#3: [08-Feb-09]

#2: [27-Jun-03]

21-Jun-2003 -- The confluence point. The confluence is in Grand Lake, New Brunswick in open water. It is approximately one mile from the nearest shore point, which lies to the northeast of the confluence. The confluence is unsheltered from a 13 mile reach of the lake that extends to the southwest.

For the trip we used a small open fishing boat, equipped with outboard motor. We launched about 8 miles southwest of the confluence in a sheltered area called Mill Cove. When we departed, around 8:40am, the lake was flat in the cove with just ripples in the main reach. As we motored to the confluence point the wind began to pick up and by the time we got there at 9:11am small waves and a light wind bounced us as we tried to hold position for the photos. The photo of the GPS is blurred due the bounce. Grand Lake itself is very easy to drive to. Canada Route 2, a brand new four?lane superhighway, passes through open country within one mile of its shore.

The view from the confluence. To the north a small electric power plant is visible not far from the shore. Reportedly it burns coal, from local sources that were the first sources of coal mined in North America. The beach of a park is visible also on the Northwest shore. The nearest shore point, called Cox Point appears undeveloped, as viewed from the confluence. The shoreline to the southeast and south appears wooded but conceals cottages and camps.

The trip. I drove alone from my house in Massachusetts to Mill Cove on the south shore of Grand Lake, stopping in Fredericton, NB along the way. The boat portion of the trip was guided by Gilbert Pelletier, proprietor of Black Bear Lodge on Grand Lake, a professional fishing and hunting guide. Mr. Pelletier is crouching behind the controls on the photo showing the South view.

Reflection. Decades ago, when a NASA camera returned the first photo of the whole planet seen from space, the image was captivating, giving us pause but energy at the same time. The confluence photos as a group, more than any other photos I've seen, seem to be a completion of that visual thought, a counterpoise. The space image, and these terrestrial samplings, say "Here is earth." A common feature, the absence of humankind, from the visual foreground, and from artistic contrivance, seems to earth's sublimity as rural night is to starlight. Thus this project, a mosaic of volunteer pilgrimages, each meaningless individually, works its magic.

Notes for future visitors to 46N 66W. This is a large lake and the confluence is far from shore. Mr. Pelletier tells us that on many days the wind whips whitecaps by mid morning even on the calmest days. Safety is therefore a first concern. Apart from that, it would be interesting to photograph the confluence from the winter ice.

My thanks to Mr. Gilbert Pelletier for a safe and effective journey.

In Grand Lake, about 1.7 km from the lakeside.