#12: [05-Sep-23]

#10: [08-Jul-18]

#9: [12-Nov-11]

#8: [16-Aug-07]

#5: [31-Dec-00]

#7: [29-Jul-06] (incomplete)

#6: [17-May-06] (incomplete)

#4: [18-Jul-99] (incomplete)

#1: [07-Nov-98] (incomplete)

27-May-2023 -- After over 20 years and over 400 confluence visits, I knew that someday I would need to visit one of the most famous points of all, the center of the northwest hemisphere, 45 North 90 West. The opportunity had come: 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. My goal was to connect my Minnesota points to the points east and south and west, in Iowa, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas. To fill those gaps would require some planning but could be quite fun and doable. Thus after flying to Sioux Falls the previous day and visiting 3 points, today I had already visited 4 points--2 in Iowa, one in Minnesota, and earlier this afternoon, one in Wisconsin.

And thus, after visiting 44 North 91 West, it was late afternoon and I cut a diagonal across some magnificent wetlands and forests to approach the neighborhood of 45 North 90 West. It was late May with the sun not setting until after 8:00pm, so I had plenty of time to visit this point. Why was this confluence rather famous? In part because unlike most points, this one is well marked: Indeed, upon departing the main east west Highway in the area I saw a sign advertising for the point which was still a few miles distant. The anticipation mounted. It was my favorite time of day in the spring: I thought there might be somebody parked at the parking lot but when I arrived I was the only one there which I thoroughly enjoyed having a whole place to myself.

After over 20 years and hundreds and hundreds of points, in remote places all around the world in many countries, it did feel a bit weird to have a well-marked sign and a trail leading along the field on its northern edge and then to the northeast corner of the field, then south to the point. Lots of latitude and longitude explanations existed all along the way and I so appreciated the local landowner donating the right of way for this part of their land for this as well as the local community groups that built this and maintain it. Today I located the point when I first arrived about 1 meter to the southeast of the actual benchmark, but as I stood there filming, the point moved to almost exactly right on the marker. I even laid down ON the marker —I just felt so centered I had to do it.

The temperature stood at about 85°F under light winds and setting sun in a clear sky. I saw no people animals or birds, but midway through my photography a car drove into the lot and then departed. I filmed a video here and took photos: My video from the point, where you can see me laying on the point.

I stood on 45° north many times in the past but it was always special to stand on a line that is halfway between the equator in the north pole. I have stood on 45° north on the West Coast of United States over in Oregon in a line of many points all the way to the East Coast of the United States over in Maine. Each of the points at 45 North that I have visited, and it has to be at least 20 of them, are unique and wonderful. I've also visited 90° west several times in the past such as here in Wisconsin and on down to Louisiana on the south end. I have amassed many points here in the state of Wisconsin so that I am only missing a few. I am not sure I'll ever visit those because they are fairly remote and would require many days of planning and then a whole day to reach each one of them. There is also one southeast of here that is on private land with lots of warning no trespassing signs around. I doubt I will ever get that one.

I wanted to stay longer but I needed to find a campground as the sun was about an hour away from setting. I did stroll leisurely back back to the vehicle and then drove back south, leaving this neighborhood with a happy heart. I’m really glad I finally came here. Safe travels to all and happy trails.

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 =     6
			North Dakota =  2
			Wisconsin =     3 
			Iowa =          4
		-------------------------------
			   		15 points 

Get out there and explore!