#3: [21-Oct-10]

#2: [30-May-02]

#1: [20-Jan-01]

26-May-2023 -- It had been two years since I had the opportunity to take a multi day trip just for collecting confluence points, seeing the landscape, and meeting local people. Finally the opportunity arose. My goal was to connect my Minnesota points to the points east and south and west. To fill those gaps would require some planning but could be quite fun and doable. Thus after flying to Sioux Falls I was heading for 44 North 95 West on a fine late spring afternoon.

I drove east on I-90 into Minnesota to Worthington, then northeast on Minnesota Highway 60 to the town of Bingham Lake, then north on 510th Ave to 340th St, then east on the gravel 340th St to where I parked at 540th Ave. Those who have read my confluence narratives know that I always like to have a bit of a hike to the points, and knowing that the point was very close to a road, walked 3307 feet or about 1 km due north to where I could see some seeding happening and a few trucks gathered on the field to the northeast of the point. As I walked along, I couldn't help but notice a FedEx truck delivering something to the house due north of the confluence, as well. This area was a beehive of activity today! After about 20 minutes of walking, I arrived where the field seeders had gathered.

After chatting with the landowners about my purpose, but also finding out that they did not own the field to the west, I set out back to the south, thinking that I would only stand on the edge of the field and call it sufficient. However, upon my arrival on 44 North, due east of the point, not seeing a fence, and realizing that if I gingerly stepped wisely that I would not disturb any of the new corn plants there, I set off and in less than 5 minutes (60 meters) I had arrived.

The confluence lies on fairly flat ground in gently rolling southwest Minnesota terrain. The longest view was to the west and south owing to the road embankment to the east. The temperature stood at about 80 F (26 C) under sunny and windy conditions. It was a beautiful mid-afternoon in late spring. I saw no animals or birds while there. The area is dominated by corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and wind turbines. There is a large shed for animals to the southeast of the confluence point. I spent 10 minutes on the point, taking photographs and a video, which I have posted on my Our Earth channel, here.

I had stood on 44 North several times over the past 20 years, from South Dakota on the west to Maine on the east, and also on 95 West even more times, from Minnesota on the north to Texas on the south. This was my first Minnesota point since 2022 and it felt good to be back. It was my first time at this point. I was the first visitor here in 13 years. Just two months ago I had stood on the point one degree west of here, in South Dakota. It had only been two months since then, but the weather was freezing cold back in March, and I had been trudging through snow. Today, as I mentioned, the temperature stood at nearly 80 degrees F (27 C): What a planet! I was wearing my Applied Geography shirt and felt very centered - here I was applying geography at this very moment!

I walked due east to the road, again being careful not to step on any plants, then south along the road to the vehicle. I really wanted to stop at the collection of road signs and other memorabilia at the town of Windom, at Mimi and Papa's Place, but I was on a beeline now to visit two more confluence points before the sun set today, both in Iowa, so I drove south from Windom without stopping on US Highway 71.

When the trip was all said and done, here are the final statistics:

 
Confluence points attempted:  15.  

Confluence points successfully visited:  15. 

Points where I met the local landowner = 4 of 15 points. 

Miles = 1731, Kilometers = 2785.  

Campgrounds = 3.  

Windy confluence points:  6 of 15.

Beautiful confluence points:   15 of 15.

Kwik Trip convenience store stops = 5.  Casey's = 1.  Circle K = 1.  Flying J = 1.  

Points along 	43 North 4 
		44 North 3 
		45 North 4 
		46 North 1 
		47 North 3 
		-------------
			 15 points.

Points visited on 	Day 1 = 3 
			Day 2 = 5 
			Day 3 = 4 
			Day 4 = 3
		-------------------
			   	15 points.  

Points visited in the 	morning = 	5 
			afternoon = 	7 
			evening = 	3 
		-------------------------------
			   		15 points

Points visited in 	Minnesota =     5
			North Dakota =  3
			Wisconsin =     3 
			Iowa =          4
		-------------------------------
			   		15 points 

Get out there and explore!