#3: [04-May-22]

#2: [06-Jul-06]

#1: [20-Jul-02] (incomplete)

10-May-2024 -- This is the 3^rd out of 7 reports visiting confluence points during a one-week bicycle trip from Budapest to Podgorica. The story starts from 47°N 19°E and continues from 46°N 19°E.

I didn’t plan on visiting a second confluence point at the same day. But cycling conditions were perfect such that I reached the vicinity of the confluence in the early evening. However, the confluence is deep in a continues forest in the flatlands of Save River. I had to cycle 10 km on various forest tracks. The last one, a very rough tractor track took me up to a distance of 114m. From there, I crossed a forest glade. Only the last 15 m was slow going.

I found the exact location in a dense thicket. Wearing only shorts, I didn’t bother to get all zeros. I opted not to get bitten by the stinging nettles and thorns.

After my visit, I thought that it would be quick and easy to reach my B&B in Vrbania, which is just 6 km straight line form the confluence. But when I tried to exit the forest in the south, I was blocked by a gate. Returning and riding around the way that I had come would have added another 20 km on my already very long cycling day. So I decided to walk along the fence hoping to go around the fenced area. However, the further I walked the rougher the going. I ended up in thickets. Going back now would have meant an even longer way back. So I pressed on. Finally, I came to a point where no further progress was possible. I threw my bicycle and luggage over the 2m high fence and then scaled it myself. Astonishingly, on the other side I was not inside something, but on an open field. Ten minutes later I was at my B&B.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to a road: 5000 m
• Distance to a track: 114 m
• Distance of bicycle parking: 114 m
• Time to reach the CP from the road: 45 min (coming from Spacva)
• Time at the CP: 6:49 PM
• Measured height: 99 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 3 m
• Position accuracy: 3 m
• Topography: flat
• Vegetation: Young sunflowers.
• Weather: sunny, 20° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Escape Gate Confluence

The story continues at 44°N 19°E.