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the Degree Confluence Project
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Belgium

2.2 km (1.4 miles) NNW of Staden, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Approx. altitude: 8 m (26 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 51°S 177°W

Accuracy: 10 m (32 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: North #3: East #4: South #5: West #6: GPS #7: Visitors #8: House

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  51°N 3°E (visit #5)  

#1: Overview

(visited by Karl Bryk and Michael Bryk)

29-Jul-2006 -- Having spent a week in Blighty visiting family and friends, the return journey using the Norfolk Line Dover-Dunkirk ferry gave us the opportunity to visit our first Belgian CP and notch up a new country. If I remember correctly the CP was only 40 odd kilometres from where the ferry dropped us on French soil.

The journey there was unneventful although it took me 2 goes to find the house shown in the previous CP visits, the first attempt ending at a dead end about 400 metres from the CP. Parking opposite the house on the corner we noted no dog noises and proceeded straight round to the back of the garden and walked along the hedge/corn-field through the cob-webs. I couldn't get all zeros as this would involve stepping into Mrs Dezilters hedge (or is it? - more later) but at least I knew where N/E/S/W was as this time I had my compass with me.

Took the usual photos, and got an altitude of 8 metres (which differs from the 15 m stated for this point). Accuracy was a pretty good 3m (but alas all zeros could not be obtained). After the photo session we wandered around to the front of the house again. There was no sigh of Mrs Dezilter or her dog. I noticed however a 'verkocht' sign on the house. I don't speak Flemish but enough German to guess that this is verkauft (sold) rather than verkocht (over-cooked). So it looks like the house has been sold. I hope the CP visitors did not drive Mrs. Dezilter away and I wonder if the new owners know the significance of the back hedge?

The return journey was more eventful because I got lost. Not wanting to back track the way we had come to the motorway, I decided to head East and pick up the motorway to Gent and on to Brussels our next destination. The map I had wasn't detailed enough and I ended up going round in circles and at one point heading South-West instead of North-East. Finally the brain turned itself on and I used the GPS compass to head in the right direction and pick up the required motorway. About an hour and many kilometres were wasted before I had this idea. A pleasant lunch in Brussels made up for the frustration of getting lost.


 All pictures
#1: Overview
#2: North
#3: East
#4: South
#5: West
#6: GPS
#7: Visitors
#8: House
ALL: All pictures on one page