#6: [26-Apr-23]

#4: [15-Dec-12]

#3: [02-Sep-11]

#2: [26-Feb-05]

#1: [07-Aug-01]

28-Mar-2014 -- This is the second out of 3 reports reaching confluence points in southern France. The story continues from 44°N 1°E.

From Montauban (which is 70 km from the CP by road) I cycled along the Aveyron River with its beautiful Gorges du Tarn. Almost every other village in the area is constructed on mountain tops as a medieval fortress. The villages around the confluence are no exception. The terrain is slightly hilly on an average elevation of 200 m.

So I made my way east (unfortunately fighting the wind), passing through the village Cestayrols (3 km distance) and at 1.3 km I turned into a small asphalted track that took me to the confluence point, missing it only by 130 m. I went along the edge between a forest and agricultural fields. At a distance of 20 m I left my bicycle. Walking to the exact zero-position was possible without causing damage to the crops by walking between two patches of the field. There are lots of stones in the field, probably not providing optimal conditions for agriculture. The confluence is on the lower end of the field. After a very warm and sunny March, the crops were already grown 10 cm in height.

I cycled further to the medieval city of Albi at the river Tarn 17 km south-east of the confluence point. Its massive red-brick cathedral is enlisted as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to the road: 130 m
• Distance of bicycle parking: 20 m
• Time to reach the CP from the road: 10 min
• Time at the CP: 5:17 PM
• Measured height: 276 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
• Position accuracy: 3 m
• Topography: slightly hilly
• Vegetation: field with young crops
• Weather: partly cloudy, 15° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Medieval Albi Confluence

The story continues at 43°N 3°E.