#1: [08-Mar-02]

25-May-2024 -- I have established a tradition going back nearly 20 years of devoting a whole day or multiple days, solely to getting out on the landscape, seeing physical and cultural geography and visiting confluence points. Thus, it was time for the 2024 trip which I had been looking forward to for an entire year. I had flown to Bismarck, North Dakota, three days before, and on Day 1, I visited 3 confluences, Day 2: 5 confluences, Day 3: 5 confluences. Waking up at a campground in Wibaux, Montana, I still had energy left for a few confluence points on my way back to the Bismarck North Dakota airport.

I had a grand time driving near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, one of my favorite places. Then I visited 47 North 103 West in mid-morning, today. Now I was en route to 47 North 102 West. This would turn out to be the 2nd most beautiful of the 15 points I visited over the span of these four days. The vistas were lovely in all four directions, and the hikes in and out were both magnificent. The vegetation was bright green and new with spring. I skirted the south side of the town of Hebron, that sported a magnificent brick factory still in operation, and drove north on the gravel road 73rd Ave SW. I then drove east from the intersection of 73rd Ave SW and 28th St SW down a long hill, up the next hill, down the next ravine, and parked in a low point on the shoulder of that road.

It turned out that this was the perfect starting point: There is a faint trail just to the west of the point on the satellite image, but this would involve bothering the landowners there, and it was still early, and I did not want to do that. Thus, I got out of the vehicle and followed the ravine, climbing to the southeast to see a deer gracefully bounding ahead of me. I kept to the midpoint of the ridges, rose and fell with the terrain, and eventually came to the confluence of two creeks. The hills were covered with grass, with trees and shrubs along the ravine bottoms and sides. I crossed a drainage, becoming a bit wet, and about 10 minutes later, found the confluence point on the ridge between the two creeks. It was a beautiful spot with a grand view especially to the southwest. The point lies just downhill from a cattle trail.

It was early afternoon in late spring with clear skies and moderate breezes with a temperature about 73 F. With this point I have now visited all points in North Dakota along 47 North and yesterday finished all of 48 North as well. I have stood on 47 North from the Idaho-Washington state line on the west to 47 North 95 West on the east. I have also stood on 102 west from North Dakota on the north to 32 North 102 West on the south end, in Texas. These many points cover a wide range of landforms, biomes, history, and settlement types. This point was a bit more difficult than I had thought it would be but I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the point. I took pictures and posted a video here: 47 North 102 West.

It was a bit sad to trek back to the vehicle as I knew this would be my last of the 15 confluences I had visited in the past 4 days. Each was unique and wonderful and I was grateful for the opportunity to be in the field. There was no time to visit one more point today. As I neared the road, I once again spotted the same deer as I had seen on the way in! Reaching the vehicle, I removed some layers and then unfortunately found a tick on me. Oh no! I then drove to the intersection to the west and right there had a complete change of clothes, finding 3 more ticks. I can't remember having a complete change of clothes at an intersection before but very few people were around and I didn't want to be sitting on the airplane with these creatures were sitting on me. Making triply-sure that nothing else was on me or my clothing, I set off to the south, this time making sure to visit the town of Hebron. It even has a working historic theatre! Then I drove east again through Mandan and then to the Bismarck airport. It was a great morning and I made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare.

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

-------------------------------------------------
Days set aside to visit points:  4

Confluence points attempted:  15.  

Confluence points successfully visited:  15. 

Points where I met the local landowner = 3 of 15 points. 

Points where I met the local dogs = 3 of 15 points.

Miles = 1588, Kilometers = 2556.
  
Percent of travel on interstate highways:  15%
Percent of travel on US, state, and county roads:  85 % :-)

Campgrounds = 3.  

Windy confluence points:  13 of 15.
Rainy confluence points:  3 of 15.
Snowy confluence points:  1 of 15.

Beautiful confluence points:   15 of 15.

Convenience store stops = 7.  

Points I thought would be

                easier than they turned out to be =           2 
                about the same as I expected them to be =     2 
                more difficult than they turned out to be =  11 
		------------------------------------------------
			                                     15 points.
Points          in wetlands              1
                in woodlands             1
		in non-tilled hills      2
		in agricultural fields  11
		---------------------------
			                15 points.

Points along 	45 North = 1 
		46 North = 3 
		47 North = 3 
		48 North = 8  
		-------------
			   15 points.

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

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

Points visited in 	Minnesota =     2
			North Dakota =  11
			South Dakota =  1 
			Montana =       1
		-------------------------------
			   		15 points 

The most frequently visited longitude line:  99 West:  3 points.

Get out there and explore!