#4: [19-Nov-15]

#3: [30-Sep-15]

#2: [25-Nov-04]

(simultaneously attempted and failed by Susan Mitchell)

26-Nov-1998 -- Once we realized that our first confluence attempt of Thanksgiving Day 1998 (32°N 108°W--good luck!) would have involved a ten-mile desert hike, we continued on into Arizona, where one of us achieved the 32°N 110°W confluence. Under the time constraints of a waiting turkey at our grandmother's in Tucson, we ventured toward Dragoon (not to be confused with Brigadoon). At the interstate exit for Dragoon-nothing but 'The Thing...What Is It?', a tourist trap for the ages.

After some car navigation fun (read: arguments and circle-driving), we drove out of "suburban" Dragoon and headed towards the hills. We had chosen this confluence because it looked like a road ran right up to it and stopped--a potentially easy visit. (News flash: Roads stop for a reason, in this case, a mountain.) Spurring off attack by a determined mutated- grasshopper-style insect, we climbed and climbed along a "gravel" road.

We stopped near the end of the road, surveyed the landscape and hoped the confluence was within what had become the deep valley walls. Susan made it about halfway up before the cacti, her stomach, general holiday anxiety, the heat, sun, and altitude caused her to give up, all in one unmentionable incident.

David had to go it alone. Huffing to the top of the ridge, he then descended (partially) into the deeper adjacent valley (photo #4). Finally, in exaltation, Dave reached the confluence (photo #2), soaked in sweat, and realized that he was going to be one stinky Thanksgiving dinner guest. Nonetheless, the view was beautiful (photo #1), shouts of joy echoed off the valley walls, and there was a darn neat limestone breccia exposed near the confluence (photo #3). Upon return to the conflumobile an inventory of the damage included: scratched-up arms (photo #5), bleeding legs, and a torn shirt. We were able to visit The Thing (www.roadamerica.com), and made it to Gram's in time for Thanksgiving dinner.