#9: [06-Aug-09]

#8: [29-Jun-08]

#7: [03-Oct-07]

#6: [21-Apr-07]

#4: [12-Oct-02]

#2: [27-Dec-00]

#10: [21-Apr-18] (incomplete)

#5: [14-Apr-04] (incomplete)

#1: [04-Jul-99] (incomplete)

18-Oct-2002 -- October 18, 2002. The prior visitors to the confluence mentioned "tiger stripes" on their pants. Today I found out in person what they meant. But first, the story.

After visiting N38 W123, I debated whether to try N38 W122 or this confluence. It was a long drive on two-lane roads coming out of N38 W123, but I finally made it to a freeway, US Highway 101. However, there was soon a traffic tie-up of some sort and I found myself crawling along at about 10 miles per hour. Had I made the right decision?

Finally I made it to the exit which would take me East on California Highway 175, a v-e-r-y narrow and winding road. After a few miles a sign came into view: "Road Narrows". What! How can it get any narrower than this? But, on I went, ascending this narrow road, with the confluence on the other side of a very deep canyon. I passed what looked to be a dirt road turning off the highway and heading toward the other side of the canyon. I returned to it. Wrong! "Private Property!" "Beware of Dog!" said the sign. "Get away!" barked a very loud and large dog. I did.

Another dirt road soon appeared, and it was the one I needed. I was able to drive to within 0.13 mile of the confluence. I parked and walked on a very narrow and steep road, not suitable for the rental car I was driving. Soon I found myself within about 200 feet of the spot. Ah, but those last 200 feet! The burned manzanita bushes did not want to let me pass!

I picked a likely opening in a wall of live manzanita. I pushed and passed. Then I was into the burned bushes. Each push past one left a black, horizontal stripe on my pants. Vigorous pushes were required. Soon I was covered in tiger strips from my legs to my chest. But I would not be denied. I pushed on to a clearing, and there it was! The confluence point.

The north view shows the manzanita, both alive and dead. The east view shows a portion of Clear Lake. Regrettably, the west view didn’t turn out as it was shot directly into the setting sun. I returned to the car, drove many more miles on narrow, two-lane roads. I stopped to change my clothes so that I wouldn’t have to show up at my hotel looking so grungy.

That’s two confluences in one day and four so far this month. Wow! What a great day!