#9: [25-May-22]

#7: [01-Jan-15]

#6: [17-Aug-13]

#5: [17-Jun-10]

#4: [05-Jun-10]

#3: [06-May-09]

#2: [04-May-02]

#1: [01-Sep-01]

17-Aug-2018 -- This is the first out of 5 reports reaching confluence points in France along the 49^th latitude. During my 3-day bicycle trip, I planned to visit 3 points that I hadn’t visited yet. But tail winds blew me eastwards and at the end of day #1 I had already visited them all. I would have to make a new plan, see my 4^th visit.

This is one of the few confluence points in Europe where you need to obtain permission for your visit. Although it is located at the edge of an agricultural field with easy access, you will most likely arrive at the farmer’s main building and read a sign “private property”. But the friendly farmer knows “le point” and will give you access immediately.

Thursday after work at 3:35 PM I took the TGV Lyria to Paris. I was able to fit my bicycle in the normal luggage space after demounting the handlebars and fitting the whole thing in a bike-bag. Since the train was almost completely empty, I assembled the bike inside the train before arriving in Paris. After my arrival I cycled from Gare de Lyon 6 km through Paris to Gare Saint-Lazare. Paris had suffered extreme heat and the hot streets where stinking from garbage and rotting. This was the first time of all my previous visits that I was glad to leave Paris. My second train brought me to Lison in the Normandy. In the moonlight I cycled to Saint-Lô, where I spent the night.

The next morning I cycled 20 km on typical French country roads to this confluence point. I really enjoy cycling those small roads with hardly any traffic.

From the farm house, it is a short stroll of 150 m along the edge of the field. Unfortunately, I had to walk through deep mud and thin slime from cows that obviously had diarrhoea. Make sure to walk along the eastern side because otherwise you will not reach the exact zero point. Both sides are separated by a hedge and a fence. At the time of my visit, the confluence was in a field with short grass (recently mown).

CP Visit Details:

• Distance of bicycle parking: 150 m
• Time to walk to the CP: 3 min
• Time at the CP: 8:26 AM
• Measured height: 101 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
• Position accuracy: 3 m
• Topography: slightly hilly
• Vegetation: grass, hedge nearby.
• Weather: sunny, 23° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Cow Slime Confluence

The story continues at 49°N 0°EW.