#5: [25-Apr-09]

#4: [05-May-06]

#3: [23-Jan-06]

#2: [03-Sep-04]

#1: [24-Feb-02]

#7: [20-Jan-15] (incomplete)

28-Oct-2013 -- Continued from 24N 55E.

We had just completed our third and final workshop in the United Arab Emirates, and as the workshops focused on the use of geotechnologies in education, a confluence visit seemed like an especially appropriate way to end. Geotechnologies include Geographic Information Systems, a form of computer mapping, as well as remote sensing and Global Positioning Systems. Our focus was to model how to effectively teach and learn with geotechnologies in science, mathematics, and geography. The last workshop was held at a Boys' School in al-Marfa'. al-Marfa' turned out to be my favorite city of the three we had conducted training in, and it was wonderful to meet and work with the educators from all over the western part of the UAE who attended the workshop. Now with the sun setting behind us, we set out toward Abū Ẓaby. After 35 minutes, we saw the powerline to the south of the highway and our anticipation mounted.

At the 54^th Meridian, I took several photographs looking south through the trees that had been planted along the road, toward the Confluence. But not only here: The trees had been planted along the entire stretch from al-Marfa' to Abū Ẓaby, and east to al-`Ayn as well. I marveled at the amount of work required to keep these trees watered and healthy in the desert. They looked beautiful, though, and there were a variety of species represented. I could see the powerline to the south, and it was along the powerline access road that we hoped to either hike or drive.

However, by this time, the sun was setting, and as two of our colleagues needed to get to the airport, we had no time to get closer to the point than the highway. I hoped that someday we could return to this beautiful part of the world.