#4: [22-Apr-17]

#3: [21-Apr-11]

#2: [10-Apr-07]

#1: [16-Aug-01]

01-Apr-2018 -- This is the 1^st out of 2 reports reaching confluence points after finishing our 2571 km hike from Zurich to the southernmost tip of Sicily.

During our hike through Italy, we missed a couple of nearby confluence points. But even when a confluence point was just 10 km beeline from our route, visiting it would have added a whole day of additional hiking for us. Covering those 20 km beeline means approximately 30 km hiking along the paths in mountainous areas.

Actually, we hadn’t planned to visit this confluence, but when we had finished our hike in the city of Gela, we realized that getting back to Catania by train on Easter Monday was impossible. So we spontaneously rented a car in Gela. Suddenly equipped with mobility, we decided to make some deviations on our route back to visit these two confluence points.

We left the main road SS113 at the village Fico and shortly after we parked at a big open space in front of a country villa (800 m from CP). On our pleasant stroll to the confluence point we passed by a tower (700 m from CP).

The confluence is located on an open field, which is separated from the nearest track by an impenetrable cactus hedge and a fence. But we arrived from western direction where the fence has a big hole. So it was possible to reach the exact location without difficulty. The confluence point is covered with clover, grass and scattered artichokes. Actually, this was our first time to find artichokes in nature and not as toppings for pizza. Most likely this currently unused field had been an artichoke plantation. In comparison to previous visitors, we didn’t find any grapes at the confluence point (may be still existing behind the cactus hedge).

After the visit, we walked the same way back and began our drive eastwards.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance from Fico: 2 km
• Distance from a road: 800 m
• Distance from a track: 10 m
• Time to hike to the CP: 20 minutes
• Time at the CP: 3:53 PM
• Measured height: 178 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
• Position accuracy: 5 m
• Topography: slightly hilly
• Vegetation: flowering clover, grass, artichokes, nearby cactus hedge (Opunita ficus-indica)
• Weather: sunny 12° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Cactus Hedge Confluence

The story continues at 38°N 14°E.