05-Aug-2007 -- APEX CONFLUDENCE-II (15°N79°E)

Having explored 16°N80°E in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh State after a journey of 362 kms from Chennai, we headed towards 15°N79°E near Porumamilla, a small town in Cudappah District. As this point is located diagonally opposite, we assumed a distance of approximately 160 kms by our pre-planned route.

We returned back to the main road from our confluence 16°N80°E and traveled to Addanki from north. We took a westward turn and traveled through the towns of Darsi, BeddaArikatla, Bestavarpetta, Talicherla and Allinagaram to reach Porumamilla by 5.45 in the evening, a hectic 197 kms non-stop journey. We almost burnt about 35 litres of petrol since our departure from Chennai and refueled as we approached porumamilla town. Our entire journey of this stretch was a pleasure for its very good roads with scenic beauty, but without any significant vehicular traffic. As we enter Porumamilla town from the north, we noticed a full stretch of green rice fields on both the sides of the road. We feared for the walk again in the evening along the bunds of rice fields for the confluence is likely to be 1.5 kms east of the town

To our satisfaction, refueling station owner informed us that the terrain shown by us is only of dry-lands. A long and straight single arterial road with commercial shops on both sides completes this town, it seems. As we drove our ‘swift’ at the southern end of the town, we found GPS nearing 15°N latitude. Mr. Gunachandran noticed a small lane adjoining to a petrol bunk and I drove the car through this lane on the presumption that we could park and then walk for a kilometer eastward to locate the confluence. To our delight, the lane continued further east. We slowly drove with an eye on our GPS for about a kilometer. I took the bifurcated left road again and at small distance the GPS showed the confluence at a few dozen feet west of our car. We were happy that this confluence did not make us to walk. A STRAIGHT DRIVE. We named it APEX CONFLUENCE – II. We completed the formalities quickly and we were again on the main roads of Porumamilla town in half an hour. Mission accomplished for the day.

At the southern and of the town, we took the road leading towards Badvel in the south. This damaged narrow road with hundreds of speed-breakers for the next 3 hours of our drive gave us the worst driving experience of the day, which in actual, a road for the truckers. Around 10.00 pm, I felt thirsty for a bottle of chilled beer which did have in a small place I do not remember. At last we came to Nellore at midnight and took our food on NH-5 and safely reached Chennai, a little past 2.00 AM. A total of 961 kms - 22 hours - Two Confluences - Single day. MOST SATISFYING / NO REGETS / THE THRILL REMAINS.