31-Jul-2005 -- Sunday morning on this date in north central Ohio was a perfect day under blue skies and a warm temperature. I drove out from my home city with the windows rolled down as I enjoyed the breeze. I passed by many farms growing mainly corn and soybeans, and I could smell the sweet corn ripening on the stalks. The blue sky above and the rolling green fields below dotted with white farm buildings; what a wonderful sight!

I didn't have much of a problem finding the road closest to the confluence. It was a paved narrow lane running north/south shaded with large trees such as maple and oak. I got about 400 meters away from the confluence as I crossed the 41 degree mark. Looking out towards the confluence, I noticed that the field was planted with soybeans with a wooded area beyond the field. I parked along the road in the shade and started walking around the perimeter of the field so I wouldn't damage any of the crop. The nearest home to the confluence didn't appear to be a farm, and nobody was home anyway. Further to the south past the open field was another home. It would have been the probable residence of the land owner, but it was abandoned. So much for asking permission. I assumed that the field belonged to a larger farm, but whose farm? It was difficult to figure out.

I proceeded around the field westward then turned to the north. Finally, I was back on 41N and turned west into the forest. The GPS was having a difficult time keeping a precise reading due to the heavy forest canopy above. Finally, I found the point: 41N 83W! I took the required photos, and had a hard time trying to get a photo of the GPS at the exact reading, again due to the dense tree cover. After getting the pictures, I looked around and saw some rabbit and raccoon tracks in a small muddy patch directly south of the confluence point. A few very large fallen trees were scattered near the area also. After looking around the area of the confluence point I proceeded back around the perimeter of the soybean field toward the road. I was about halfway along the field, enjoying the tranquility of the country scene, when all of a sudden WHOOSH! A wild turkey fluttered out of the tall weeds about one meter away from me, warbling as he flew off into the next field. He scared me and I scared him, and I don't know which of us was more shaken.

After visiting the CP, I explored the nearby area, including the small towns like Carrothers along State Route 4. All in all, the confluence visit was a success, and the weather couldn't have been better this fine summer day in north central Ohio.