#3: [16-May-15]

#2: [27-Sep-03]

#1: [07-May-00]

30-Jul-2015 -- This was the continuation of a summer trip with several successful confluences.

Our previous confluence had been 44N 124W and after some time along the Oregon Coast, we were now in Central Washington visiting family.

Due to the multiple devastating forest fires this summer in the northwest there were several confluences that I had considered but decided not to even attempt because of their proximity to these fires.

Our plan was to head up to Grand Coulee late in the afternoon so we could visit the confluence and then watch the Laser Light Show on the spillway of the Grand Coulee Dam. It had been over 20 years since we had last watched the show and were looking forward to seeing it again.

We turned right off Washington 174 onto Crown Point Road and then left onto Rex Road which would lead us directly to the confluence. We were able to park about 20 meters away and it was an easy stroll to locate all zeroes and capture data.

Golden colored hills surrounded us and visible to the north was a large band of smoke from fires further west. I took my pictures and completed my standard data collection routine: SPOT message; Trimble data logging; and Theodolite pictures for reference. After about 15 minutes, it was time to head off to dinner!

We ate at a local restaurant where we watched a colorful sunset from the smoke in the air and then found a great spot to watch the laser light show on the grounds of the visitors center. While we were waiting for the show to start there was an incredible full moon rise just over the dam.

From downtown Grand Coulee it is less than 10 km to the confluence and you can be there and back in less than half an hour.

Post processing of the GPS data reveals that my GPS receiver was 1.4 meters southeast of the actual confluence with a Horizontal Precision of 2.1 meters.

My next confluence would be 48N 117W!