#2: [06-Jan-02]

#1: [05-May-01]

09-Oct-2022 -- This is the second out of seven reports reaching or attempting confluence points during a one-week bicycle trip in Southern Italy. The story continues from 42°N 15°E.

The day before, I started cycling in the morning from Termoli where 42°N 15°E is located and reached the town Canosa di Puglia in the evening. Puglia is 30 km north of this confluence point, but on roads it is a trip of 50 km, because one can only reach the confluence coming from the south. The reason for this is the topography: The confluence is on a high plateau with a system of deep ravines around it whose outflow is to the north.

It took me 2.5 hours to reach the confluence by bicycle. The last 3.5 km have to be overcome by a gravel track that finds its dead end after an additional kilometre.

I was able to conveniently ride my bicycle up to a distance of 20 m. I found the confluence itself on an already harvested field. In a distance of about 200 m, foreign farm workers were working on the field. As I appeared, they curiously looked at me and began to approach me. In contrast to through-roads, visitors of dead-end-roads are rare and must have come for a reason. However, my documentation was superfast such that I was already off before they had reached me. In all those years of confluencing I have learned that it is better not to explain confluencing to locals. On one hand it can be interesting to learn more about the area, on the other hand a lack of understanding can lead to mistrust and trouble.

Interestingly, this confluence hasn’t been visited for almost 21 years. This visit is actually the first one that follows the photo guidelines.

After the visit, I continued my bicycle trip eastwards.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to a road: 3.5 m
• Distance to a track: 20 m
• Distance of bicycle parking: 20 m
• Time to reach the CP from the road: 20 min
• Time at the CP: 9:46 AM
• Measured height: 370 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
• Position accuracy: 3 m
• Topography: flat
• Vegetation: tiny grass.
• Weather: sunny, 21° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Curious Dead End Confluence

The story continues at 41°N 17°E.