#4: [05-Jun-16]

#3: [09-Jan-11]

#1: [25-Jan-01]

02-Feb-2001 -- We chose our first confluence attempt based on its relative proximity to our hometown, Louisville, Kentucky. We left our husbands behind at work on a clear but cold Groundhog Day to pursue the confluence located at 38N 85W. We prepared in advance by researching several sources, and we were pleased to find that, according to our maps, this particular confluence appeared to be located approximately 400 meters from a road. Little did we know that this road did not even exist! In fact, the closest thing to civilization that we found was a "town" named Anderson City (see photo #5).

"Oh, the walk can't be all that difficult," we said knowingly to each other. We debated taking the truck across some private property, but then remembered that the proper technique for locating the confluence would include a leisurely stoll along the riverbank. The cornfield turned into a densely overgrown forest which sloped precariously towards the edge of Salt River. The course of the river remained unknown to us, despite the maps, and we could not determine on which side of the river the confluence would be found. Valerie's intuition told us to stay on the south side of the river, and so we did. At a temperture of 23 degrees Farenheit, rough terrain with barbed wire obstacles, and dusk rapidly approaching, we wondered if we should continue.

We decided, "What the heck, we've gone this far," and so onwards we trekked. After multiple consulations with our GPS device, we finally found the confluence in the middle of another empty cornfield. We were grateful that we hadn't attempted this confluence in the summertime, as the farmer probably would not have been pleased to see two city girls traipsing through his crop.

We hurriedly took some pictures and rushed the 1.5 miles back to the truck, being careful to avoid injuries and falls into the chilly river water. After we successfully outran the setting sun, we phoned our respective husbands to report our success. They both asked the same question: "A confluence? A confluence of what?"