#9: [03-Jun-22]

#8: [25-Dec-17]

#6: [26-Jun-10]

#4: [07-Sep-08]

#3: [27-Jul-02]

#5: [07-Sep-01]

#2: [23-Aug-01]

#1: [26-Jul-01]

02-Sep-2016 -- This is the first out of seven reports reaching confluence points in Western France.

Friday after work at 1:24 PM I took the TGV Lyria from Zurich to Paris arriving there at 5:30 PM. I had to change the train station from Paris-Gare de Lyon to Paris-Montparnasse to catch another TGV to Quimper. The change of train stations in Paris was not really pleasant, since I had to carry my bicycle bag and two paniers through multiple metro stations during the rush-hour traffic. I arrived at midnight in Quimper and spent the night in the old town.

After a big buffet breakfast (which is in France still an exception), I started my 3-day bicycle trip along the 48° latitude in eastern direction. I had a quick ride though Quimper’s little old town and then cycled those 12 km to the confluence point.

I followed the county road “Route du Reunic” up to a distance of 170 m and turned into the access road to this house. An old footpath that has not been used for quite a while let me approach the confluence point further. But since the path was already overgrown, I abandoned my bicycle at a distance of 100 m and walked through a dark forest, and for the last 40 m across a soaking wet meadow.

The exact location of the confluence is in a creek. I crossed the stream over a fallen trunk such that I was able to document the confluence point from both sides. Interestingly, I measured the altitude above sea-level to be -25 m, which is surely wrong by 30 m or more. I know that the height component of GPS is less precise than the planar coordinates, but this is quite an extreme error.

After returning to my bicycle I continued my trip towards the east. The first village I came through was the tiny hamlet Le Reunic.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to a road: 170 m
• Distance to a track: 130 m
• Distance of bicycle parking: 130 m
• Time to reach the CP from the road: 7 minutes
• Time at the CP: 8:12 AM
• Measured height: -25 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
• Position accuracy: 4 m
• Topography: hilly
• Vegetation: grass, herbs, hazelnut trees and various bushes
• Weather: sunny but hazy, 15° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Most Western Confluence

The story continues at 48°N 3°W.