15-Sep-2004 -- My visit to 56N100W got me scanning the maps in my local area for more convenient confluences. As I work as a bush pilot in Northern Manitoba, Canada, transport to more remote confluences isn’t that much of a problem, although getting the time and permission for a visit can be more problematic. 54N 95W fitted the bill, as it was only 5 miles off the centerline of the direct track between Thompson and Island Lake, one of my more frequent destinations.

A quick check with my supervisor on the day got me the permission to visit, and I was off. A quick 10-minute flight west of Island brought me to the lake containing the confluence. I circled once and landed, and proceeded to taxi in the right direction. Fortunately, the confluence was in the middle of the lake, so shallow rocks around the periphery weren’t a problem.

There was, however, a slight breeze, which complicated matters. Once I shut down the engine, the plane coasted on the water for a few meters, before being moved back by the wind. As I only had one paddle, and couldn’t make any headway paddling against the wind, it was necessary to judge the forward coasting and the backwards blowing to give me enough time to scramble onto the roof of the plane to get my GPS picture. Consequently, I couldn’t get all zeroes, but got within the accuracy of the receiver.

Having recorded my visit, I fired up the motor, took off, circled once again in order to get my general photo (the confluence is slightly to the right of the centre of the lake, just off the right-hand tip of the small, wispy island) and then headed for home.

In a lake, about 200 m from land.