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the Degree Confluence Project
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Bahamas

4.1 km (2.5 miles) SSW of August Town, Andros Island, Bahamas
Approx. altitude: 11 m (36 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 25°S 102°E

Accuracy: 5 m (16 ft)
Quality: good

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

#2: North view #3: West view #4: South view #5: Sky view #6: GPS shot #7: Friendly confluence lizard #8: Mode of transport, with a Bahamian license plate that I found near the confluence

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  25°N 78°W  

#1: Overview from 10 m & East view

(visited by Aaron B)

18-Apr-2010 -- I had looked up the point 25N/78W several months before this trip and noticed that it seemed quite reachable, at least once you're already on Andros Island. The challenge then became getting there! There are two airports on the North half of the island: Andros Town (25 miles SE from the confluence) and San Andros (5 miles NW). Thinking that only charter flights flew to San Andros, I booked a flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Andros Town, better known as Fresh Creek to the locals. Beware! Taxis to Nicholls Town in the North cost about $100 each way. Turns out you can easily buy tickets to San Andros from Nassau at one of the domestic carrier counters at Nassau airport and enjoy a much shorter taxi ride. After receiving light admonishment from the taxi driver and later the hotel manager I decided I'd pass this info along for anyone else wanting to visit North Andros/Nicholls Town.

I made arrangements at the Pineville Motel in North Andros because it was one of the few hotels I could find online that was close to the confluence. That said, it was still a good 11 miles away as the crow flies. And I still had to book over the phone. The woman I spoke with surely butchered my last name, but at least I had something set up for when I arrived.

The sign said that the hotel manager, Eugene, was out at a meeting when I arrived. No one else was manning the hotel. My taxi driver, Lynden, gave him a call to let him know I was in. Sure enough, the reservation was noted on the calendar in their office complete with my additional request for the use of a bicycle. Eugene treated me like family while I was there, which wasn't too hard considering I was the only guest the whole 3 nights I stayed on Andros! Most of the time, the Pineville caters to large groups like churches and schools. He supplied the bicycle I requested, which was simple one-speed that a previous guest had put together. We got it ready late Saturday night for my early attempt at the confluence bike ride Sunday morning.

Weather was cool and cloudy when I began pedaling just after 8 am, and luckily it remained that way all the way to the point. Queens highway seemed particularly empty this morning as everyone was either at church or just taking it easy. What I love most about North Andros has got to be the pine forests that line most of the roadway. It felt more like I was in the Pacific Northwest than the Caribbean. I reached my turnoff point at roughly 25.003N, 78.031W before 10 am, and from here I began riding east along an old logging road through the pines. About a mile in, I decided to ditch the bike and walk as the shrubbery in the roadway was getting too thick for riding. A fallen tree and some thick bushes slowed me down but not tremendously. I followed this trail until it came to a T, at which point I followed GPS headings, turning right at 0.6 miles away and then left once at 0.1 miles. I arrived at the Bahamas' only land-based confluence at 10:45 am. I met a brave little lizard there who spent several minutes just watching me as I watched him back and took pictures. It started to drizzle, so after 15 minutes at the point I turned around and made my way back.

It didn't rain too much. I stopped at the ice cream shop at San Andros airport (the only thing open there on a Sunday) and then visited Uncle Charlie's blue hole, a secluded natural pool that is connected to the oceans via underground caves. A dip in the water was a very relaxing excursion after a long morning of biking around in the Bahamas. :)


 All pictures
#1: Overview from 10 m & East view
#2: North view
#3: West view
#4: South view
#5: Sky view
#6: GPS shot
#7: Friendly confluence lizard
#8: Mode of transport, with a Bahamian license plate that I found near the confluence
ALL: All pictures on one page