#2: [06-Nov-04]

#1: [12-May-01]

17-Mar-2024 -- As I was in the area to visit several universities for the cause of promoting spatial thinking, and geographic technologies, and as it had been five months since my autumn 2023 trek to the woods of Pennsylvania to visit a confluence point, today seemed like the perfect opportunity. After flying into the Charlotte airport, I soon found myself driving north on interstate 77. At Tomlin Mill road, I turned into my favorite part of the trip: Two-lane roads, winding gradually to the north and to the west along a beautiful and wonderfully named Friendship Road and then Coolbrook Road.

At a T intersection, I took the gravel road 1600 to the south. In a beautiful valley north of the confluence, I decided to park there. I don’t like to alarm local landowners by driving right up to their property directly. Walking always seems like a friendlier option. Already, I could see that reception was going to be a challenge, because driving up to where I parked vehicle, I had zero GPS reception. I stood outside of the vehicle for quite a while before I picked up some satellites, and then began walking uphill up the road toward the south. After a few twists, I came to the landowners home.

After an amiable chat, with the landowner and some of his family, I obtained permission and set off, taking the trail that the landowner told me about that angled off toward the southeast. After a while, I turned as due south as I was able to, but made an uneven zigzag through the trees boulders and loose ground. Quite a few trees were lying there and later on the landowner told me that poplars don’t last very long. It was steep and slow going, but it was a beautiful day under the trees and the bright sunshine. After about 10 minutes after leaving the trail, after pacing around the hillside, and trying not to slip in the leaves and on the branches, I zeroed out the unit several times. I think it would’ve taken a lot longer, and may as well been impossible if the trees have been fully leafed out because as it was, I had a poor GPS reception even here in the trees.

As I suspected, the confluence lies on the north slope of a fairly prominent ridge. It was almost the last day of winter, just a few days before the vernal equinox. The temperature stood at about 70° F under some breeze, but the loudest sound was actually coming from the young folks who were enjoying riding their dirt bikes around the property. It was mostly clear skies with a few beautiful clouds. I had stood on 36° north several times in the past, from California on the west to here in North Carolina on the east. I also have stood on 81° west several times in the past Ohio on the north to Florida on the south. This was my about my 7th confluence point in North Carolina; I have visited many points here over the past 20 years and they have each been unique and wonderful.

After taking photographs, and a video, which I posted here on my Our Earth channel, I filmed a "walking through the forest video." I did not want to leave this wonderful place but I had work to do this evening. Therefore, I gingerly to avoid falling, walked out the way I had come in. I stopped to say hello to the landowner once more. Talking with folks out in the field really renews my faith in humanity, talking with local landowners that are so passionate about their land, and preserving and conserving it as best they can. I then walked north on the road.

Once back in the vehicle, I had once again no map reception, and only a vague idea of how to depart the local area. At the T intersection where I met the paved road to the north, I could’ve gone back the way I had to come in, but it was a lot more fun to chart the unknown waters and to depart towards the southwest. I had no idea which roads to take if I did so. That is what I did, and had a very enjoyable drive through the ridges and valleys, passing some wonderful churches and farmsteads and everywhere the dogwoods were in bloom.

Unfortunately, I had neglected to bring any water since I had been on the airplane, and my short but challenging hike made me stop at a town about 25 minutes into the trip to stock up on some fluids. About two hours later, I made it to the University of North Carolina Asheville, where I would spend the next two days, working with some wonderful faculty and students there. Visiting this point was the perfect way to begin this week of geography and geotechnologies. Get out there and explore the world!