#4: [04-Sep-17]

#3: [31-Jul-16]

#2: [06-Oct-10]

#1: [24-Jul-02]

06-Aug-2020 -- This is the third out of 7 reports on a one-week bicycle trip (1100 km) from Riga to Warsaw. The story starts from 56°N 25°E and continues from 55°N 25°E.

I had spent the night camping at the river Neman near the village Merkine located 40 km northeast of this confluence point. After 2 hours of cycling, I reached the town Druskininkai where the confluence is located.

The exact location is 2 km out of the town center in a closed sport facility. I assumed that it would be possible to enter the facility through the main gate – but I was mistaken! Two serious uniformed men advised me strictly not to proceed.

I went out of their sight and decided to make an approach from the south, which meant about 4 km additional cycling and hiking since I had to circumvent the whole compound and the forests surrounding it. I parked my bicycle, at a distance of 130 m down at the river and climbed through pine forest towards the confluence point. At a remaining distance of 20 m I had to stop my approach, since a fence prevented me from any further step towards the point.

The confluence is on the lawn in front of a recently built house or even inside the house. The visit 3 years ago in 2017 by David Williams shows the house in a construction stage. According to him, this building is an accommodation block and part of the Lithuanian Olympic training facility. Maybe this is the reason why it appeared to me as it had never been used: 2020 the Olympic Games were cancelled. It is interesting, that all 5 visits show the site in a different stage of construction. While the first visit in 2002 recorded untouched nature, I can report the finalized building.

After visiting the confluence I crossed into Poland to visit another confluence point that day.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to a road or street: 450 m / 5 m
• Distance to a track: 0 m
• Distance of bicycle parking: 130 m
• Time to reach the confluence from the road: 1 hour
• Time at the confluence: 8:29 AM
• Measured height: 114 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 20 m
• Position accuracy: 4 m
• Topography: hilly, the confluence itself artificially flattened
• Vegetation: lawn.
• Weather: sunny, 23° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Olympic Camp Confluence

The story continues at 54°N 23°E.