhausted from the hilly road (although following the river, the road was built like a track for roller coasters). So she decided to have an energy drink at a teahouse right at the bridge. At this bridge the road was overpassing a dry riverbed. The confluence visit turned out to be easier than expected (note that this is a really rare case!). To cover the beeline distance of 1060 m I needed only 6 minutes following the dry riverbed.

The exact location is at a corner of a corn field. A sandy track (as a continuation of the dry riverbed) is just 5 m from the confluence point. So the CP is in a valley with good soil and plenty of water.

20 minutes later I was already back to Elionora. She hadn’t expected me back before one hour. After finishing our drinks, we continued to Mingun, where we visited the biggest pile of bricks in the world, the Mantara Gyi-Pagoda. We were able to find a boat that took us across Ayeyarwady river to Mandalay.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to the road: 1060 m
• Distance of bicycle parking: 1060 m
• Time to reach the CP from the road: 6 min
• Time at the CP: 3:53 PM
• Measured height: 95 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
• Position accuracy: 9 m
• Topography: in a valley, nearby hills
• Vegetation: corn field, bushes, grass, shrubs
• Weather: sunny, 25° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Brick Pile Confluence

The story finishes here. Further pictures of our bicycle trip can be found here.