#1: [03-Nov-01]

#3: [28-Dec-00]

23-May-2026 -- As I had a multi-year tradition of setting aside a few days, preferably near the summer solstice when I would have the most daylight, to get out onto the landscape and see fields, old railroad depots, trails, and confluence points, and as I would be teaching soon at a geotechnology conference at Dallas College, and as it had been six months since I had last visited a point, the weekend had finally arrived. I had been looking forward to it for quite some time and it exceeded all my geo-hopes and dreams!

The Approach: Early this morning, I visited 32 North 94 West in northwest Louisiana, and by mid-morning had also visited 32 North 95 West, in East Texas. In addition, as I crossed into Texas from Louisiana, I visited the "International Boundary" from the 1840 Republic of Texas days, along with a survey marker, stone, and several interpretive signs, an unexpected geographic discovery. I then had a very long, hot, but wonderful time traversing central-north Texas along 32 North, all the way from 95 West to 99 West, over 300 miles. I definitely did not take the I-20 route to the west, preferring the "blue highways" of US and state roads. I had my map hat on and my map shirt on and some books on audio. I stopped for coffee and water in Waco, and by late afternoon was approaching 32 North 99 West.

I had long been eyeing this confluence, at least 10 years, as it seemed fairly easy to reach, though it would involve meeting with the landowner (or landowners, plural) of the property immediately north-northwest of the point. The point was close to their residence. Driving through Comanche Texas, and May, Texas, I found them partly abandoned but still with signs of life. I reached the road heading due west that would lead me to the site. Once in the landowner's long driveway, I drove very slowly, parked a ways off from the house, and were greeted by some "confluence dogs", which fortunately turned out to be friendly.

I got out of the vehicle, no doubt looking a bit disheveled after 3 days of driving through 3 states. I walked up to the home and chatted with the there in the yard, and after I explained my mission and showed him the map, was granted access although "I should have contacted them ahead of time." I invited him along, but he declined, and I made one of the fastest visits in my life, back down the lane, finding the point in the field just south of the lane.

The Site: As I had suspected, the confluence point lies in the field, just south of the landowner's lane; perhaps in alfalfa at the time of my visit. The land slopes a bit to the south but is fairly level. With the wide open skies, I was able to zero out the GPS unit fairly quickly, waving at the landowner upon doing so. This was the third landowner I had met on this trip and I was thankful for the access. I took photos, avoiding taking any of the buildings, and video, again doing the same; the video I have posted on my Our Earth channel, here. It seemed hard to believe that this point had only been visited twice before, 26 and 25 years ago.

Weather Conditions: It was a late afternoon in late spring, about 89 F but not as hot as it could have been and thankfully no thunderstorms. The sky was largely and gloriously clear. I thought about those past and present who had traversed these grounds and settled here. I had stood on 32 North many times, from west Texas on the west side to South Carolina on the east. I had stood on 99 West even more times, from North Dakota on the north end to Texas on the south end, at 30 North 99 West, two degrees south of here. I now have at least 20 confluence points in the great state of Texas. This was my 3rd point today, with 1 in Louisiana and 2 in Texas thus far, and my 10th on this trip thus far.

Next Stop: I was having a wonderful experience here but to be respectful to the landowner's time, I waved once more after perhaps only 5 minutes on site with thumbs up sign indicating my success. Then, I returned to the vehicle, turned around, and drove slowly back down the driveway to the northeast, and then turned west. What next? I now had a fairly long drive to reach 32 North 100 West--one degree of longitude distant from here.

The thought of 100 West was very enticing as 100 is a line of significant longitude to the "American Frontier" concept. The sun was sinking toward the western horizon. Would I make it before sundown and still have time to make it to my desired campground? I was just a tiny bit road weary after my 3 days of trekking, but en route to this new point, I would see roads and backroads that I had never before been on, and pick up a few new counties as well. Only one way to find out!

Important Notes: Due to the situation described here, I do not advise anyone to visit this point in the future. If you feel you must do so, please contact the landowner ahead of time and set up an appointment if you are granted access.

Onward with gratitude!

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


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

Confluence points attempted:  14.  

Confluence points successfully visited:  13. 

Points where I met the local landowner = 5 of 14 points. 


Miles = 1,945, Kilometers = 3,130.
  
Percent of travel on interstate highways:  15%
Percent of travel on US, state, county roads, and the "back of the back roads":  85 % Hooray!

Campgrounds = 3.  

Rainy confluence points:  3 of 14.
Beautiful confluence points:   14 of 14.

Convenience store stops = 7.  

Points that turned out to be

                easier than I thought they would be =           1 
                about the same as I expected them to be =       8 
                more difficult than I thought they would be =   5 
		-------------------------------------------------------
			                                     14 points.
Points          in prairie or scrub      3
                in woodlands             5
		in non-tilled fields     2
		in agricultural fields   4
		-----------------------------------
			                14 points.

Points along 	36 North = 1 
		35 North = 4 
		34 North = 2 
		33 North = 3
                32 North = 4  
		----------------
			   14 points.

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

Points visited in the 	morning = 	6 
			afternoon = 	5 
			evening = 	3 
		-------------------------------
			   	       14 points

Points visited in 	Oklahoma =       2
			Arkansas =       4
			Louisiana =      2 
			Texas =          6
		-------------------------------
			   		14 points 

The most frequently visited latitude line:  
-------------------------------------------- 
                       32 and 35 North:  4 points each.

The most frequently visited longitude line:  
-------------------------------------------- 
                                      94 West:  4 points.